Topic # 5
When You Should Use HDR
When You Should Use HDR
As we said, HDR is
designed to help you take better-looking photos, especially in certain
situations. Here's where you should try using HDR:
- Landscapes: Big landscape photos
usually have a lot of contrast between the sky and land, which is
difficult for your camera to deal with in just one photo. With HDR, you
can capture the sky's detail without making the land look too dark, and
vice versa.
- Portraits in Sunlight: We
all know that lighting is one of the most important aspects of a good photo, but too much lighting on someone's face—like
harsh sunlight—can cause dark shadows, bright glare, and other
unflattering characteristics. HDR can even that all out and make your
subject look better.
- Low-Light and Backlit Scenes (see above): If your photo is looking a little too dark—which often happens if your scene has too much backlight—HDR can brighten up the foreground without washing out the well-lit portions of your photo.
When You Shouldn't
Use HDR
Of course, as
you've discovered, sometimes HDR actually makes your pictures look worse. Here
are some situations in which HDR is better off ignored:
- Photos with Movement (see above): If any of your subjects are moving (or might move), HDR increases the chance of a blurry photo. Remember, HDR takes three pictures, so if your subject moves between the first and second shot, your final picture won't look very good.
- High-Contrast Scenes: Some
photos look better with stark contrast between the dark and light parts of
the photo, like if you have a dark shadow or silhouette you want to
highlight. HDR will make this less intense, resulting in a less
interesting photo.
- Vivid Colors: If your scene is too dark
or too light, HDR can bring some of the color back. However, if you're
dealing with colors that are already very vivid, HDR can wash them out.
Luckily, most HDR
cameraphones will give you two images: one with HDR turned off, and one with it
turned on. That means that you can always give HDR a shot and see what the
comparison looks like before turning it off altogether (as long as you have
time to sit through the extra few seconds of photo-taking). As with all things
photography, you can't go wrong experimenting! These guidelines should help you
out, but don't be afraid to snap a few photos and look at them later. Once you
get the hang of it, HDR can be a great tool for getting better pictures. While
you're at it, check out our general tips for taking better pictures on your phone, too.
Comments
Post a Comment