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~by Gavin Seim~  Last year I wrote an article about using true HDR techniques with people. Yep, portraits, fashion, and wedding images can be utterly amazing using High Dynamic Range photography. HDR is not just reserved for nature and still life shooting. We’ve been using it at Seim Photography for over a year now! Here goes six nitty gritty tips and tricks to get you moving with HDR, and a few of my own HDR portraits to start things off.

1. What is HDR all about anyways?

First lets cover basics. If you’re already an HDR master you can skip this part. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It’s better seen that talked about, so other than the images I’ve included in this article, you can see more of my HDR portraits, on my website and \you can also check out my HDR nature photos. HDR is the combining the light/dark tones of multiple images taken at varied exposure levels, and then blended using software like Photomatix, Photoshop, or another HDR program.

Basically this software blending allows the photographer to selectively choose how much lighting he wants in various parts of the image. You’ll have a light to dark range that’s much higher than that of a normal exposure, thus giving you a LOT more control over the finished image.

You can also check my two PPS episodes from 2007 year, that talk all about HDR portraits in detail, and will also get you started on HDR in general… HDR Podcast Part1 & HDR Podcast Part2

2. What about Pseudo (single image) HDR’s?
You’ll see images called HDR that are actually made from one RAW image. Programs like Photomatix allow you to do this. From one image it takes what info it can get and makes what is essentially a fake HDR. This can give a neat effect, and it mat be well worth using sometimes, but it’s not a true HDR, and the two should bot be confused. If you want a true HDR you need multiple images with varied exposure levels so you can build that file with all those details converged into a 32 bit image that has lots of range.

3. HDR portraits of people.
When you have a still subject its fairly easy to take a sequence of images at various exposure levels and make a great HDR. With a moving subject however, things get tougher. Note that I never shoot a whole session in HDR. It would be too hard on the subject, and require way to much editing time to be practical. Also HDR images aren’t needed in every scene. Where they really shine is in scenes with a high light/dark range.

4. The HDR portrait technique.
Tell the subject to stand as still as they can. You’ll generally need 3 images in rapid sequence. I set my camera to Aperture Priority, so all that will change is shutter speed, and not my depth of field (important since we’ll be combing these images later). Set your camera to auto bracket mode, so when you hold the button down (I use a release, cable so I don’t shake the camera) it will take 3 exposures really fast. One at -2, one at 0, and one at +2, (or somewhere thereabout) I set my camera frame rate as fast as it will go, and I try to maintain a fair shutter speed top keep it all moving along.

To me this is feels a bit reminiscent of the way early photographers would clamp their subject in place to hold them still. I avoid using people clamps however since they don’t seem to be in fashion anymore Instead I try to plan a scene to that they won’t blur as long as they move very little.

5. When and where.
I use HDR on those great scenes where it’s needed. Like when I want a portrait of someone standing in a beautiful field, with a stunning sky behind them. Don’t feel like you have to change your entire photographic personality to add HDR into your war kit. You just need to plan a little for HDR images.

Basically you can do an HDR portrait anytime you can set up the scene so that the subject will hold mostly still thru the image sequence. I find that HDR portraits work best in wider scenes with wide angle lenses. There’s not a set rule to this, but if your really close, or have a long lens, the movement of your subject (they wont stand totally still) will be exaggerated and cause them to be blurred in your final render

6. Final HDR Thoughts.
HDR portraits work great when you setup correctly, and edit correctly. Unlike traditional photography, software and editing is the key to a good HDR. Without it you end up with a mess. Don’t be afraid to experiment with HDR software, and learn the ropes. It’s not especially hard, you just have to get a feel for it. Check out programs like Photomatix for the extensive edits, and things like Lightroom Enfuse for quick HDR blending.

You can also drop by the HDR section on the PPS forums. if you have questions, or give us your thoughts and ideas below in the comments.

Enjoy the amazing world of HDR. Here’s a few more shots… Gavin

Creative Essentials: The Photoshop actions you need in your kit.

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