15
2006
First tone-mapped image
This is a (misnamed) high dymanic range, or HDR, image. HDR isn't actually accurate, though. As Erik describes, monitors can't actually display HDR images, so the extra information is adjusted in order to be viewable in a process called tone mapping. I imagine this is analogous to how infrared images are mapped into the visual spectrum to generate false-color photos and video.
The tone-mapped image is generated from multiple photos of the same subject. In this case, three photos were taken: one at 0 EV (properly exposed according to automatic settings in camera, seen below), one at -2 EV (underexposed by two stops) and one at +2 EV.
I used a program called Photomatix to create the tone-mapped image. This example isn't particularly dramatic, but there are more interesting samples in the Flickr HDR group.
I really like that picture. I mean, there's appeal in the Kinkade style/oversaturated photos, but I think that the real power of hdr is in how it subtly makes pictures better.
Posted by Erik on March 15, 2006