Natural HDRs — 21 Superb Examples Of Natural Looking HDRs

HDR is an abbreviated form of High Dynamic Range.It is one of the most interesting aspects of Photography. Cameras have a very limited dynamic range and the cameras cannot see what our eyes do. To portray scenes with a high dynamic range, three shots are taken at different exposures — one normal, one underexposed and one overexposed. There three shots are aimed at capturing the midtone, highlight and shadow details. An HDR is made composite image achieved by merging these three shots. While all this sounds easy, HDRs due to technical limitations almost always seem surreal and unnatural. However here are some beautifully done HDRs which retain their natural look, feel and aesthetics.

Just Add Light…
Sun And Signs
Steel Town
My First HDR
A Sea Of Sunflowers
HDR – Beetle
Rosa
Sunset in the hills
The Dock To Forever
Orchid Ala HDR
Sunrise Across The Icy Lake In Reykjavik
Dragon’s Corner(HDR)
HDR’rred Hapuna Beach Cabin
Rain
Eyes Of The World
HDR At Night
HDR Bridge
Another Summer Day in Paris
My First HDR!
Winter Mist
Feeling On Top Of The World In Tokyo

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#2, Sun and Signs is not HDR.

I created it using just a single image.

Many of the photos you have here are not real HDR’s!

Well first, HDR is not real. And simply the technique of merging two or more shots can’t be called HDR. HDR stands for high dynamic range. So even a single frame using a technology like Nikon D-Lighting would qualify as HDR.

Yes HDR stands for high dynamic range. The camera can only capture a certain range of exposure, so by using any method for manipulating the dynamic range could be considered HDR. Even a neutral density gradient could pose an HDR technique. The book industry has made HDR into some magical technique where you have to take 5-15 shots and merge them into photos ect….not really the case.

Great HDR’s… Love #15

Hi!

Examples are great but is there any tutorials on how to do this Natural Looking HDRs, if there’s any it would be a great help.

Looking forward to your positive response.

Thanks!

Mark.

{ 8 comments on Natural HDRs — 21 Superb Examples Of Natural Looking HDRs… read them below or add one }

sandman March 4, 2011 at 10:14 pm

Shivanand Sharma March 5, 2011 at 12:12 am

Why not?

sandman March 5, 2011 at 1:12 am: I created it using just a single image.

Misha March 5, 2011 at 4:59 am

Shivanand Sharma March 5, 2011 at 8:32 am

Dallas Product Photographer August 19, 2011 at 10:12 pm: Yes HDR stands for high dynamic range. The camera can only capture a certain range of exposure, so by using any method for manipulating the dynamic range could be considered HDR. Even a neutral density gradient could pose an HDR technique. The book industry has made HDR into some magical technique where you have to take 5-15 shots and merge them into photos ect….not really the case.

Dean July 1, 2011 at 2:53 am

mark February 22, 2012 at 6:27 pm