CREATE HDR EFFECT IN PHOTOSHOP FULL

Remember: this was back in a time where many photographers had not jumped into the world of Photoshop or advanced digital processing, and before helpful panels and actions were available to streamline the HDR workflow. This required a lot of prerequisite Photoshopping knowledge that was difficult to learn….back in the days when online Photoshop classes were few and far between (and usually of low quality). In the early days of digital photography, the learning curve of proper exposure blending in Photoshop was quite high for the novice digital photographer…and the technique was very tedious. HDR photography was the answer to this overwhelming roadblock! This is because the camera’s sensor is not as dynamic as the human eye, which explains why our landscape photos will often misrepresent the beauty we saw in person. For example…a dramatic sunset scene with intense highlights and shadows was captured with a blown-out sky and blotches of black in the foreground a lackluster representation due to the limitations of the camera – not the photographer. This was especially celebrated in the landscape photography world since we have very little (if any) control over the natural light. Finally, there was a quick and easy solution to a huge problem for photographers: the ability to recover missing detail that your camera sensor could not pick up on. When HDR (high-dynamic range) first became popular in the digital photography world, the excitement was well justified. So unless you are 100% certain about what HDR photography is (and isn’t), make sure to give this section a read through. Many photographers are mistaken with their definition of “HDR landscapes”….which can affect how you view and approach your exposure blending. What is HDR exactly and how does this benefit my landscape photography?

CREATE HDR EFFECT IN PHOTOSHOP FULL

Once I explain why all HDR landscapes are not created equal, I’ll give you some of my best practical tips for avoiding that overcooked look when exposure blending….so you can use this fantastic technique to create extraordinary, natural-looking images that are full of detail….but without the “over processed” appearance. The first topic we’ll cover in this comprehensive tutorial is where the “HDR look” originated…and why exposure blending is incorrectly lumped into the same category. No worries! I’m here to help guide you through the murky waters of exposure blending with my best tips for creating exceptional landscape photographs without the over-processed, cartoonish look that HDR photography is unfortunately associated with. There’s a fine line between “overcooked” and natural-looking when it comes to landscape photography, so a delicate balance is needed in order to avoid the dreaded “HDR look”. However, exposure blending makes it very easy to overprocess your image if you don’t know what to look out for. More importantly, this workflow can overcome the limitations of your camera’s sensor so you can recreate the exact scene you witnessed in the field. Exposure blending in Photoshop is a revolutionary processing technique that can transform boring, lackluster landscapes into extraordinary works of art.

Create hdr effect in photoshop