It will be interesting to see the quality of these photographs and how they may deal with ghosting & alignment – frequent issues in HDR photography. HDR photography refers to High Dynamic Range photography and is used by many photographers now.  It’s a technique that allows photographers to take multiple exposures of the same shot to capture the levels of light and detail within the light. The images are then merged to form an HDR image, however that HDR image needs to be tone mapped to produce a photograph that we’re able to properly see and connect with.  With this in mind, that’s why it will be so interesting to see how the iOS 4.1 devices will handle the merge and display of the final HDR photo.

Here’s the thing: Quality or garbage, the capability is on the way very very soon. I’ve been playing with the idea that my iPhone camera is my new toy camera.  By toy camera, I mean the movement in Lomography using a Holga, L-CA, Diana, etc.   I”ll be writing more on that but the continuous shots feature that will be possible in iOS 4.1 will become another tool for devices with a camera.

What could this functionality mean for camera app developers? Not being a developer, I wonder if there is something about the new iOS that will be great for development of powerful applications.  I would love to see Camera+ back in the appstore with some way to utilize this ability better than the native camera app.

I’ll be interested to see what other blogs discuss this feature and update. High Dynamic Range Photography on the iPhone is taking this technique all out mainstream.

I can’t wait to see what some new professional cameras may be able to accomplish in the near future too.

Related Reading on Wired: Apple Announces New Version of iOs

While holding a camera, I imagine someone like Picasso holding a paint brush. I don’t imagine Picasso holding the paint brush creating a cubist work of art for the construction of a new building in his home town. The tool was used to create art and impact people through that art. Such art wasn’t set out to be a technique to follow so that the structural integrity of your new car was safe to drive. Why is the HDR technique looked at from a technical point of view in most photography circles. I believe this is why many photographers create initially poor images. I intend for this post to help you realize why a different approach can improve your images.

Artistic Experience

When you come to Nuwomb, you’re not arriving at a photography website for forensic photography. If you’re looking for the use of a technique to help you with forensic photography, you’ve come to the wrong place. Most of the High Dynamic Range photography you’ll find on Flickr isn’t being used to save the world with it’s technique. However, I do believe that we could still save the the world with HDR photography.

HDR isn’t a technique for me and I hope you do understand why. While I will try and do my best to explain and show everyone the way I end up creating my HDR photographs, I want to let it be known that I approach HDR photography with an artistic mindset.

High Dynamic Range imaging shouldn’t be looked at or approached as photography by numbers. Why not embrace your terrible initial attempts at this ‘newer’ form of photography? In my opinion HDR has become a mindset that says to bring out your artistic vision here. This helps translate every single photograph into an “HDR” even when I’m not using multiple exposures. It helps me realize that the term HDR is irrelevant because we don’t term every photograph entered into Photoshop a PS Photograph or PS Photography.

Constantly labeling our work as HDR, Macro, Lensbaby, Camera Phone, or whatever becomes photography based on technique or gear. I blame this on search engine optimization though. Some terms will never disappear because we want our websites to be found by people that search for that technique.

By approaching my photography as an artistic experience and not a technique, I embrace experimentation and mistakes. My most used combination of keys become Command + Z or Command + Option + Z. If you’re not sure what that means, they are the hot keys for Undo in Photoshop.

You can start out trying to follow a step by step technique for any type of photography; there’s no shortage of websites competing to get your eyes on their own HDR Tutorial. I encourage you to go beyond the technique into style and personal experimentation – both at the camera and post processing level.

As I move forward, I will try my best to not get into the technique used as I post or display the image artistically, within a portfolio, or on a photoblog. There will be other times to get into that kind of content for people – I’ve thought of sharing small and interesting tips I’ve learned with people through my newsletter. Consciously leaving out bits and pieces on the blog for those that really want all the goods.

In capturing the entire dynamic range of a scene, many may feel as if you want to eliminate all the shadows and collect the light within them.  This image from Banff should show you that you can still capture the dynamic range of a scene but still have wicked shadows.  The shadows are not completely black, but you can still see them across a beautifully delicious landscape.   Being able to see a bit of the detail within those shadows is awesome.

Beyond the HDR photography technique, isn’t it amazing to see the shadows cast by clouds?  It not something we get to see very often at all.  As my memory serves me, I usually only see that kind of effect whlie in an airplane.  One of the little things to appreciate in life.

I hope you enjoy photo 46 of the Nuwomb 360. Click it and it will expand to a nice size – especially on a large monitor.

This process gives rebirth to the entire vision. I spend the time recreating the feeling of the memory and peak experience. Sure those tree’s in the foreground were pretty bland and boring at the time. Marika and I kept wishing we were back when the trees were more vibrant green and other flora in season. The odd thing, is that when I remember the scene in my mind, everything was beautiful. The sky was so expansive because we were up so high on Sulpher Mountain, and the mountains in the background were freakin’ majestic. Shooting partly into the sun helps to create the nostalgic lens flares and light rays.

Daily photo 45 of 360 is an HDR created from 5 images shot on a tripod. Let me know if you’d like to hear more on the post processing workflow. *Reminder: You can click the image and it will load a lightbox.  If you’ve got a large monitor, you’ll see the image at 920px wide, but if you are on a smaller monitor it will give you an way to see the image fully too.

This photo is one that I would like to discuss in a room with artistic photography nerds.  The recent Vision-Driven workshop was so cool to me because the people there were in such a safe place to talk about photography as art.  They didn’t need to get into technical things like sharpness, what lens was used, was it the right f-stop, or is the focus spot on?   They got into the feeling, the vision, the artistic aspects that make the photo.  Feel free to leave comments about those aspects.  I’d love to hear what you think.

This is image 44 of 360.  If you’re feeling stuck in your own creativity, try this exercise:

Look at the image for a few minutes.  Study it. Move your eyes all around the view.  Try for 2-5 minutes.  If you can close your eyes and hold the image for a few seconds, you’re good.  Then go sit or lay down in a relaxing place and bring the image back to your mind.  Try and hold it for 5, 10, 20 minutes while breathing deeply.   Guaranteed you’ll feel connected and it may unblock you.

Scott Wyden has put up a chance to win a full license for HDR PhotoStudio 2.  I’ve never used the software and that’s the great thing about this contest. My HDR photography always goes through HDRsoft Photomatix.  A contest like this allow me to get outside the regular routine and experiment with my own images and experiment with new HDR software.  I could learn some serious new things to expand my creativity!  And so could everyone else.

The contest takes the coolness one step further because Scott wants to see a ‘montage.’  You’ve gotta read his introduction to the contest/challenge on his site because I think you should hear it from his mouth.  The idea is that we see more than just your final HDR photography.

The contest is unique in that you are limited to the subject for your submission as well. Again, I want to you see what the subject is over on Scott’s Website.  These are cool contests because it’s away to be social with your photography.  It’s about putting your photography out there and taking a chance. Shooting for purpose is a nice change for a lot of people that claim they only shoot photography for no personal gain.  The benefits to submitting for this HDR Photography contest goes far beyond personal gain.  It’s a chance for you to do something out of your routine and be social in the online photography world.

Check out Scott Wyden Imagery for contest details!

P.S – You never know if I have a few HDRspotting invites to send a few submissions that catch my eye!

P.P.S – Check out these HDR Tutorials for some background. However, they most likely don’t use HDR Photo Studio 2 as the software.  This lets you be a pioneer!

I’ve been getting the itch to do a bunch of car photography these days.  And get this, today some kid crashed into the side of our Nissan Cube.  Yup.  I was at home while Marika was out doing some stuff.   I always get this weird feeling when she calls while out because I fear it’s a bad call about an accident.  This time it was.  Luckily no was was hurt, just some awesome damage to the entire driver-side of the Cube.   From the sounds of it, the kid was distracted by 2 girls in his parents car.

Once we take it in and the body shop makes it like new, I’ll be making a point to spend quality time with it and my camera.  I’ve been wanting to try some very early morning or late night HDR Photography with the cube.  Now we need the massive destruction fixed.  But things could be worse – It could look like this Chev Corvair below!

Number 8 of 360

This photograph today is about more than just the image. It’s about progress.  Photography in the name of progress!

Coming across this photograph, one might focus on the problems.  The problems are superficial though and that’s why I don’t tolerate trolls.  I’ll address the problems, but I’ll be sure to say why you should ignore them.  I think photography in the name of progress could be something that more people need to understand as we view so many digital photographs online today.

Let’s look at the big issue and why someone might harp on it.

The HDR haloing issue around the fire hydrant is one of the notorious issues that people go through when shooting for HDR Photography.  I know the shot isn’t perfect and that’s why I love it.  I’ve began to look at images like this and realize the photograph represents progress.

Over 3 years ago, this photograph looked great to me because that’s where I was in development.  Photography is a skill that’s been self-taught over time, and HDR Photography is even more self-taught than anything else.  Every bit of skill has progressed over time.  This is probably the case for you as well.  I hear going to photography school will kill your love for photography anyways!

I can look at the shot now and realize that I’ve grown and improved from this level. Your image, that a grumpy photographer might make an off comment towards, suddenly becomes a photograph in the name of progress.  Hence, I recommend providing constructive criticism when commenting on the work of other photographers.  You never know if the image is quite old and they’ve moved on from that point.  If they haven’t grown from that level of processing work, it could be you that helps them push through the plateau.  Be the change and remember this one thing too:

Remember that you’re next photograph is always your best photograph.  Everything in the name of progress.

The Corvair sat behind an alley off Dundas Street and is still around over a year later (buy this rotting corvair). I have a good number of images from the first London Photowalk that are still waiting for some editing love.  Eventually I’ll get around to a display of the images from each photowalk I’ve participated in as a series on the blog. It will be epic for sure.

The fact that I am still playing with photographs from the first London Photowalk should be a reason to come out and take part in more photowalks or maybe your very first. The walk gets you out and using your camera! I love the abundance of inspiration that comes from actually getting out and playing with that expensive ‘toy.’

I would love to hear if you’ve found something really special in your photo walks.  I know Kevin Van Lierop has found that he loves going for the conversations and the photography has become less important.

I’d love to find out more about photowalks that go on in other cities and get out to some this summer.  I am sure that Scott Kelby is going to run his annual worldwide photowalk this summer again, and I might venture out to a different city for it.  Start getting excited now because the summer is going to rock!