How to Create HDR Photographs in a Few Easy Steps

Creating HDR images is quite easy—you just lay the source photos down on top of each other (or get some software to do it for you). And the results from HDR can be surprising. So in this article, we’ll be taking a look at how to create and edit HDR images using Zoner Photo Studio.

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AuthorMajo Elias

I’ve been taking pictures since 2004. When I was starting out, I photographed almost everything. Later my style solidified and I began photographing people almost exclusively. At the moment my main genres are fashion and advertising.

Comments (3)

  1. Awesome thank you!

  2. I think HDR is vastly overrated. I’ve never tried to use HDR but I have seen the results of others’ efforts. Generally, they are ghastly – including many of those in the album you linked to.

    With the example photo in this article, however, I can see no difference between the original ‘normal-exposure source picture’ and the ‘final picture after the HDR edit’. Perhaps you could explain what ‘improvement’ the HDR process has made.

    You hit the nail right on the head when you said ‘HDR isn’t for every photo’ and ‘think carefully about when and where you use it, and what strength to use. Otherwise, you’ll do more harm than good.’ Sadly, many photographers don’t seem to understand that.

  3. Thank you for the feedback, John.
    Overall I agree with your opinion, however let me answer what seems to interest you the most. The low-intensity HDR will cause the overexposed parts, as well as shadows, to be more sharp. This is an especially invaluable asset if you have an older type of camera or if your camera has issues with dynamic range. The results of this can be seen more on printed pictures than on the screen.
    As I have mentioned in the article, HDR is used due to less dynamic range of the chip. The cameras made nowadays (especially higher class DSLR or mirrorless) render HDR useless.
    Regarding the album the article linked to, different strokes for different folks, someone likes it while others do not, there is not much to be done about it. However, I recommend to de-saturate the picture if the adjustments are extensive, the picture will get a cartoony feel.

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