HDRI stands for High Dynamic Range Image.
It is a process of taking multiple photographs of the same scene (usually with your camera on a tripod). Each photograph is taken with a different exposure level, most SLR Cameras can automatically bracket exposures by up to (+) or (-) 2 stops. The photograph of the water falls below was combined utilising 3 photographs ~ (-2 stops, correctly exposed, + 2 stops). You then use software to combine all the photographs into one image with a much greater dynamic range than any one photo is capable of capturing.
A photographic scene like this water fall may have a dynamic range of 100,000 to 1 (which means the brightest point is 100,00 brighter than the darkest point).
For most of my HDR’s I utilise PhotoMatrix Pro software to combine the various exposures.
Empress Fall - Valley of the Waters - Blue Mountains National Park in Australia
All photographs by Stefan Liam Mackay.
