This photo was made using 7 individual exposures. The main index image was metered about halfway between the bright sky and the darker tones of the building models. I have dedicated one of my cameras to making HDR images. I changed several of the settings on my camera to accommodate HDR imaging. Digital Photo Pro has several settings for the camera that lend themselves very well to making HDR photos. For example, expanding auto exposure bracketing to 7 images instead of the default 3. Also, limiting high speed bursts to 7 exposures helps ensure a hand held camera has very little movement between exposures, which limits ghosting.

Camera: Canon 1D Mark II
Lens: 24-70 f2.8 L
Base Exposure: 1/500 f/8
7 exposures set at 2/3 stop increments

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I love photographing architectural interiors, especially kitchens. I have several clients who regularly call on me to make images of their recent work. The kitchen remodeling contractor who hired me for this is so good at designing the light in their kitchens, I simply cannot improve on what they’ve done with artificial light.

My feeling is, if I add light to the kitchen with strobes, I lose exactly what they designed the kitchen to look like. They designed pools of light to fall in specific areas to highlight the cabinetry, granite counters and work areas.

I’m finding HDR or High Dynamic Range to be a perfect solution these days. By taking 7 images of varying exposures, I’m able to preserve details in the brightest highlights down to the deepest shadows. Ultimately, what the client ends up with is a photo that looks exactly how their eye sees it naturally, which is always my goal for client photography.

Details: Canon 5D Mark II, 24-70 f2.8L, f11, shot in RAW, 7 exposures

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Posted by Sacramento Photographer, William Foster