Colorado Photography by Chester Bullock

HDR (high dynamic range) images are starting to take the photography world by storm (at the time of this writing, the HDR Flickr group has over 18,000 members). If you ask a room full of people what HDR is, you get a wide range of answers, and typically they are all partly correct. Simply put however, HDR imaging is the process of creating an image that encompasses a wide range of exposure values. This allows the resultant image to be nearly all encompassing in every detail. HDR Imaging has, until very recently, been the purvey of Hollywood graphic and special effects artists. “The HDRI Handbook” by Christian Bloch helps bring this exciting arena to everyone else.

The first part of the book gives a much needed overview of what HDRI really is. It also delves into current camera technology, describes present-day limiting factors, and outlines where the industry is headed (hold on to your hats!). From there the author provides an overview of HDRI tools – quite current as the book was published in November of 2007 – and gives an unbiased review of each.

At this point, you delve right into the steps needed to capture a quality series of images from which you can generate an HDR image. This is not for the faint of heart – you need to know your camera well. In the off chance you don’t know your camera that well, this section helps you learn more. It certainly taught me a couple things.

Also covered are such critical subjects as image cleanup, croppung and framing, and other adjustments that are but the first step of creating the HDR image. From here you move on to critical sections on Tone Mapping and shooting Panoramic HDR images. The book wraps up with a section for using HDR images in CG (computer generated) graphics.

It should be noted that all tutorials in the book assume the use of Photoshop CS3. However, features of other tools, such as FDR Tools and Artizen, are covered quite well. Numerous example images are on the accompanying DVD, along with sample versions of the latest HDR programs. In addition, there is a companion website to keep the reader up to speed on this fast emerging area of imaging.

“The HDRI Handbook” is a must read for anyone who wants to dabble in HDR imaging. Written by a recognized expert in the field, this book carefully and cleanly details everything you need to know to generate quality HDR images that will make you the envy of your photographer friends. The examples in the book are stunning, and the techniques presented will give you confidence for when you start to compile your own High Dynamic Range image library.