Before The Coffee » Photography

Here is a Flash Merging example taken with an SB-800 Nikon flash triggered off camera. Four images were taken with the flash held in a different position for each image. I loaded 16-bit tiff’s into Photomatix with the “Exposure Blending” option and blended using the “Highlights and Shadows – Intensive” choice. Its good to play around with all the Photomatix choices and see what you like the best. I even decided to go back and eliminate an image and try a combination of just 3. After I saved the final blended image, I followed with some cloning of the grayed reflections in Photoshop then added curves and color saturation.

You can see some more examples of flash merging in the Strobist group on flickr: HERE

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It’s an exciting time for me as the culmination of 2 years of HDR field testing and processing is released in my new book: “Complete Guide to HDR Digital Photography.” The book is written for photographers who want to learn HDR and then progress to advanced techniques in the field and computer processing. Categories of scenes are explained to help the photographer recognize when a single image will suffice verses the need for an expanded image set to capture an extremely high dynamic range.

Many HDR topics are explained in detail including camera setup, HDR software comparison, advanced image analysis, post-processing HDR and single-image tone mapping. Sections of the book also include HDR for architecture and panorama photography. The HDR book also includes a newly introduced technique of using flash with HDR, called Flash Merging.

“Complete Guide to HDR Digital Photography” also includes 5 contributing HDR artists’. The artists are internationally recognized for their work in HDR and can be seen on the Flickr photo site. They include the international traveler Trey Ratcliff, Asmundur Thorkelsson from Iceland, Valerio Pandolfi from Italy, John Adams from Florida, and Domingo Leiva from Spain.

For those that are interested, Flash Merging is done with a single camera strobe used off camera. I use the Nikon SB800 and move around the scene taking exposures with the strobe held in a different position. The image set is then blended using “Exposure Blending” in Photomatix. Of course the book goes into all the details on Flash Merging but you can at least start experimenting with Photomatix. You are welcome to use my coupon code for a 15% discount on the Photomatix site, “beforethecoffee”

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  • Mike Palmer - March 23, 2008 - 8:24 am

    Looking forward to getting the book, Congrats!! I used your site as a resource for HDR last year when I started doing some.ReplyCancel

  • David McLaughlin - March 28, 2008 - 2:11 pm

    Congratulations on the book. I can’t wait to see it.
    Please tell us more about this flash merging.ReplyCancel

  • Hennessey 20 « Hennessey|G Photography - March 31, 2008 - 8:39 am

    […] many locations to shoot.  A photographer’s dream.  I definitely will be purchasing his book Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Digital Photography  I believe he said it will be released in May.  Looking at the advance copy, it will definitely […]ReplyCancel

  • John B. - April 8, 2008 - 11:48 am

    Congratulations on the Book Ferrell! Very happy for you and I hope you have great success!ReplyCancel

  • Louie Hui - June 6, 2008 - 1:16 pm

    Hi Ferrell:

    I bought your book and I love it. Thank you so much your time and effort putting all essentials toghether.

    I have question for you. The new Pentax DSLR K20D and K200D have a bulit-in HDR function which shoot 3 explosures and merge them within the camera processing. I don’t have all the detail, but it sounds like very good. What do you think? I want to get this camera. It save a lot of time for HDR-post-processing.

    LouieReplyCancel

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This is Carlin’s first shoot and I must say I am thoroughly impressed. She knows how to bring it! Her poses are spot on, her expressions are perfect and intensity is amazing. I will be helping Carlin as much as I can but if you know anyone or have contacts that will help Carlin launch her modeling career then drop me a note.

I am hosting a flickr meetup group at the studio the end of March. Carlin will be there and if you are coming you won’t be disappointed.

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  • Marcy - March 11, 2008 - 7:35 pm

    Ferrell! Again, thanks a ton for opening your studio to your flickr friends! Carlin is BEAUTIFUL and the bg looks GREAT!! I can’t wait to meet the both of you!

    Carlin – you’re on your way to a great career!!

    PEACE!
    ~MReplyCancel

  • Max - March 11, 2008 - 11:24 pm

    She’s definitely got natural talent! Her shots look great. I especially like the second one.ReplyCancel

  • Jeff H - April 21, 2008 - 1:30 am

    Hello Ferrell,
    I met you about a year ago at the base of the Washington Monument ……and you briefly mentioned your ‘HDR’ Book project ….. well …..it looks as if it’s about to hit the shelves ………so Congratulations.
    Jeff ———-Fleet Mgr. @ Hayward Toyota in the S.F. Bay Area.ReplyCancel

  • Anna - August 4, 2011 - 2:01 am

    I agree, I like the background and the chair isn’t too bad either 😛ReplyCancel

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It’s pretty obvious from a quick glance at HDR the “look” is quite different from a conventional single shot. But what’s going on, why is it different? The issue is that HDR images (specifically tone mapped images) are capable of showing tone reversals. Areas of the image that we perceive in the real world as the brightest are no longer the brightest in the tone mapped image.

The HDR tone reversal look is most evident when the image includes the sky. Tone reversals are not so obvious in scenes that do not include the sky and are usually more successful when tone mapped to extreme levels. If you are not quite enamored by the full blown HDR look there is an answer. Blend the single shot image with the HDR image. It allows you to have the best of both worlds – realistic lighting (single shot), low noise, open shadows and controlled highlights (HDR).

Here are three version of an image: Single Shot 0EV, HDR image and 50-50% blend of the two.

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