Featured Photos Weekly Challenge - HDR

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_hdrVia Toby - This week I was looking for images that provided a wide dynamic range without looking unreal - something the eye is capable of seeing but not taken to the extreme with saturation or clarity, or really even any additional color cast that happens in some HDR. I have a few small prizes I will be reaching out to our top picks soon. Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_animalsFind out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtvYou can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Toby’s Features:

This spot looks nicely shady but detail throughout makes me feel like I am there.

When you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world. . . . #sfbotanicalgarden #goldengatepark #sanfrancisco #onlyinsf #thesanfrancisco #alwayssf #sfguide #wildbayarea #howsfseessf #igerssf #sinfrancisco #naturephotography #nature_brilliance #naturegraphy #instanature #nature #naturegram #hdrphotography #hdr #adventureisoutthere #solitary #solitude #canon #teamcanon #prtv #prtv_hdr

A post shared by Justin Lai (@justlai87) on Jun 6, 2017 at 5:48pm PDT

I have been here, I know it’s tricky to shoot into the sun through the arch and still get detail in the shadows! Maxence did a fantastic job of balancing the lights and the darks here to produce a detailed rich image.

Sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, Utah during our trip last week with @rabiertour. It was packed but as we arrived early we managed to pick a good spot and keep it until the sun rises. What a great show! Many more pictures to come from this trip, I have a lot from England before that but I had to post for this week's #prtv challenge, #prtv_hdr challenge! . . . . . #mesaarch #canyonlands #nationalpark #utahisrad #igutah #utahgram #wowutah #focalmarked #sunshine #visitutah #sunsets #instasky #skyporn #earlybird #mothernature #skylovers #dawn #naturephoto #main_vision #artofvisuals #watchthisinstagood #landscape_captures #awesome_earthpix #natureaddict #rsa_rural #awesomeearth #nature_wizards #ourplanetdaily @focalmark

A post shared by Maxence Lefort (@maxencelefort) on Jun 6, 2017 at 9:20am PDT

Composition, colors, the detail in the grass - all combine to create a lovely scene. Well done!

Sunrise #photography #landscape #landscapephotography #peakdistrict #peakdistrictnationalpark #mympb #PRTV_hdr #prtv #sunrise #mamtor #hopevalley #bbcbritain #uk_greatshots #lovegreatbritain #visitbritain #visualsofbritain #nikon #d7200 #nikoneurope #landscapephoto #landscapephotomag #hpow

A post shared by Darren Howley (@darren_howley) on Jun 4, 2017 at 11:44pm PDT

Roy’s Features:

It’s a nice softer shot that works well to recover a lot of the shadows you’d otherwise miss from a backlit photo.

Para manter os detalhes tanto do sol quanto das sombras, foram tiradas 3 fotos: uma mediana, uma expondo para o céu e outra expondo para as montanhas. Por fim, todas foram juntas no photoshop. . . . . . . . . . #sunset #pordosol #montanhas #mountains #hdr #luminositymasks #pic #photo #picture #fotografia #canon70d #canon_70d #PRTV_hdr #light #luz #minasgerais #prtv

A post shared by Pedro Zajden (@pedrozajden) on Jun 3, 2017 at 3:10pm PDT

Using HDR in the case of a night shot is a nice way to get a few stars and expose your subject with a bit less noise.

#hangerparty #grosseille #grosseilleairport #PRTV_hdr just outside airplane hanger.. out on Grosse Ille Michigan... wish more stars. But

A post shared by bob grzembski (@bobbiog_) on Jun 5, 2017 at 11:12am PDT

Shooting from a cave’s light shaft is tough as there is quite the range of lit subjects to dark shadow making HDR a great choice.

Ash Cave lightshaft #prtv #renegade_rural #naturephoto #main_vision #landscape_captures #awesome_earthpix #natureaddict #rsa_rural #awesomeearth #nature_wizards #gottalove_a_ #allnatureshots #instanaturelover #earth_deluxe #nature_brilliance #EarthVisuals #artofvisuals #welivetoexplore #natureaddict #naturediversity #ourplanetdaily #earth_deluxe #instanaturelover #nature_prefection #allnatureshots #focalmarked #prtv_hdr

A post shared by Maxim Muir (@anscochrome) on May 28, 2017 at 6:18pm PDT

Nikon D5200 HDR Samples

Sample images using the built in HDR function on the Nikon D5200 - Options are HDR OFF, Auto HDR,  Extra High, High, Norm, and Low.  In my testing there was often very little difference between auto, normal and low.    Notice the serious Halos around your higher contrast areas when HDR was set to Extra High.  Compare the options and results to the HDR feature built into the Canon T4i and it is clear that Nikon offers some real potential here but it still is not going to beat bracketing three shots on your own and combining in Photomatix or Photoshop.HDR OFF - Mouse over for HDR Extra High[himage][/himage]HDR OFF - Mouse over for HDR Auto[himage][/himage]Viewing tip - Open up the photos and use the arrow keys to navigate through - once you have been through all of the photos once you can use the arrow keys to easily pop back and forth to compare the HDR on and off.