HDR from a Single Raw Photo – Nikon D90 Blog

I get asked a lot if you can make an HDR photo from a single raw file. My answer is sure you can! I've created some pretty nice HDR photos from a single Raw (NEF) file. I know a lot of HDR purest out there will disagree and say that’s not real HDR but that's OK, it still works and looks great…So I’m going to try to show you how to accomplish this. It's really easy!

Some might say why would you need to just use one raw file anyway? Well real HDR is done using your cameras bracketing. That’s 3 photos of the same subject bracketed, one underexposed, one overexposed, and one perfectly exposed. Like -150, +150, and 000 exposure values. The D90 can only do 3 shot bracketing but some other cameras can do 5 shoot bracketing. That’s all fine and dandy when your subject isn’t moving and you can set up your tripod and take 3 quick burst shots bracketed, but what if you want to HDR a moving subject or didn’t plan on doing a HDR photo and only have one raw image to use. That’s were this how to tutorial comes in handy. HDR (High Dynamic Range) from a single raw file.

This tutorial is my personal work flow to accomplish this technique. I’ll be using Photoshop Elements 10 with Adobe Raw and Dynamic HDR software. That’s all you’ll need. Adobe Raw is the main factor in this how to tutorial. Basically when you download your raw photos and go to full edit them in Elements, Adobe Raw opens first with your raw image. And this is where we will need to use the exposure slider to set your over and under exposures. So you will be opening the same image 3 times in adobe raw and saving each one as a different exposure. Each time you open your photo you’ll need to adjust the exposure slider and save as to your desktop. Once this has all been done it’s time for the fun stuff, using your HDR software. So lets get started.

Click on Images to see at full Size

#1 Open Elements Organizer, highlight your raw image and click Full Photo Edit. opening Adobe Raw.

So find your Raw image in the organizer and select Full Edit. This will open it in adobe Raw. This first image is going to be my perfect exposure so the exposure slider should be at 0.00.

#2 Adobe Raw is now open, Exposure slider is at 0.00 just were we want it. Click Open Image.

Next, click open and your image should appear in the elements editor. In the editor just simply click file > Save as. File type PSD and name it 000 to your desk top (Very important that you save it as a .PSD file so it retains its correct exposure data for the HDR software) Note: Make sure you don’t change anything to do with the image size or other editing. You can do all that after the HDR image is done.

#3 This is what you should see after opening the image from adobe raw.

#4 click file > Save as. File type PSD and name it 000 to your desk top

Now you have created your first of 3 of the same images to your desk top for later use. Now we need to repeat step #1 again to get back to step #2. This time we are going to use the exposure slider and set it to -150 which makes the image darker. Once you have done this hit open image to go back to Elements editor to save this image as -150.

#5 Once back open in Adobe Raw slide the exposure down to -150 and open image

Now we are going to save this second image as -150 to our desk top.

#6 click file > Save as. File type PSD and name it -150 to your desk top

Repeat step#1 to get to step# 2. This time we are going to use the exposure slider and set it to +150 which makes the image brighter. Once you have done this hit open image to go back to Elements editor to save this image as +150.

#7 Once back open in Adobe Raw slide the exposure up to +150 and open image.

Now we are going to save this third image as +150 to our desk top.

#8 click file > Save as. File type PSD and name it +150 to your desk top

So that should do it! You should have 3 of the same images on your desk top saved with 3 different exposure values….Now on to the fun part.

Now it’s time to open your HDR software. I’m using Dynamic HDR but I’m sure any HDR software will do like the very popular Photomatix Pro. So open your HDR software and click, Create HDR File. You will be prompted to select your 3 images you saved to your desk top earlier. Select File 000,-150, and +150.

#9 Open HDR software, Click Create HDR file, and click add images.

#10 Select your 3 images on your desk top. 000,-150,+150 and hit OK.

The next window (below) will open and we need to do a few things here before we proceed. You should notice first that all three images are showing the same exposure value. So the first thing you need to do in this window is hit the Guess Exposure button. This will read the raw image data in display the correct exposures. Note: they might not read exactly 000, -150, and +150 but they should be close. Make sure the “Align Files in Next Step” is unchecked. We would only use this option if we used our camera to bracket 3 shoots and might need to align something like clouds. But since we are only using one image we don’t need to align anything. Once you have this all done go ahead and hit OK.

#11 Click Guess EV (exposure value), uncheck Align files in next step, Hit Ok.

Your HDR software will begin making your HDR file that you are going to Tone Map in the final steps.


#12 Time to Tone Map your just created HDR file. Click Tone Map HDR file.

Once you hit Tone Map it will take a few seconds for the next window to come up. Once it has been tone mapped your HDR image is done, But to get that HDR look your probably looking for you need to play with the Sliders first. The most important sliders to use for that cool HDR look is the:

1. Dramatic Light Radius
2. Dramatic Light Strength
3. Surface Smoothness

#13 Use your 3 most important sliders to get the look you want. Then hit Process and save….Your done you did it! My personal next step is to open the new finished image in my editor and make all my normal edits….

For this image I used in this tutorial I only did the following to get this finished look. Dramatic Light Radius slider to 12.02, Dramatic Light Strength to 1.00, and Surface Smoothness to 0.28 and that’s it…Once you play around and get comfortable start playing with other buttons like, filters, gamma, and all the others...

I hope you'll give this a try! please let me know if I forgot something or you have a general question! I'm no english scholar so I hope my grammar wasn't too bad. lol

Books on HDR Photography you might be interested in:

Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Digital Photography
HDR Photography Photo Workshop
Practical HDR
A World in HDR
High Dynamic Range Digital Photography For Dummies

Happy Halloween Nikon D90 followers!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!

I found this link on general tips to taking great Halloween photos!....Send me you best Halloween photos and I'll post the best here for all to see!

Five Great Budget Lenses for the Nikon D90!

With today's economy it seems we are all on some kind of crazy budget just so we can pay our bills each month. The cost of gas, food and everything else has really cut into all my hobbies and especially my photography hobby. I don't see any $600 plus dollar lenses in my immediate future but maybe, just maybe a new budget lens could satisfy my photography urges in the mean time, all 5 under $300 dollars each.

Here is a list of my top five great budget lenses, and when I say great I mean all 5 of these lenses get great user reviews. So don't even hesitate to pick one up thinking it's to cheap to be good!

1. Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens $180 - User Reviews

2. Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR $194 - User Review

3. Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF $125 - User Reviews

4. Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX - $199 - User Reviews

5. Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro $280 - User Reviews

Let us know if you have a favorite budget lens!

Arrow in Flight - Nikon D90, SB600, and Auto-FP

Click Picture to see Bigger

Hello everyone, I want to share with you how I captured this photo of an arrow in flight with my D90 and SB-600 using the D90's Auto-FP High Speed Sync feature. As you probably know when using a speed flash with the Nikon D90 you are limited to a 1/200th of a second shutter-speed. That's not very fast if you want to stop a arrow in flight flying at about 300 fps. With Auto-FP set to (ON) in your menu (that's E5) you can get speeds from 1/200th to1/4000th of a second shutter speeds with flash. Auto-FP high speed sync is not available using the built-in-flash so you'll need a speed flash.

Here's the set-up I used to capture the arrow coming off my cousins bow.

Lens: Tamron 17-50mm 2.8
Shutter Priority: 1/4000
Aperture: 2.8
Exp Comp: -0.7
ISO: 360
Focus Mode: AF-C
Focal Length: 50mm
Flash: TTl-BL
Auto-FP: On (e5 in your menu)

Nikon D90 Raw (NEF) Files Now Supported By Windows 7

click to watch youtube video

We know from customer feedback that dealing with raw images on Windows hasn’t always been easy. While there is software that works well to convert raw files to JPEG, we have some good news for consumers looking for a built-in Windows solution. Today we’re happy to announce that Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011 now supports raw format images. Just download the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack for Windows 7 and Windows Vista to be able to view raw photo files from more than 120 DSLR cameras in Photo Gallery, as well as in Windows Explorer.
by Brad Weed

Macro Photography with the Nikon D90 and Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro Lens!

Well it’s been awhile now since I got this Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro lens and I wanted to blog a little about it and my experience using it.

First off its a true 1:1 magnification 90mm prime macro lens. To achieve true 1:1 magnification you’ll need to have the lens barrel fully extended all the way out as seen in the picture. Once you do this you’ll have to move the camera back and forth on your subject to get in focus. This is not as easy as it sounds! The Tamron 90mm fully extended and close enough to focus on a subject is approximately 3 ¾” away from your subject. That’s only if you want “true 1:1 macro”.  Now 3 ¾” is pretty darn close to your subject and the  focal-plane is as thin as a few strands of hair at a large f-stop say, f/2.8 – 4. Sometimes that works great and the bokeh (background blur) is wonderful but I find a smaller f-stop is easier to work with like F/11-16 even F22 to get the best focus on the whole subject.

A tripod is a must and would be even better if you have a Joby Gorillapod tripod for those shots were your on your knees and very close to the ground. You’ll also need a remote shutter release to get the job done. Using your on camera flash wont work for you since you are so close to your subject. When I need to use my flash I use my SB600 off camera in commander mode and this works great.

The Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro lens is as sharp as a tack and very light on the D90. This lens also doubles as a great portrait lens also so you get a true macro lens and portrait lens in one lens! Below are a couple of shots I got in the back yard messing around. I hope you get a chance to discover the tiny world of macro with your D90, It’s a blast…

1/250, F/9, 90mm, 0 EV, No Flash


1/125, F/20, 90mm, -4/3 EV, No Flash

Check out this Lens and Reviews Here!

New Nikon 50mm F/1.8G Lens for the D90 - Only $219!

Hello, As Uncle Joe reported in his last blog post their is a new 50mm Prime Lens for us D90 users avalible now from Amazon. Anyway I thought I'd post some info on it for you all. I think I'll be getting this lens also since I always wanted the old nifty 50 but never did pick one up! I believe this new lens has the built in focus motor so it will now focus on the Nikon D40 if you still have that camera in your arsenal. This FX lens on the D90 would be more like a 75mm lens on our DX camera.

Fast, upgraded f/1.8, compact FX-format prime lens

Newly developed optical system with Aspherical lens element

Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM)

M/A Focus Mode Switch

Optimized for edge to edge sharpness on both FX and DX-format D-SLRs

Fast f/1.8, compact FX-format prime (fixed focal length) lens

Optimized for FX-format D-SLR cameras but equally at home on any Nikon DX-format D-SLR, this updated classic with a fast maximum aperture is ideal for everyday shooting, perfect in low lighting situations and great for producing images with beautiful background blur (bokeh). The AF-S 50mm f/1.8G includes Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM) for fast and precise autofocus, M/A Focus Mode Switch for seamless changes between manual and autofocus operation and an aspherical lens element for outstanding optical performance with high contrast.

Video Preview By Fro Knows Photo - Click Here

Check out the Reviews Here

It's Official...

As of May 15th, the D90 was officially discontinued on the Nikon Japan site... However, you can still buy (that's right, BUY) the D90 directly from Nikon USA! I guess they are trying to get rid of their stock?

SO! That means that y'all that actually do own one, are now the proud owners of an antique! Give it 10-20 years, and you can sell it for what you paid for it!

In other news, you can buy a 50mm f/1.8 AF-S with auto-focus on June 2nd.

And here's another picture, for those of you who are interested...

D90 Owners - Nikon's "Welcome to Our World"

Hey all check out the new Nikon "Welcome to our World" web site. Pretty cool stuff to pass the time and learn something.

Features:
Lens Simulator
VR Technology
Light is Beautiful
Positioning Map
The Optical Masterpiece
Let the Work Know

Here's the Link

Pop-Up Shade For the Nikon D90 LCD!

Has anyone used this product? not sure i see much use for it myself. From the reviews it seems like most people really like it.

Delkin Devices DND90-P Nikon D90 Pop-Up Shade (Black)

Nikon D90 Professional Snap On. The Digital SLR Professional is designed to attach to your camera using the existing eye piece and slots around the display. It easily snaps on and off, and features an optically clear plastic to protect your camera's screen. The simple pop-up design allows for easy opening to block the glare. Buttons on the Professional shades are aligned with your camera to reduce the wear and tear on delicate parts and components.

• Optically clear plastic to protect your camera's screen
• Buttons on the Professional shades are aligned with your camera to reduce the wear and tear on delicate parts and components

Check it out Here!