What is HDR?

“Before it became an in-camera tool, HDR was how people worked around their camera’s limitations by using bracketing,” photographer Chelsea Ruggiero explains. “With bracketing, you take a photo underexposed, you take a photo at medium exposure, and then you take one overexposed. Then you can overlay those in post-processing and merge them into one perfectly composed image.”

Why make HDR images?

When photographers want to capture photos that exceed the capabilities of their cameras, they use the HDR photo process to capture the full dynamic range of images. By bringing different exposures together, you can make the most of every pixel so images more closely resemble what the human eye can perceive. “I use HDR during sunset, blue hour, and when I’m shooting landscapes. Most of my night shots are HDRs,” says photographer Aaron Rashid.

Try Auto HDR photos.

Many DSLR cameras and smartphones come with built-in HDR modes so you don’t have to use post-processing and compress multiple images together. Auto HDR mode is great for beginners to get a sense of what an HDR image looks and feels like, but for full creative control and best picture quality, shoot a bracket (or series) of RAW images in manual mode and merge them together with post-processing software.

Images by Aaron Rashid

Create your own HDR photos.

“High dynamic range can be used well, but I think it’s something that people should do manually,” says Ruggiero. “The bracketing style just gives you more control.”

To create your own HDR photos with your DSLR camera, iPhone, or Android, take three photos at different exposure levels. For the best results, shoot RAW to capture as much data as possible. Also, use a tripod. “When you’re stacking the images afterward, they need to be lined up, so be sure the second and third shots are in the same position as the first shot,” says Rashid. 

1. Take the photos.

Start with a base shot that captures the midrange between the bright and dark areas. Then get an exposure with the shutter speed adjusted for the peak brightness of the scene (so the dark areas are in silhouette), and then take one more with the shutter speed adjusted for the darkest areas (so the bright areas are blown out). You’ll end up with a well-exposed image, an overexposed image, and an underexposed image.

2. Merge your photos.

To merge photos in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, first import your images. From there, select the images you want to stack. Then select Photo › Photo Merge › HDR, or press Command + H on a Mac or Control + H on a PC. You can check Auto Tone to get a good starting point for an evenly toned image. If you check Auto Align, Lightroom will automatically correct for any slight change in camera position between shots.