Top photographer Rick Sammon shares his greatest HDR tips and tricks

High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is a process in which a photographer shoots multiple shots of the same subject at varying exposure settings and then “stitches” the images together with photo-editing software into a single photo that presents sharper color and focus than a single image. World-renowned digital photographer and Canon Explorer of Light Rick Sammon reveals his most amazing HDR tips, tricks, and techniques for creating the best possible HDR images.

Packed with more than 150 of Sammon’s stunning full-color photos and more than 200 techniques, this invaluable guide inspires and motivates you to capture and edit your own unique still-life images.

• World-renowned digital photographer and Canon Explore of Light Rick Sammon reveals a wealth of unparalleled High Dynamic Range (HDR) tips, tricks, and techniques
• Inspires both amateur and experienced photographers to boost their creativity, and improve the quality of their images in the digital darkroom
• Features more than 150 beautiful images from Sammon’s own portfolio as well as more than 200 tips and tricks for shooting and editing HDR images

HDR Secrets for Digital Photographers unveils an abundance of tips and tricks that will help you make your good HDR photos great.

Top Ten HDR Photography Tips
Amazon-exclusive content from author Rick Sammon

If you’re new to HDR, here are my top ten tips for capturing the best HDR photographs.

1) When capturing an HDR image, you should shoot at least 3 exposures. My suggestion is to shoot: 0 EV, +2 EV and -2EV

2) Keep the aperture constant between all captures.

3) Use a cable release or self-timer.

4) Use Photomatix to process your images.

5) In Photomatix, adjust the White Point slider first – to preserve the highlights.

6) When processing in Photomatix, make sure the highlights are not washed out and the shadows are not blocked up.

7) After Photomatix, increase sharpness and contrast in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

Try a touch of Topaz Adjust on your HDR images to add an artistic touch.

9) If you have an old JPEG file that you’d like to transform into an HDR-style image, try Topaz Adjust to create a pseudo HDR image.

10) And in my opinion the most important tip is to be creative and have fun with HDR.

“…I was fortunate to have parents who loved traveling, especially off the beaten path. From the Alps to the Carpathians, islands and volcanoes, I have seen many wonders, now cherished memories. However, it is not until 2002 – when I picked up a digital camera – that I started recording these memories on a medium other than my visual cortex. It probably won’t come as a surprise that my subjects of predilections are natural landscapes. Simply enjoying the calm and serenity of my surroundings, I will gladly sit in the same spot for hours… sometimes just to get the right shot.

2002 is also the year that I first visited New York City. I was doing an internship there in order to complete my Masters degree in technology and…”

InterestingNYC.com is a photo blog dedicated to documenting Interesting Places and Ideas to Photograph In New York City. The blog features Street Photography, Interesting NYC Characters, and Urban Landscapes.

“AJ Baxter is an amateur photographer residing in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The images in this blog were captured & created by him during his on-going journeys to Belize, Central America.”

“Originally from Canberra, Australia – Asher is a photographer, producer and visual gun for hire. After spending several years as a TV producer and picture taker in his home town, he now lives in the Netherlands.

Asher’s photography is about people, the real world, difficult gazes, the night and the day, eyes and maybe getting somewhere that other photographers couldn’t or just didn’t bother.

Currently living in Amsterdam – Asher has a (healthy) obsession for light and human beings.”