Over the last couple of years, HDR (high dynamic range) photography has become more prevalent. Some photographers take it to the extreme and create pieces that are less photograph and more computer-generated artwork, while others use the technique in moderation and attempt to more accurately portray the colors, lights, and shadows as seen by the human eye.
The current process for creating and HDR image usually involves capturing multiple photos of the same scene while in the field, with each photo having a different exposure. The photographer then uses software to merge these photos and create a composite image which has a wider dynamic range of tones from light to dark than is possible from a single capture with today’s cameras.
A few compact (point and shoot) cameras have started to feature “in camera HDR”, where the device performs the merge in-camera so that only one file, and HDR composite, is the result. While this might be great in a point-and-shoot, I disagree with some predictions that pro photographers will start to use it on their DSLR. For the same reasons that pros don’t shoot in “P” mode, pros will want to control the details of the process so that the photographer can create the best possible image and potentially apply their own style to the photo.
In-camera HDR will be much like in-camera JPG: although there might be some ideal conditions where it’s useful, most pros will choose to shoot RAW and process their own HDR so that they can control the process completely… folks are paying for that professional touch.
What do you think? What’s the likelihood of you using in-camera HDR?
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