A World in HDR
by Trey Ratcliff
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Book Summary Information
Author: Trey RatcliffBrand: Peachpit Press
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-12-13
ISBN: 0321679946
Number of pages: 216
Publisher: New Riders Press
Product features:
- A breathtaking collection of HDR photographs
- Engaging explanations of how the author achieved the image
- Expert tips for achieving stunning results (and avoiding common mistakes)
- A foolproof HDR tutorial and software recommendations
- Photoshop CS4 Down & Dirty Tricks
- Canon Rebel T1i/500D: From Snapshots to Great Shots
- VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography
Book Reviews of A World in HDR
Book Review: Well worth waiting for, a book by a master of HDR
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using HDR techniques for more than a year, but when I look at the images of really talented photographers who have mastered this process I realize that I still have a lot to learn. That's why I was delighted to learn that two books by two masters were recently released. Practical HDR by David Nightingale (ISBN: 9780240812496) is the other, and has its own review. They are related books with different strengths and weaknesses. I encourage you to look at both reviews (by myself and others) if you have to choose only one. However, both get 5-Stars and if you can buy both your resulting prints will be better for it.
The author, Trey Ratcliff, is also the force behind a very popular HDR oriented blog, stuckincustoms. Anyone interested in (or addicted to) this technique would enjoy following it. In addition, there are several free tutorials on that site.
The opening page has the title, "What is HDR". It contains two images. One is a single, properly exposed image that most photographers would probably delete and the other is an HDR version that is spectacular. A quote from that page sums it all up, "HDR is an evolving art that enables the photographer to capture and display the full range of light that can be realized by the human eye." The rest of the first chapter includes some stunning photographs and some explanation of what HDR does. Here's a simplified summary: a human eye can see details in shadows and at the same time see details in bright areas. A camera can't. However, that same camera can be told to take three images, but to pay attention to the bright spots in one image, the mid ranges in another and the shadows in the third. After that, software can merge these images (taking the best details from each) and create a picture that resembles what the eye can see.
The book is broken into sections and chapters that take readers through introductory materials and then into more advanced concepts. The last third is devoted to tutorials with more text and fewer finished images.
Most of the pages in the first two thirds of the book have a great image on the right and a description on the left. The description always adds some detail about what was done to make it better. Not a full blown tutorial, but a clear insight instead. For example, a page with a picture that has a lot of grass in the foreground has a comment that tells us that bright sun reflects off of grass and often gives it a garish look, especially after tonemapping. Trey's advice is to go into Photoshop and adjust the Hue/Saturation slider to remove some yellow. (As a mid-level PS user, I would have instinctively worked on the green.) As sections progress, more and more details are uncovered. Much of what Trey has to say is about how the eye and brain process images. He tells of visual experiments where the experimenter projects two colors on a screen and asks the audience to pick the white one, then projects a third image that makes it clear that the first two were merely different shades of grey. Trey then uses this to explain how the mind processes pictures and how to use that information to make images more pleasing to the viewer.
The last part is where this book stands apart from the others on this topic. Trey gives us several tutorials covering the usual how to use the software, and then moving on to more advanced techniques such as creating an HDR from a single image or double processing an HDR image. He shows us how to make the impossible happen, such as a multiple shot HDR that includes moving objects like a Times Square ticker or a bus.
One more thing, though it is not directly related to the book. Trey started a site called "hdrspotting". On it you'll find great examples of HDR images from a variety of photographers. Participation is by invitation, so you're only seeing the best work from the best in the field. I recommend bookmarking it and visiting regularly.
This book comes with my highest recommendations. If I could give more that 5 stars, I would. It is printed on quality paper and is a pleasure to look through whether you are a photographer or not.
NOTE: I am an Amazon Vine reviewer, but this is not a Vine book.
Summary of A World in HDR
High dynamic range (HDR) photography lets you capture the myriad colors and levels of light that you can see in the real world, and the results are amazing photographs that run the gamut from super real to surreal. Explore this fantastic realm of photography through the unique vision of renowned travel photographer Trey Ratcliff. In this book, Trey shares his phenomenal HDR photographs as well as all the backstory on the adventurous circumstances of their origin. He also reveals the techniques he used to get the final shot. The breathtaking images gracing these pages and the author?s real-world advice for capturing and manipulating images will inspire you to create your own HDR magic. So Trey also includes his simple and straightforward tutorial that teaches you everything you need to know to make your own HDR photographs, whether you?re a beginner, amateur, or professional. A unique blend of practical and inspirational, this book features- a breathtaking collection of HDR photographs
- engaging explanations of how the author achieved the image
- expert tips for achieving stunning results (and avoiding common mistakes)
- a foolproof HDR tutorial and software recommendations
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