What Is HDR? How to Shoot HDR Photos and Video

HDR is a feature built into photo and video devices such as cameras, smartphones, camcorders, etc. It boosts the contrast and detail of images, giving more vivid, sharper photos and videos. In this article, MONA Media will share detailed information about what HDR is, how to use it, and what to keep in mind when shooting HDR photos and video to get beautiful, professional results!

What is HDR? Learn about the HDR feature

What is HDR?

What is HDR? HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. This technique produces images closer to reality by showing a wider range of light and dark tones. HDR is built into photo and video devices such as phones, cameras and camcorders, and is used in many fields such as photography and filmmaking, photo editing,…

So what is an HDR photo? HDR works by taking several photos or videos at different exposures and then combining them into one photo or video with higher contrast. This recreates the colors and details of the image and gives better quality photos and videos.

What types of HDR photography are there?

Now that you know what HDR photo mode is, let's look at the types. There are two common types of HDR photography today: automatic HDR and manual HDR.

Automatic HDR

Automatic HDR is a feature built into photo and video devices. When it is on, the device automatically takes several photos at different exposures and combines them into one photo with higher contrast. Users do not need to set up or edit anything to get high-quality photos and videos.

Manual HDR

Manual HDR is a feature that lets users adjust settings to shoot photos and video as they like. Users can choose the number and exposure of the photos or videos to combine, producing quality photos and videos with colors customized to their taste.

What is HDR video?

With today's technology, besides HDR photos we can also shoot HDR video. So what is HDR video? The process of shooting HDR photos and HDR video is completely different. Instead of taking several photos and merging them in the camera or during the photo post-production stage, HDR video is captured in a single exposure.

In short, what is HDR video? HDR video has a wide dynamic range, showing more light and dark tones than SDR (standard dynamic range) video. Details in both the highlights and the shadows come through clearly, and the video looks closer to reality.

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What is the difference between normal photos and HDR photos?

Normal photography and HDR photography are two different shooting modes, each with its own pros and cons. The main difference between normal photos and HDR mode Below are the main differences between the two modes for your reference:

≫Further reading: Macro photography What is it? Benefits and things to note when shooting macro

How does HDR mode work?

To understand more about what an HDR photo is, let's explore how the HDR effect works. HDR mode uses an algorithm to combine photos at different exposure levels. The algorithm calculates the details in the highlights and shadows of each photo, then merges them into one photo with a wider dynamic range.

Different algorithms are used in automatic HDR mode. Here are some common ones for your reference:

• Exposure compensation: This algorithm compensates for the exposure of each photo to produce a balanced image.
• Zone analysis: Analyzes different areas of the photo to find the details that need to be kept.
• Average blending: Averages the pixels of each photo to produce a single photo.

When to use and not use HDR for photos and video

Now that you know how HDR works, let's see with MONA when to use HDR for photos and video. HDR can boost the contrast and detail of a photo, but it should not always be used. Here are cases when you should and should not use HDR:

When to use HDR

• Shooting in low light: In low light, the HDR effect can boost contrast and detail so the photo is not blurry or lacking detail.
• Shooting beautiful landscapes: If you want to shoot a landscape with a blue sky, white clouds or hills, HDR boosts the contrast and detail of the scene and makes the photo more vivid and vibrant.
• Shooting portraits: HDR can also boost the contrast and detail of the face in the photo, making it clearer and sharper.

When not to use HDR

• Shooting moving subjects: Because HDR needs the camera to take several photos in a row, shots of a moving subject will not line up and may leave blur or errors in the final photo.
• Night photography: In very low light, the HDR effect can make the photo or video too bright and lose important detail.
• Shooting high-contrast scenes: If you want a photo with a wide contrast range, HDR can make it too bright and lose important detail.

The most detailed guide to using HDR

To use the HDR feature, you need to know how to turn it on and adjust the settings on your camera or phone. Here is the most detailed guide to using HDR.

Using it on a camera

To use HDR on a camera, learn the settings and modes on your camera. Some cameras have HDR built into the shooting menu, while others may need you to download an app or install the feature first. Here is a guide to using HDR on a camera:

• Pick a suitable scene: HDR is especially useful in harsh lighting, such as when the same frame has both bright and dark areas.
• Camera settings: Your camera may have a built-in HDR mode, or you can use manual exposure bracketing to shoot HDR photos. If your camera has built-in HDR, turn it on. If not, set the camera to manual mode and take three photos at different exposure levels.
• Take a photo: Use a tripod or a stable surface to keep the camera steady. Take three photos at different exposure levels. Each photo will have a different exposure: one with well-exposed highlights, one with well-exposed shadows, and one with both highlights and shadows well exposed.
• Combine the photos: You can combine the HDR photo in the camera or with photo editing software on a computer. If you combine in the camera, use the exposure bracketing feature. If you combine in editing software, use apps such as Photomatix Pro or HDR Efex Pro.

On an iPhone

There are 2 ways to use HDR on an iPhone:

• Method 1: Use automatic HDR: This is the easiest way to shoot HDR on an iPhone. When HDR is on, the iPhone takes HDR photos automatically when needed. To turn on automatic HDR, go to Settings > Camera > check Auto HDR.
• Method 2: Use manual HDR: Manual HDR gives you more control. To turn on manual HDR, turn off the Auto HDR setting. Then open Camera > tap the HDR option at the top of the camera (between the Flash and Live Photo settings) > set it to Auto, On or Off.

On an Android phone

To use HDR on Android is fairly simple. Follow these steps:

• Open the Camera on your phone.
• Choose photo (Photo) or video (Video) mode.
• Find and select the HDR feature.
• Choose HDR on/off or HDR Auto, so the phone turns it on automatically when needed.

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Tips for beautiful, professional HDR photos on a phone

Finally, now that you understand HDR photos and video, here are some tips for beautiful, professional video and photos right on your phone:

• Choose the right shooting mode: Before shooting, choose HDR On or HDR Auto to use this feature. If you want a photo with a wide contrast range, choose HDR On.
• Choose your angle and balance the light: For vivid photos, choose the shooting angle and balance the light well. Pick an angle that avoids glare or too much darkness, and balance the light to avoid losing details in the photo.
• Use burst mode: With HDR, the camera takes several photos in a row. Use burst mode so you have more photos to choose from later.
• Do not shoot moving subjects: As mentioned above, shots of moving subjects will not line up and may leave blur or errors in the final photo.
• Use photo editing apps: After shooting, you can use photo editing apps to boost the contrast and detail of the HDR photo. These apps also let you adjust settings such as contrast and brightness to produce more beautiful, professional photos.

We hope this article gave you more information and knowledge about HDR photo and video modes and how to use them to create beautiful photos and striking video. HDR is a newer technology in photography and filmmaking that boosts the contrast and detail of photos. To use it well, however, you need to know how to turn it on and adjust the settings on your camera or phone. You can also use other popular shooting techniques such as slow-motion video slow motion, time-lapse mode to make your clips and photos look better and more professional.