High Dynamic Range Digital Photography For Dummies

I bought a couple of other books so I could explore HDR and try it out. The other books I read were more about the author and less on how to really get started. I had no interest in admiring someone's ego. I just wanted to know how HDR is done. This book does a good job of explaining what HDR is and what it isn't. It has many good examples of HDR, and gives step-by-step instructions to how HDR is done with a single photo (NOT really HDR) to many more photos. It also used Photomatix as the main software of choice. I had already purchased Photomatix and was anxious to learn how to best use it.Since buying this book and carefully reading it, I have been able to produce excellent results. There is a lot of information in this book so, I know that I still have a long way to go to become more proficient in HDR. But, this book is very helpful and thorough in it's approach so, I know I will have a good resource along the way. As for the other books? If you want to explore the author's mindset, be careful of what you buy. If you want to explore HDR then, this is the place to start.

If you are interested in HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, and you plan to use Photomatix software, this is the book for you! One of the most thorough explanations of HDR principals and techniques I have come across, especially if you are using, or plan to use Photomatix for your HDR tone mapping. Since Photomatix is, by far, the most popular and comprehensive HDR software available (at a reasonable price) I suspect that this book will be very valuable as it focuses mostly on using that program. I, personally, was delighted with that! It does explain, in a limited manner, several other HDR software programs, but the main focus is Photomatix - and they state that right up front. They are very thorough with their explanations and techniques. The differences between realistic, and over-the-top HDR interpretations is fairly discussed. I see a lot of beauty in both interpretations in my work and believe there is room, in an artistic sense, for both points of view. Their explanations of the many tone mapping options in Photomatix is the best I have seen - and I have many HDR books! I highly recommend this book.

I am not going to go in to the part of this book and try to explain the how's or why's of why I like this book. But I am very pleased that I spent my money on it.I spent 3 months working on a few pictures that I thought were worthy of HDR efforts on my part to come up short of expectation. I went half way through the book. Took one large JPEG photo followed the easy to follow instruction and came up with the best HDR that I have done so far.I am looking forward very much to using his direction on photographing an old barn that is close to my home.Thanks Robert!Jim

Maybe it was my fault, but I didn't realize that this book primarily deals with HDR images using a particular software application (Photomatixs Pro). Adobe Photoshop has an HDR module, but the book's author is biased toward this particular expensive software. I think the book is helpful if you can afford to clunk down the $100+ for the program. There is a rather clichéd HDR look out there right now that everyone seems to be using; I think that look is too extreme for me. I think HDR is best when the view doesn't automatically think--oh that's an HDR image. To me, the best HDR expands the dynamic range of a photo without it looking artificial or embossed. If you like that look though, then this book is for you.

As other reviewers relate (in considerably more words), the content of this book is excellent. But a good part of understanding how the different manipulations work is seeing the illustrations. The illustrations in the digital version of this book are embarrassingly poor. You can enlarge them, but the resolution is so low that they are useless. If I had it to do again I would buy the print version.

I recently saw a picture done in high dynamic photographic style. I wanted to learn more about so I ordered the book. I have only read a little over half of the book, and was able to process a batch of pictures. It contains a great deal of useful information and tips. I found the software information very helpful.

It may be an older book on HDR, but is very well written and better than many of the newer versions on this topic. The author anticipates what you are wanting to know.

The book easy to understand and follow up with Photomatix editing software. And some software from Photoshop.

i'm only half way through this book and i suppose i should have guessed from title that it was a little basic, but certainly the first half of the book could be shortened and a lot of less relevent information removed or condensed. Hopefully i will get to point that tells me about the creating the HDR image.i will update this later

I have been looking for a good book which explained HDR in simple basic terms and this book fitted the bill perfectly. If you are new to HDR then you will find this book very helpful as it breaks down the complicated aspects and explains the theory behind them.Definatley the first book you should buy if you are new to HDR

Good informative book. Covers all you need to get started in HDR photography. The author tries to inject some humour into his writing style, which is OK if you have a similar sense of humour, I personally found it a little annoying. On the whole a well written informative book for a beginner.

Good book for HDR - well laid out

This is a quality book. Anyone new to HDR should find this resource invaluable. Features Photoshop Elements and Photomatix Pro software.