
Bracketing For HDR
So, What is HDR?
When should I try HDR?
For me, the best time to bracket for HDR is when I need to bring in more lights in to an image, or bring in a broader range of darks. Basically when conditions are not right for a broader contrast range with one shot.
Many times, this will happen for me when I’m photographing a home for a builder or a realtor. The light through a window will be blown out, but if I blend three shots together and then bring the highlights down in Lightroom, it’s juuuust right!
The same is true when working during the first or last hours of the day. If you have very bright back lighting, or very dull lighting due to clouds. This could be a GREAT opportunity to use bracketing and HDR.


What is Bracketing?
In photography, bracketing is the general technique of taking several shots of the same subject using different camera settings. Bracketing is useful and often recommended in situations that make it difficult to obtain a satisfactory image with a single shot, especially when a small variation in exposure parameters has a comparatively large effect on the resulting image. Given the time it takes to accomplish multiple shots, it is typically, but not always, used for static subjects.
Autobracketing is a feature of many modern cameras. When set, it will automatically take several bracketed shots, rather than the photographer altering the settings by hand between each shot.
Setup & Practicing
PRE-WORKSHOP HOMEWORK
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! Take the time to do some pre-workshop homework. Pull out your camera manual, or Google your camera and the word “bracketing” or “auto exposure bracketing”, or “AEB”. Go ahead! DO IT NOW! I'll wait!
If want to take the easy route, try clicking on this link. It will take you to the good folks at Photomatix (an HDR software company) who have placed bracketing setup instructions on their site. How smart!
Now, I'm not endorsing their product. I have used it in the past and it worked well for me then. But now that Lightroom makes it too easy for me, I take the easy route, Lightroom.

Post Processing/Editing
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! Take the time to do some pre-workshop homework. Pull out your camera manual, or Google your camera and the word “bracketing” or “auto exposure bracketing”, or “AEB”. Go ahead! DO IT NOW! I'll wait!
If want to take the easy route, try clicking on this link. It will take you to the good folks at Photomatix (an HDR software company) who have placed bracketing setup instructions on their site. How smart!
Now, I'm not endorsing their product. I have used it in the past and it worked well for me then. But now, I process all of my HDR images in either Lightroom or Photoshop. Watch the video to the left to see how.