What is High Dynamic Range?

Technology and digital photography go hand in hand. Any new advancements are rapidly distributed to users of both high and low end cameras and equipment. Any photographer knows, however, that sacrifices are made by using a new technology or approach to taking pictures. For example, not all printers are able to accurately match the colors captured in a digital photograph, or to reproduce it with the exact sharpness of the camera.

Today, however the entire photographic industry is working to create a range of products and equipment compatible with High Dynamic Range photography. What is High Dynamic Range? Put simply it is an advanced method of recording images, which documents as much detail in areas of deep shadow as those in bright light. With HDR a true photographic reproduction of any image or scene may be possible.

Currently, a camera records an image, either to a memory card or film medium. The image is processed across electronic platforms or in a laboratory, edited if necessary and then printed on photographic paper. Unfortunately, the technologies at work are not always equal to one another and any inferior part of the process will affect the entire photographic system.

HDR will work in this way as well, affecting cameras and memory as well as printing processes and software applications. Currently digital images are saved in either the JPEG or GIF formats, and neither presents enough range for an HDR image because instead of a color range of 0-255, HDR climbs into the millions. This means that 8-bit technology will require an expansion to 16-bit in order to accommodate the enormous color range and file size of HDR. Additionally, storage mediums such as CDs will require significantly larger capacities to work with HDR.

Many traditional software programs are all ready increasing their abilities to manipulate and interact efficiently and effectively in HDR images, but it is up to monitor and computer screen manufacturers to be sure their products are able to display the range of colors in HDR images. In addition to advanced displays, printers will also need to be enhanced to allow for the amazingly clear and brilliant images recordable with a HDR camera.

At this point in time HDR equipment is not widely available, but most of the major photographic and computer manufacturers are working to develop products and tools that will allow for the capture, storage, editing and production of high dynamic range images within the next decade. It is unclear if they will identify HDR as a separate technology, or if it will be integrated throughout the market of available goods. Either way, it will serve as an exciting new way in which to make photographs.

Amy Renfrey

Amy Renfrey is the author of two major successful ebooks "Digital Photography Success" and "Advanced Digital Photography". She is a photographer and also teaches digital photography. Her educational ebooks takes the most complex photography terms and turns them into easy to understand language so that anyone, at any level of photography, can easily move to a semi-professional level of skill in just a very short time. She's photographed many things from famous musicians (Drummers for Prince and Anastasia) to weddings and portraits of babies. Amy also teaches photography online to her students which can be found at http://www.DigitalPhotographySuccess.com

Nikon D40