Ten-Years Ago (05-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 1: Yosemite National Park.

Reflections on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 1/30, 1/50, 1/80, 1/125, 1/200 sec). For many years I would take an exposure bracketed series of an image. For example with three images (-1 EV, 0 EV, +1 EV) or with five images (-1 1/3 EV, -2/3 EV, 0 EV, +2/3 EV, +1 1/3 EV). Then either pick the best exposure, or use a post processing program to combine two or more of the images to get a high-dynamic range (HDR) image. This allows more detail by recovering data from dark underexposed areas or blown-out overexposed areas in the image. This was especially important when dealing with digital images with 8-bits of dynamic range (i.e. jpg). The sensors in modern digital cameras are able to record images with 12 or 14 bit of dynamic range. This allows programs such as Capture One Pro to pull out more data from a single image to simulate a HDR image without needing to combine data from multiple images.


Raw image bracket (-1 1/3 EV, -2/3 EV, 0 EV, +2/3 EV, +1 1/3 EV)


Above images processed with Capture One Pro (Built in Style, Legacy, Landscape, Landscape Color 2)

Reflections on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 1/80 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro (Built in Style, Legacy, Landscape, Landscape Color-2). Further adjustments with the High Dynamic Range Highlight and Shadow sliders. (David J Mathre)
Reflections on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 1/80 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro (Built in Style, Legacy, Landscape, Landscape Color-2). (David J Mathre)

Best image with further adjustments using the High Dynamic Range Highlight and Shadow sliders

Four-Years Ago (30-July-2013) — Iceland

Gone to See Iceland 2013 Photography Safari with Mike Hagen. Day 1: Golden Circle.

Seljalandsfoss, a Waterfall in Southern Iceland. You can actually walk behind the waterfall. It is a challenge to get a wide enough view and encompass the full dynamic range of the scene. All the time being covered with a mist of water from the waterfall.

Fisheye View From Behind Seljalandsfoss, a Waterfall in Southern Iceland. HDR composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D800 and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 16 mm, f/11) using Google HDR Efex Pro 2. Photo Adventure with Mike Hagen (David J Mathre)
Fisheye View From Behind Seljalandsfoss, a Waterfall in Southern Iceland. HDR composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D800 and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 16 mm, f/11) using Google HDR Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (13-August-2014) — Poland

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 74: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Gdansk, Poland.

Gdansk Panoramic Wheel with Sunburst. Composite of three images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 12 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 12 mm, f/22, various). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, HDR processed with Photoshop CC.

Gdansk Panoramic Wheel with Sunburst. Composite of three images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeis-s 12 mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens (ISO 200, 12 mm, f/22, various). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, HDR processed with Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Gdansk Panoramic Wheel with Sunburst. Composite of three images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 12 mm f/2.8  lens (ISO 200, 12 mm, f/22, various). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (30-June-2014) — Spain

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 30: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Getxo, Spain.

Monument to Evaristo Churruca in Getxo, Spain. Composite of 3 images taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/14). Raw images processed with HDR Efex Pro, Capture One Pro, and Photoshop CC.

Monument to Evaristo Churruca in Getxo, Spain. Composite of 3 images taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/14). Raw images processed with HDR Efex Pro, Capture One Pro, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Monument to Evaristo Churruca in Getxo, Spain. Composite of 3 images taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/14). Raw images processed with HDR Efex Pro, Capture One Pro, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (13-August-2014) — Poland

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 74: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Gdansk, Poland.

Gdansk Panoramic Wheel with Sunburst. Composite of three images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 12 mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens (ISO 200, 12 mm, f/22, various). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, HDR processed with Photoshop CC.

Gdansk Panoramic Wheel with Sunburst. Composite of three images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeis-s 12 mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens (ISO 200, 12 mm, f/22, various). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, HDR processed with Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Gdansk Panoramic Wheel with Sunburst. Composite of three images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeis-s 12 mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens (ISO 200, 12 mm, f/22, various). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, HDR processed with Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

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