If you are interested in HDR (high dynamic range imagery) then check out this video of Trey Ratcliff – he is lecturing at Google on the whole concept and practice of HDR. Really cool to watch if you want to get into HDR. It is an hour long so grab a banana, drink, and a notepad. I think I watched this twice.

Photomatix Pro has been the choice of software for photographers for quite some time now.  I have tried a few other programs (everyone seems to have a free trial) and they all have their benefits and their downsides.

HDR is an exciting technology for photographers – and it is only going to get better.  Even today some camera manufacturers are building HDR into the cameras so you won’t have to bother with software.  Till then we have a multistep process to create our images.  But I don’t mind that.  Ansel Adams would photograph with his camera and then spend a great deal of time in the darkroom creating his images with dodging, burning, and other techniques.  If you look as his prints you see his creations.

The same can be said with HDR – yes there is a lot of photo manipulation going on.  I have heard people say that pixels are meant to be punished.  And like everything in photography there is a balance to find and Photomatix gives you the tools to find that balance.

There are really two adjustments in Photomatix Pro that are the most important.  They are the Strength and the Luminosity sliders.  These have the power to make the images more real or make the images more surreal.  And you are the artist – you are the one who can push that envelop or play it safe.

So if you want “realistic” you will keep the Strength slider low (towards the left) and you will keep the Luminosity slider to the right or a higher number. And of course if you want the Harry Potter effect you can switch that – try it out!