Pixiq

Photographic Multishot Techniques: High Dynamic Range, Super-Resolution, Extended Depth of Field, Stitching by Juergen Gulbins and Rainer Gulbins

Photographic Multishot Techniques

Photographers are just beginning to realize the potential of high dynamic range imaging (HDRI). Now, the newest techniques based on a bracketed series of exposures make it possible to go beyond HDRI: photographers can increase resolution for ultra-sharp, detailed images, and they can extend the depth of field in a way that was never before possible.

Special thanks to rockynook for sending in this book for review.

About the Authors

Jürgen Gulbins has extensive experience in writing, technology, desktop publishing, designing ihg-end document archival systems, and digital photography. He is a prolific author who has written and translated books on topics such as CAD, Unix, DTP, typolography, Internet, document management, Linux, and various aspects of digital photography. He has been a passionate photographer most of his life.

Rainer Gulbins began his photographic education in high school and included traditional darkroom work. For many years he lived abroad and used his photographic skills mainly in the Sahara desert and the Canadian wilderness, thus enriching his numerous travel writings. In 2003 he switched from analog to digital–still using to the Nikon system–and has worked extensively with the various editions of Adobe Photoshop and other image editing programs. Rainer has translated books about photography and has recently been working as an advisor for various book projects about digital photography. He lives in Munich, Germany.

Breakdown

• Introduction
• The Multishot Workflow
• Super-Resolution – More Pixels
• Focus Stacking – Maximizing Depth of Field
• Stitching – Increasing Image Coverage
• HDRI – Increasing Dynamic Range
• Enhancing Microcontrast

Introduction

The introduction is short but necessary. Especially for those unfamiliar with multishot photography. The overviews on why you would want to use super-resolution and other multishot techniques can open your eyes to the possibilities offered by adding these tools to your repertoire. The authors also go over who this book is aimed at and some of the conventions that are used in the book.

The Mutltishot Workflow

There are some underlying and basic common steps for the various techniques used throughout the book that get a good once over in this chapter. Which camera to use and what settings that are common are also discussed. Of course an overview of file formats and the various software programs (Adobe Photoshop, PhotoAcute, FDRTools, Photomatrix Pro, CombineZM, Helicon Focus, DOP Detail Extractor) used in the book.

Super-Resolution – More Pixels

Sometimes you need an image with a very high resolution. Most consumer priced cameras are very limited in the size you can get from your image. While this is constantly being improved by the camera manufacturers you can actually increase the resolution of your images using this multishot technique. PhotoAcute is the software program used in this chapter along with a few alternative methods of increasing image resolution.

Focus Stacking – Maximizing Depth of Field

You’ll learn why you would want to use focus stacking and what to consider while shooting. Several of the software programs are given the once over on this technique so you get a good idea of which software program is right for you and your desired results.

Stitching – Increasing Image Coverage

There are several techniques to consider when you’re stitching images. Of course panoramas are looked into along with which software programs are best for this technique. This is more than just panoramas as you’ll learn how to bring people together and create group panoramas. Interesting stuff.

HDRI – Increasing Dynamic Range

This is of course the latest “hot trend” in photography these past couple of years. While this chapter isn’t a comprehensive look into the techniques of HDR imaging, I do feel that it is much more than an introduction. Of course tone mapping, processing, and optimizing HDR is covered, along with how some of the various software programs stack up.

Enhancing Microcontrast

This is all about “fine tuning” your image. The techniques discussed in this chapter are aimed at final sharpening using layer masks to selectively add vibrancy to your finished images. Various image editing software programs, plugins, and techniques are covered here.

Conclusion

This book isn’t for the casual photographer. As the introduction explains, this book is for the advanced amatuer or professional photographer. I’d add that this book is for the technically minded photographer. If you like dabbling in HDR images then I do think you would gain some rather insightful knowledge on some other interesting and useful techniques using multishot photography.

Very technical in the writing I do tend to prefer a lighter read, but felt that the topic probably warrants this style of writing. This is a very technical style of photography so step-by-step instructions are the norm. Think of this as a great starter manual for the technically minded photographer.

If this book is right up your alley you can purchase Photographic Multishot Techniques: High Dynamic Range, Super-Resolution, Extended Depth of Field, Stitching at Amazon today!