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Normal vs HDR


hershy314

hershy314

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I was curious as to what a normal photo looked like next to the HDR app I have for my phone. I know I've shown a pic taken with the HDR app, but this time no filters were used. I have to say for a free app, the quality isn't really that bad (I think....but what do I know).
100.jpg
 
Hey, Hershy - I really hate to always be a nay-sayer, but from what I can tell from the pix you posted, the app for your phone only seems to lighten everything. That just is not what HDR is all about.

HDR means "high dynamic range". HDR software is supposed to combine several image of a scene that has a huge range of brightness into a single image with a much reduced dynamic range. The darks get lighter (as in your example), but, unlike your app, the bright areas are also supposed to be darkened a bit so that detail can still be seen in both the deep shadow and brightest areas in the scene, yet still leave the scene with plenty of contrast.

Here are some good articles that explain what HDR really should do:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-range_imaging
- - - scroll about half-way down to the section titled, "Example".

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/cameras/features/photography-101-high-dynamic-range-imaging-224131

and

http://www.idigitalphoto.com/high-dynamic-range-photography-explained/

HTH,

Tom
 
Really wouldn't expect it to be actual HDR from a phone app which is why I never say it's actual HDR just a close resemblance of it. I mean I am working with a 3.2 mp camera on my phone. I do know what real HDR is and hope to one day use it (once I make enough to get a good camera that shoots raw format). IMO the app does make the images a little nicer compared to the normal camera app the phone comes with. With the app the pic does look closer to what I see with my own eyes than what the normal camera app does. Trust me I understand what HDR is.
 
But Hershey, never mind the exact details of how the app works. -- its results aren't even close to how HDR pix look.

Tom
 
Guess you're right, but still it does look better than using the normal camera and that's really all I care bout
 
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