About this project

HDRI Mania: tools, tips, and techniques for creating stunning High Dynamic Range Images

Overview
I am writing a book about tools and techniques for creating high dynamic range images using my HDRI work in New York City as examples. Participants in the project can receive a signed limited edition of the book and signed limited edition print from the book depending on their level of participation. Members who donate $250 or more (limited to 25) can also participate in an HDRI seminar I will offer in Manhattan. For $1,500 (limited to 1) I will dedicate the book to a person(s) of your choice and you will receive five copies of the book--numbers 1 through 5. See the options on the right for details.

Each copy of the book will be signed and numbered and copies of the book will be limited to the numbers of participants in the project. 

Gapstow Bridge in Central Park after a Snowstorm

I have created a Web site called hdrimania.com where participants can track the progress of the book through my blog. Visitors can also browse the images that will be included in the book. Members at the "Patron" level and above will receive chapters in PDF format via e-mail as they are completed and are welcome to leave their comments at a special section of the Web site open only to them.

Books will be shipped by the third week in October and I will host a seminar on High Dynamic Range Imaging at during the week of the launch. The seminar will be in Manhattan and open only to donors at the "Gold Benefactor" level. The seminar will be limited to 25 participants.

The money raised at kickstarter.com will be used to fund the writing, editing, and printing of the book. Much photography is already in place but I will continue to shoot throughout the summer and post it on the project website.

The book will be full-color on heavy coated stock and will be landscape size (10" x 8").

Behind the Tiffany Clock in Grand Central

What is High Dynamic Range Imaging?
Dynamic range refers to the amount of tonal range exhibited by a photograph, either digital or film-based. For example, a digital photo shot on a sunny day will exhibit less tonal range than one on a cloudy day. The bright sunlight tends to wash out highlights and create deep shadows. While the human eye can see the detail in the highlight and shadow areas, the camera cannot capture it. Cameras, both digital and film, are said to have “less dynamic range” than the human eye and therefore display less detail in highlight and shadow areas.

The quest for increased dynamic range has been the holy grail of photography since the invention of the medium. In the early to mid-20th century breakthroughs in chemistry and optics offered increased dynamic range but chemists and optical engineers quickly ran up against a brick wall dictated by the laws of chemistry and physics. To get beyond this wall photographers experimented with techniques in the darkroom to achieve increased tonality. Ansel Adams is known to have spent hours in his darkroom dodging and burning his prints in order to increase dynamic range. Pete Turner, renowned for the vivid colors of his imagery, rephotographed projected version of his work to increase dynamic range and color saturation.

With the advent of digital photography the grail of increased dynamic range has come within the reach of anyone with a camera. Using tools and techniques described in this book, photographers can significantly increase dynamic range in their photographs and create stunning High Dynamic Range Images.

Fisheye view of work area under Grand Central

The Book
Many people are put off by some of the "oversatured" and "hyperrealistic" HDR images floating around while others argue this is a new "art form."  I feel there is room for a wide range of HDRI techniques and I discuss all of them in the book. I leave the aesthetic judgments to the reader.

For the most part, the book deals with the hardware and software I use for producing my High Dynamic Range Images. I also discuss workflows that can maximize HDRI success while helping avoid the pitfalls that commonly confront HDRI photographers.

Through an analysis of the techniques used on HDR images I have created, I hope to offer a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand path to HDRI success for the beginner as well as the seasoned pro wishing to find out more about the subject.

I also devote a chapter to avoiding some of the more common pitfalls associated with High Dynamic Range imagery and finally, there is a chapter on suitable subjects for HDRI photography.

Other areas I cover include shooting HDR images with with a fisheye lens (like the Grand Central Terminal photo above) and HDRI panoramic technique.

It doesn't matter what camera you use or what level you are at, my book can help you quickly get up to speed on HDR imaging and help you make stunning images of your own.

Manhattan Bridge at dawn after a snowstorm

Please help me publish my book by making a contribution today.