Canon: Bracketing / HDR

I'm not a fan of the HDR look (High Dynamic Range). HDR converts the 3, 5 7 or 9 images into one 32 bit data file that eventually gets translated into a 16 bit image. There is currently no output device, screen or printer, that supports 32 bit.

I use bracketing a lot, but not for HDR. I use the bracketing for "fusing" the images into a photograph. Fusing does not involve the 32 bit "thing." It just finds the best pixels from the stack and uses that pixel.

Dalbergia Wood + Fine Objects http://www.dalbergia-nigra.com/Federico Méndez-Castro of Dalbergia Wood + Fine Objects makes wood sculptures and wood furniture. He's located on Granville Island in Vancouver, BC, where he moved his studio. The studio is on Railspur Alley. It's named Railspur because the lane used to be a small branch line.Here's his studio.All of his

Dalbergia Wood Workshop   click on image for gallery

This is the "fusion look", my "trademark look." There is no PhotoShop involved in this photograph. Look at the details, especially the shadows under the work bench.

Canon Bracketing Rules

  • In Av or M: the aperture stays constant during the bracketing, it's the speed that changes (remember the tripod?)
  • In Tv: the speed stays constant, it's the aperture, therefore the depth of field, that changes during the bracketing.
  • In M mode and Auto ISO: the ISO will get set before the first exposure but is fixed during the bracketing.
  • In Av or Tv mode and Auto ISO: the ISO can change during the bracketing, especially with the long exposures on the "plus side." Most HDR software, like Photomatix or PhotoShop, do not do well when the ISO changes during the bracketing.
  • These rules are for Canon.
  • Most of these rules also apply to Nikon, but how does the Auto ISO works? If somebody is offering me some Nikon gear (like a D800 or a even a D4). I'm willing to "sacrifice myself."