HDR Imaging and Panorama Stitching

Understanding HDR Imaging

HDR Imaging, or High Dynamic Range imaging, refers to a set of techniques used in photography to allow a greater dynamic range between the lightest and darkest areas of an image.
HDR techniques capture multiple standard photographs at different exposure levels (commonly referred to as bracketing) and then combine them into one image.
The resulting image captures a larger range of tonal detail than a single exposure could achieve.
This is particularly useful in situations with extreme contrast, where it can be challenging to maintain detail in both highlights and shadows.
With careful use of HDR, you can accurately represent the visual range that you see with your eyes. Overuse, however, can lead to images looking over-processed or artificial.

Panorama Stitching is a technique used to combine multiple images with overlapping fields of view to produce a panoramic image.
The images used for panoramic stitching are taken from the same location, and each is rotated around a fixed point while maintaining the same camera settings.
Stitching software is used to bring these images together, aligning each around a common centre point to create a seamless result.
The final result can provide a wide-angle view or a full 360-degree representation of the scene, which would not be possible from one shot in a standard camera.
It’s important to be consistent with your settings across all photos you plan to stitch. Any significant differences in focal length, aperture, and so forth can make it harder to create a seamless result.

Combining HDR and panorama stitching can enable the capture of wide-angle shots with a high dynamic range unachievable in a single shot.
It involves applying both methods to each individual photo before stitching the bracketed sequences into a single panoramic photo.
Some modern cameras offer automated software that can perform both actions simultaneously.
Mastery of these techniques requires practice and an understanding of how to balance various factors. Over-processing in either can lead to unrealistic results.
The aim should be to enhance and encompass the full sightline and light range naturally visible to the eye in the situation.