I’ve received a lot of questions about how I was able to photograph Horseshoe Bend so I wanted to show you how to shoot HDR with your camera to get this kind of effect.  It’s a lot easier than you think.

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How to Shoot HDR

how to shoot hdr with horseshoe bend at sunset

got a lot of questions about how I was able to take this photograph so I thought it’d be cool for me to give you the quick and easy how-to.  It’s a lot easier than it looks!

What is HDR?

Before we begin, what exactly is HDR?  HDR stands for High Dynamic Range.  You can usually easily identify HDR photos because it has a certain color pop that makes it somewhat surreal.  Depending on how a photographer post processes the photo, it can be subtle or totally in your face.

My fav bloggers in The Planet D are big fans of HDR and you’ll notice it in most photos they post.

Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal pools in New Zealand.
The Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal pools in New Zealand.

HDR has become a more popular technique as of late.  You’ll notice all modern smartphones will have an “HDR” function.  My iPhone 5S now automatically detects specific high contrast lighting conditions where it’ll automatically shoot HDR.  What I mean by “high contrast lighting conditions” is when you’re in a situation that has something that’s crazy bright and at the same time has extremely dark spots.  These are always hard to shoot because either something will be overblown (lose all detail in those bright spots) or underexposed (dark areas remain dark and it just stays black).

To create an HDR photo, what your phone or your computer will do is take 3 or more sequential shots at different exposures.  One will be at perfect exposure so everything in the frame is lit up in a balanced way.  The second snap will be at a lower exposure so it is purposely darker.  I mentioned earlier that the iPhone will flip to HDR mode because of “high contrast lighting conditions” and so the point of the lower exposure shot is to darken those super bright spots in the photo (i.e. the sky).  The third shot is the opposite and everything will be at a brighter exposure.  This brings out the detail in the dark (i.e. shadows).  The magic comes when you combine all 3 or more photos together and the phone or computer will selectively piece together the best parts of all the photos so that everything looks perfectly exposed.

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Okay so this describes one situation where you want to make the best out of a shitty lighting condition but what about those beautiful landscapes?  Well outside the practicalities of shooting HDR to create a nicely exposed photo is that when you start combining these you capture all of the “ranges” of the photo from the high and low tones which when combined results in a phenomenon of higher luminosity – that dreamy and vivid look.

The Example

Here are the 3 shots I used to meld into the shot of Horseshoe Bend above from my trip to Utah and Arizona.

Shot at EV 0 - Perfect exposure
Shot at EV 0 – Perfect exposure
Shot at EV +2 - Overexposed
Shot at EV +2 – Overexposed
Shot at EV -2 - Underexposed
Shot at EV -2 – Underexposed

Step by Step

The screenshots are biased to Canon since that’s what I use but Nikon and others should be similar.

  1. What you’ll need:  DSLR + widest angle lens you have + tripod + nerves of steel
  2. When to go:  Google “sunset time Page Arizona” and go 1-2 hours beforehand
  3. Preparation:  Make sure you use a lens pen to clean your lens and if you haven’t already, change the time on your camera (my pet peeve)
  4. Find the spot you want to shoot:  Sometimes you’ll be limited by where’s left but I would recommend a spot that doesn’t have jutting rocks below that would cover the river bend and is relatively centered.  You can use this photo as a reference
  5. Set up the camera:  Mode = Aperture Priority (A), F-Stop = 8, ISO=100, 3-Shot Bracket Mode (-2,0,+2), RAW (though JPG will work just as fine)
    • Okay Bracket Mode sounds complicated but it’s actually not.  In Canon systems, you’ll want to navigate to the Exposure Comp./AEB of the red menu
      canon dslr menu exposure for hdr photography
    • From there you’ll see this and what you’ll want to do is use your wheel so that instead of one red line at 0, you’ll have 3 lines.  One at -2, 0 and +2
      canon dslr menu exposure compensation for hdr
    • So what exactly does this do?  This takes 3 consecutive shots but at 3 different exposures.  One really dark (-2), one at the perfect exposure (0) and one really bright (+2)
  6. Timer mode:  You need to turn on the timer mode on your camera
    dslr hdr self timer remote control photography guide
  7. Set your tripod + camera on the edge:  It’s going to be a little scary (at least it was for me) but you’ll pretty much want it as close as the edge as possible so there’s nothing in the foreground blocking your way
  8. Compose and shoot:  The rest is auto-pilot.  All you have to do is click the shutter button, the timer will count down and it’ll take 3 continuous shots just like that.  Keep doing this as the sun sets as the scene will dramatically change for the next 1-2 hours
  9. Post-processing:  Oh I know…stop groaning.  Yes there’s still a bit of work to be done but you’ll be amazed by how easy it is.  Just download a piece of software called Photomatix (Mac or PC) and it should be pretty self explanatory from there.  It’ll ask you to pick a set of photos (these ones you just took) and it’ll combine them for you.  From there, pick the style you want that you like the most and “Process” it.  Boom.  Done!
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When to use HDR

  • Landscapes – Especially great during sunrise and sunsets
  • Sunlight in the background – Big bright skies always cause problems and as a result your photos will be underexposed (too dark) in the foreground.  Use HDR to balance it out
  • Low light with back light – Shots where shadows as casted and you need HDR to really bring out those shadows while controlling the back light.

When not to use HDR

  • When you don’t have a tripod – The only way HDR works is if you have a tripod or extremely steady hands because those 3 sequential shots need to be identically composed
  • When there is lots of movement – So even if you have a tripod, if your scene has a lot of people moving, you’ll get a lot of blurry artifacts (unless that’s what you’re looking for)
  • The scene is already well balanced lighting wise – Don’t always just default to HDR all the time.  It wastes memory and gives you a lot of post processing work after.  If the scene you want to shoot already has balanced lighting and you don’t need that dreamy/vivid look, you can simply just take one well exposed shot.  If you want a bit more pop, you can easily post process the photo in something like Lightroom and just adjust the contrast, clarity, vibrance and situation to your personal tastes.  Simply put, don’t overcomplicate thing when you don’t need to.

Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.

Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.

Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.

Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.

Rideshare: For new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.

Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.

eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.

  • AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
  • Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
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  • Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
  • UbigiAWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.

Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).

Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

  • HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 15% discount (from June 19-29)!
  • RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
  • SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
  • Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
  • InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.

If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

William Tang of Going Awesome Places
About The Author

Will Tang

Will Tang, founder of Going Awesome Places, has traveled to 51 countries. He shares his insanely detailed itineraries, travel guides, and packing lists. Will’s travels have been featured on Huffington Post, Men’s Journal, and Entrepreneur.

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The Discussion

  1. Thanks for this guide, Will. I’ve used Canon DSLRs for years, but have never really taken the time to get to know the camera in depth. I’d love to read more photography tips if you should feel like writing more in the future!

  2. Good intro to HDR for beginners! HDR is a great technique to have in your box of tricks. I have done some HDR, but with the dynamic range of modern cameras I don’t use it as much any more. Still that dreamy look is very popular so I really should shoot HDR more often :)

  3. Thanks for sharing these great tips on HDR photography! We have tried to do a little bit of HDR before but never really followed through with it. Will definitely bookmark this post and try it out on one of our next trips and share our findings.

  4. Will,

    This is awesome! I’ve bookmarked it for further use. Just bought a Nikon P600. Not a camera for professionals, but great for a beginner like me! I have been fiddling with it all day.. Lol.

    Cheers mate. And thanks for joining my tribe! Will keep in touch.

    Ken

    1. Thanks for your comments Ken! Ah it’ll be the start of some great photography in the future for you! I started off with a camera like that and it’s been a fun ride ever since!

  5. Thanks for sharing your explanation. It is quite staggering how advanced cameras and camera phones are now. I recently bought a bridge camera and have been blown away with the functionality of it. I will spend a long time learning to maximise my use of it.

    Lovely picture which I’m happy to Pin on Pinterest.