Shooting Sun Rays with HDR in Mind

02/28/2008 05:07:19 PM · #1

Hi everyone,

I want to shoot a photo like the one here:

First of all, I want to be able to shoot something as beautiful as this, as these sun rays are amazing! Also, I want to shoot this with HDR in mind, as I want to try some HDR photography when I visit Joshua Tree in 2 weeks.

Any suggestions on how to achieve this?

geoffb

02/28/2008 05:41:03 PM · #2

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Low aperture (f/16, f/22, etc.) and bracket your images. If you're shooting in RAW, don't bother making your bracket differential less than a stop, because it's easy to push or pull a stop in post-processing. Make sure your lowest exposure is dark enough that nothing but the sun itself is blown out, and that your highest exposure gets lots of detail in the shadows.

Have fun in 2 weeks!

Message edited by author 2008-02-28 17:42:34.

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Nikon

02/28/2008 07:02:47 PM · #3

Thank you so much for your quick response! Also, do you think that sun ray in the photo is natural or do you think they used a filter on the lens? It looks incredible!

amathiasphoto

Nikon D300

02/28/2008 07:10:39 PM · #4

never can really tell 100% anymore, but it looks real to me... Anyone else with an opinion?

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/28/2008 07:15:59 PM · #5

Who took that picture? It's nicely done, but I don't see a link or any credit.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

02/28/2008 08:05:21 PM · #6

I'm not sure who took the picture, but I love it! I found it here:
Desert USA - Joshua Tree

Says "Josh reports..."

Message edited by author 2008-02-28 20:05:52.

jdannels

Nikon D300s

02/28/2008 09:20:20 PM · #7

I just this one very similar in style but didnt get the star around the sun. What I did was pick an aperture and using exposure compensation underexposed until even the sun wasn't blown out. Then in 1 stop increments I increased the exposure until the rock on the left was perfectly exposed. I just looked at the LCD of the photo. I think making sure you have the whole dynamic range is key, and the closer you are to getting each part perfectly exposed the best chance you have. Remember a tripod. :)

geoffb

02/28/2008 09:58:41 PM · #8

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

I'm not sure who took the picture, but I love it! I found it here:
Desert USA - Joshua Tree

Says "Josh reports..."

His question was rhetorical. It's respectful to the original photographer to cite an image. :)