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Photography Tutorial 1: Strong Black & White HDR Photo

Posted by Raven on Aug 5, 2011 in Blog, Tutorials | 21 Comments

I often get questions about how I edit my photos like the one in this tutorial. It’s difficult to explain how I edit a photo, because every photo needs it’s own way of editing. There are many ways to Rome, but there are a few editing techniques I almost use in every photo. I will explain these techniques in this tutorial.

Tutorial introduction

- In this tutorial I use my own photo as an example -
All the steps I explain in this tutorial are based on personal experiences.

Dramatic, surreal and mystic elements are the most interesting things in photography for me. The photo in this tutorial is an example of how you can emphasize the dramatic atmosphere by using the famous software: Adobe Photoshop (CS3 & CS4).
Many people will think the editing process does all the work, but a good beginning makes a good ending.

Why HDR?

It is important for me to get as many details as possible. For example: snowy weather results in big contrasts. It is almost impossible to get all the details from the dark and light areas without using HDR (High Dynamic Range).

The photo from this tutorial is a HDR photo. Which means it consists of 3 photos with different exposure settings.

Step 1: Let the editing begin

When you are satisfied about the HDR photos you took, you can go on with editing in Photoshop.

1 ) Open the three photos in Photoshop and put them together in one file. Open the “Layer Window” (F7) . For the overview I recommend giving photos names by it’s exposure stop.

HDR Tutorial: HDR in photoshop

Now you have ordened your photos it is time for a little trick.

2 ) Duplicate the top layer and set the copied layer to “Overlay”.
With this blendingoption you can preserve the highlights and shadows of the base color.

HDR Tutorial: HDR photoshop overlay

Result till now
HDR Tutorial: HDR Colour result

As you can see this result is far better then the original. The contrasts are good, the movement in the clouds are appreciable and the overall atmosphere is more dramatic. The only thing is that I prefer darker clouds for making this scene just a bit more dramatic.

Step 2: Using Masks

In this step we are going the use the “Layer Mask” function. This function gives you great flexibility in editing by using this in combination with “Brushes”.

1 ) Open the “Layer Window” (F7) and bring the “-2 stop” layer on top. Like the example below.

HDR Tutorial: Photoshop HDR with 2 stops

2 ) Put a layermask on the top layer “-2 stop”. Go to “Layer” -> “Layer Mask” -> “Reveal All” or check the little button in the “Layer Window” like the example below.

HDR Tutorial: HDR dark clouds

I don’t like the dark building in layer “-2 stop” so I will use the “Brush” to remove it. By doing this you only use the clouds from layer “-2 stop” and use the other layers for the highlights and shadows on the building.

3 ) It is time to get rid of the building. Press “B” to select the “Brush”. After this you see the brushoptions toolbar. Change “Opacity” to 50%, select a softround brush and set it to “300px”. Like the example below.

HDR Tutorial: HDR Photoshop brush

Don’t forget to select the “Layer Mask”.

HDR Tutorial: HDR Photoshop layer mask

Set the colour to black and “Brush” on the building to remove it.

Result till now
HDR Tutorial: HDR Photoshop result

Step 3: Convert to Black & White

There are a lot of ways how you can convert a colourphoto to Black & White. I prefer the easiest way in photoshop by using “Fills”.

1 ) Open the “Layer Window” and click on the “Fill/Adjustment” button and select “Black & White”.

HDR Tutorial: HDR Black & White tutorial

A popup will open with all the Black & White settings.
There is not a certain setting I always use, it depends on which photo I edit. I just play with the sliders till I got a nice strong Black & White photo.
Keep in mind. Don’t push on the sliders too hard or you will see compression in the high contrast areas.

HDR Tutorial: HDR settings

Result till now
HDR Tutorial: HDR Tutorial result

Step 4: Finishing touches

Now the Black & White converting is ready, it is time to add a bit more contrast and put some highlights.

1 ) Open the “Layer Window”, click on the “Fill/Adjustment” button and select “Brightness/Contrast…”.

HDR Tutorial: HDR Photography contrast

A popup will open with the Contrast settings.

HDR Tutorial: HDR Photography settings

2 ) It is time to bring some final highlights on the building. Open the “Layer Window” and make a new layer.

HDR Tutorial: HDR Photoshop layers

Set this new layer to “Overlay”, take a brush (white colour) and bring some highlights (see step 2.3 how to use a brush).

HDR Tutorial: HDR Photoshop highlights

Final result
HDR Tutorial endresult

Video Photography Tutorial

I hope you have learned a bit of the techniques I use. If you have a question about this tutorial, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

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21 Comments

shaikh imran
August 18, 2011
Thanks for tut.
Reply
- Raven
  August 25, 2011
  Your welcome Shaikh!
  Reply
CheapSally.com
August 19, 2011
I tried this the other night and couldn’t quite get it to come out the way I wanted it to. I’ll have to try it again as I don’t think the initial photos I took were set up well for this type of technique. Do initial photos with less or more contrast work better for this?
Reply
- Raven
  August 25, 2011
  These techniques works well when you’ve taken a photo(s) (hdr) with some potentional drama in it. Lot’s of clouds will mostly do the work. When using more contrast it will emphasize drama!
  You could send me your potentional image by e-mail and maybe I can help you with the editing part by a short step-by-step explanation.
  Reply
oscar
September 6, 2011
Thanks Raven.
Very nice tutorial.
it should be great if you add the starting pictures so we can test it…
Oscar
Reply
- Jip (Raven)
  September 6, 2011
  Oscar,
  Thanks for the kind words!
  I will upload these photos very soon. Thanks for the useful input.
  Reply
Lovell D'souza
October 1, 2011
Excellent work, love you unique style!
And, thanks for the tutorial.
Reply
- Raven
  February 3, 2012
  Thanks man!
  Reply
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October 10, 2011
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Reply
JC
November 1, 2011
Thanks for the tutorial. This was very helpful and made my photos look better!
Reply
- Raven
  February 3, 2012
  It’s a pleasure to read you have learned something new! You’re welcome.
  Reply
Waseem
December 24, 2011
For HTML which plugin or control or jquery did u use.
Reply
- Raven
  February 3, 2012
  I have combined a lot! Don’t remember all it’s names. There are a lot of fancy jquery scripts on the net. Just use our helpful friend, Google .
  Reply
Craig J. Satterlee
January 23, 2012
Love your work….if you ever come to Yellowstone Park…let me know and I’ll show you around. Yellowstone is really mystic in the morning when the geysers are going. You’d love the moment.
Thanks for sharing

Craig
Reply
- Raven
  February 3, 2012
  Thanks for the kind words. It would be amazing to see Yellowstone Park some time. You made me curious!
  Reply
dew drop
February 12, 2012
Complicated job.But you described it clearly.Thanks a lot.
Reply
- admin
  February 18, 2012
  Your welcome! Thanks for the kind words .
  Reply
Dabhi
February 18, 2012
Great tut one again! And I know what your next one suhold be about. Search for nailboard c4d on Youtube. Really want to know how to create this kind of stuff.
Reply
Sefa
February 18, 2012
about it? For me I wnaetd to integrate travel and such into the site with my latest post 5 Best HDR Photography Destinations (check it out if for no other reason than some incredible
Reply
Jan
March 20, 2012
ha Guy – Great pics !
And thxs for this tutorial.
You rock
Reply
antonis
March 21, 2012
is it possible u think to edit pictures with people on it i mean you think will look nice
Reply