HDR video, how? (non-timelapse)

F

Fahad

Veteran
Hi,

i found this interesting:



from what i understand about true hdr, you need multiple frames at different exposure. is this video the real deal, or "faux"-hdr?
 
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This is not a critique on the above video (didn't watch it), but about present HDR use in general. I think most (95%) of the HDR photos I've seen look B-A-D... Not saying it isn't a useful technique when you need/want that kinda look, especially when done with subtlety, but taking it to the extreme makes things look like shi* IMHO.
 
Without watching the video, I can tell you that it's just pulling detail to fake the look of most HDR photos. Most of which do look terrible, people just want something that looks different because that makes them artists without having to learn things like composition. I have a few HDR photos, and they work because it's subtle. It's a tool to improve the image, and should be used as such. Much like shallow depth of field.
 
Fahad said:
Hi,
from what i understand about true hdr, you need multiple frames at different exposure. is this video the real deal, or "faux"-hdr?
Click to expand...

This is correct. Even if it were possible to shoot HDR video there would be no point, 99% of people do not have a playback device that would be able to display that kind of dynamic range. Most people have 8 bit displays and if you've ever looked at an HDR TIF or EXR on a monitor they look weird unprocessed. The real use for HDR imaging in flexibility in post (or else printing to film. )
 
HDR in my opinion is for reconstructing video/photos to look how the human eye sees it; not to dim highlights and up shadows to the point of muddled contrast and blow out colors (as in this video). Most 'HDR' today is just for the 'look', not the reality of how the scene was 'seen' (sorry for the bad pun!)

while stylistically it is intriguing, the technique is rather obvious; max out individual hue/saturation and manipulate shadows/highlights... Is evident in the contrast differentiation between one edge and the next; a clear 'HDR-ish' effect. Its a fad at the moment in digital photography. While i do like the fact that the video is unique, i am not a fan of pronounced HDR effects, i prefer HDR to simply emulate how the human eye sees the world.
 
+1 on that. The best use of HDR i have ever seen is shooting in old churches in Europe. The Photos had the beautiful, perfectly exposed detail of the interior while also being able to get a perfect exposure on the sun backed stained glass windows. It was simple and unless you know how wide of a Dynamic range that would take it is completely invisible.
 
I’ve attempted psuedo-HDR video. Not as extreme as OP’s example. I think it can be done tastefully to create a highly stylize look even if it’s not true to the original scene. Here’s an example (contains some profanity):

http://vimeo.com/6758087

I had interns shot the interview with a pdx10, second cam was 5D2. Originally background was overexposed and subject underexposed. With video, you can see it start to break down where there’s movement like cars and people in the background.
 
i agree that anything could be done well or taken too far. with hdr especially, it makes people get carried away.

but, how cool would proper, and tasteful, hdr video be?

low light cinematography could take on a whole new meaning.

some of these pictures are pretty cool:

http://tutorialblog.org/hdr-tutorials-roundup/

http://biggjeppe.deviantart.com/art/on-track5-HDR-113515801


really cool looking one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/4013081949/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/airellere/290879810/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/murtasma/730847627/



but yeah, i don't think it's possible with current technology to have true hdr video.
 
It would be great to be able to set different exposure levels, but the technology involved in real time video would be tremendous. You'd first have to get the different exposures. So you'd need two sensors. You can't change the aperture or shutter speed, and ISO has obvious limits, so there would have to be an internal neutral density filter involved. But when you split the light in two, you're halving the light, making it extremely difficult to get the proper exposure. You'd probably have to make the sensors really, really sensitive to make up for it. The actual ISO would be twice the displayed ISO.

Then you have to actually process the image. The best way would be to record two streams that are combined in post, since there's no way a processor will be able to figure that out. And you need to be able to control it, deciding exactly where the light and dark goes. And even if all that worked, that would still only be two exposures, which isn't as far reaching as what still shooters use.

Meaning I don't expect it to happen.
 
That looks like every frame was run through the Lucis Photoshop filter (which, btw, I detest).

It looks so much like the Lucis filter that I would bet monry thats how it was done.
 
I have noticed that the kids into extreme sports love this look. The guy that has done this is getting a lot of press for the sick look that he his shooting and getting. I also think that everyone (except ihart) missed the poster's original question of how did he achieve this effect.

I'm just sayin'. Stop being so snooty and either asnswer the question or don't write anything.
 
iHartVideo said:
That looks like every frame was run through the Lucis Photoshop filter (which, btw, I detest).

It looks so much like the Lucis filter that I would bet monry thats how it was done.
Click to expand...

The problem with a neat toy is that it's available to everyone and easily overdone. I've been using Lucis for some of my still photography for years (before people became enamored with people who like to take it to 11 and the "Dave Hill" style became the latest craze). You can easily turn something mundane and uninteresting and make it absolutely unwatchable garbage. Content is key.

Same thing with Magic Bullet Looks. People slap on a filter preset and think that's all there is to it. You don't see anything like that on the big screen for a reason
 
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