• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Oben CTM-2500 5-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
  • Datacolor SpyderX Elite review and installation guide
  • BenQ SW271 monitor offers perfect color and resolution
  • Cecilia Humboldt 14L backpack offers stylish, customizable storage
  • Stacking up ProGrade Digital’s SDXC card and reader with SanDisk

Photofocus

Education and inspiration for visual storytellers

Menu
  • Blog
  • Photo
    • Shooting
    • Gear
    • Lighting
    • Reviews
    • Close
  • Video
    • Shooting
    • Gear
    • Lighting
    • Reviews
    • Close
  • Learn
    • Maximize Lightroom
    • HDR
    • Video
    • Lightroom
    • Photoshop
    • Close
  • Gear Guides
    • The Ultimate GoPro Kit
    • Architectural Photography
    • Close
  • Business
  • Drones
    • Stills
    • Video
    • Gear
    • Post-Processing
    • Close
  • Inspiration
  • News
  • Software
    • Adobe
    • Apple
    • Mobile
    • Skylum
    • Windows
    • Close
  • Podcasts
    • Audio Podcasts
    • Video Podcasts
    • Close
  • Contests
Grand teton panorama from Schwabacher's Landing

First impressions of a landscape photographer: Aurora HDR 2019 and single image adjustment

Marie Tartar 10/29/2018 0

(Editor’s note: Aurora HDR 2019 is now available. The links in this article offer savings and free training videos, Looks and LUTs as well.)

The release of Aurora HDR 2019, coupled with a backlog of unprocessed landscape images generated in the past year, allowed me to put a pre-release version of the program through its paces in a frenzy of processing.

I should preface my comments by pointing out that I have no prior experience with earlier versions of Aurora.  Even my experience with HDR is limited to Lightroom.

After 3 evenings of using the program, I can say with confidence that this is a powerful and easy to use the tool.  I am thoroughly impressed with how easy it was to get started.  My preparation consisted of watching a few short video segments and that was sufficient to launch me into processing images languishing in Lightroom for over a year.

HDR means high dynamic range and generally refers to images with expanded dynamic range, most often created by combining multiple different exposures of the same scene into a merged HDR photo. In a typical landscape application, 3 exposures of the same scene would be obtained to cover the entire dynamic range of the scene.  One exposure would capture the highlights (often the bright sky), another the midtones (foreground) and the third would be exposed to show detail in the shadows. Our eyes are capable of seeing shadow detail beyond what most cameras can capture and use of HDR techniques is a way of reproducing this information.

Although HDR images can be obtained handheld, using a tripod and auto-bracketing is the most reliable way of consistently obtaining good source images for HDR. The ISO and aperture are held constant, with the shutter speed varied 1-2 stops, depending on the scene.  I usually auto-bracket with 3 exposures, one being the best single exposure, with another 2 stops slower (overexposed to get shadow detail) and another 2 stops faster (underexposed to capture detail in the highlights).  Some cameras can obtain up to 5 or more brackets automatically. Check the manual for your camera for more info.

Aurora HDR 2019 easily integrated into my workflow.  Within minutes, I had it installed as a plug in to Lightroom. I was surprised to learn that in addition to working with combinations of images to create HDR images, the program can also be used to process single images. The resulting image can then be adjusted using a series of sliders on the right.  Alternate looks can be explored with a series of presets at the bottom. Some of these were extreme, but all can be varied in intensity from 100% on down.

Here are some of my early efforts:

Moose Falls, Yellowstone, straight out of the camera without any adjustment. Waterfalls are always tough, especially if it is sunny. The white of the water and the dark of the rocks makes for a tricky exposure. I used a polarizing filter to enhance the green of the foreground leaves by decreasing their shine. This also lengthened the overall exposure, smoothing out the water (shutter speed 1/4 second, ISO 200, f22).
The same image, edited with typical Lightroom adjustments, with highlights (the water) decreased, shadows bumped up (the rock in shadow on the far side of the falls), with some clarity and vibrance added.
The same image, put through Aurora HDR 2019, conveys more of what I remember liking about the scene: the sun just making it through the trees onto the water, a sense of surprise and mystery. The shadow detail of the far rock is visible but de-emphasized. Overall, there is a richer look, with nice texture, vibrant but not unnatural.

 

 

 

 

I had an analogous conundrum with a scene from Grand Teton of a river: whitewater, dark rocks, middle-toned foliage, unadjusted, straight out of the Fuji X-T2: f16, 1/8 second, ISO 200.
My original adjustments in Lightroom: decreased highlights (running water), increased shadows and overall exposure. To my eye, the foliage looks unnatural, too green.
The same image, put through Aurora HDR 2019, achieves a more natural-looking balance between the water, with darker rocks and vivid but more natural green of the foliage.

 

These examples were single images, processed with a few clicks with Aurora HDR 2019, after minimal video instruction.  I’m looking forward to whittling down my “to-be-processed” pile with the aid of this powerful and intuitive, user-friendly program.  In a follow-up post, we’ll take a look at my early results using Aurora HDR 2019 to combine multiple exposures.

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Follow me

Marie Tartar

Marie Tartar is an insatiable traveler, diver, hiker and photographer.She is one half of the photographic partnership of San Diego-based Aperture Photo Arts (APA).Along with her husband, Steve Eilenberg, she explores the world photographically, on foot and by fin, specializing in underwater, landscape, wildlife, travel and architectural photography. Her images have been exhibited at the La Jolla Athenaeum, San Diego Natural History Museum, Oceanside Museum of Art, Birch Aquarium and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.See more work at www.aperturephotoarts.com.
Follow me

Latest posts by Marie Tartar (see all)

  • The Traveling Photographer: Choosing a trip to Antarctica, part 3 - February 15, 2019
  • The Traveling Photographer: Choosing a trip to Antarctica, Part 2 - February 7, 2019
  • The great outdoors and Perfectly Clear Complete - January 12, 2019

Categories: Skylum Software Tags: landscape photography software travel

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
 

You May Also Like:

Please support our partners:

Adobe Stock – The marketplace where videographers and photographers make money with their video footage and still photographs. Become a contributor today!

Lume Cube – Proudly known as the World's Most Versatile Light™, Lume Cube represents the future of LED Lighting.

ACDSee – Experience ultimate creative freedom with the world's first digital asset manager and RAW editor with layers. ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2019 is the answer to your creative graphic and photography needs.

Illuminati Instruments – Maker of the Illuminati meter that measures flash & ambient, color temperature and chromaticity in a compact case that links to a smartphone.

B&H – B&H is a world renowned supplier of all the gear photographers, videographers, and cinematographers need and want to create their very best work.

Skylum – Your photos, more beautiful in minutes. Makers of Luminar, Aurora and Photolemur, Skylum adapts to your style and skill level. Check out the new Luminar 3, now available.

Perfectly Clear Complete – Built for precision. Made for beauty. Perfectly Clear has mastered the science of intelligent image correction - creating superior quality photos in record time, so you can get back to doing what you really love...in no time. Special Photofocus deal here.

V-Flat World – Lightweight and easy to transport, the Foldable V-Flat from V-Flat World makes it easy to travel, collapsing down to 40 x 40 x 2 inches. Learn more at vflatworld.com.

Adobe Creative Cloud – Creative Cloud gives you the world's best apps and services for video, design, photography and the web, whether you're a beginner or a pro! Plans start at $9.99/mo. at adobe.com.

Viewbug – Learn and improve your photography with over 500 videos. Trusted by millions around the world, join over 2 million photographers who already use Viewbug.

HDR Learning Center – Check out new ways to use High Dynamic Range photography to make compelling images. Free tutorials and posts to get results. Produced in partnership with HDRsoft.

ThinkTAP – New online education for photographers by working professionals. Be one of the first 50 people to buy our new time-lapse training for only $99 (that’s 60% off); use the code TL50.

Reader Interactions

Comment Policy: Vigorous discussion is welcome. Please use your real names and respect one another.

Share your thoughts Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Our eBooks

  • Develop Great Images in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Scribd | iBooks)
  • The Basic Beginner’s Guide to Photography Light & Exposure (iBooks)
  • Secrets of HDR (iBooks)
  • 72 Essays on Photography (iBooks | Amazon)

Footer

Photofocus

Regardless of the type of photography you focus on, Photofocus is here as a helpful and educational resource for the aspiring and professional photographer. Our goal is to assist in your success as an artist.

Advertise on Photofocus

Our eBooks

  • Develop Great Images in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Scribd | iBooks)
  • The Basic Beginner’s Guide to Photography Light & Exposure (iBooks)
  • Secrets of HDR (iBooks)
  • 72 Essays on Photography (iBooks | Amazon)

Follow Us On Twitter

Follow @photofocus
Follow @rhedpixel
Follow @amesphoto
Follow @bryanesler
Follow @PhotoLevi
Follow @vanelli
Follow @chamirastudios
Follow @HahnNaturePhoto
Follow @LauriNovakPhoto
Follow @lightroomers
Follow @michaelmuraz
Follow @MikeJHagen
Follow @rodharlan
Follow @scottwyden
Follow @TracieJeanPhoto
Follow @Matthew_JordanS
© 2019 Photofocus · All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Advertise
    • Marketing Kit
  • Authors
    • The Publisher
  • Contact Us
  • Legal
    • Contests
    • FTC Disclosures
    • Review Guidelines
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.