Have just found out how to take bracketed shots, all thanks to suggestions from 365ers - one for the current Framing July 19 theme (rather loose translation, cobweb and dandelion seeds 'framed' in farm gate)
@brigette Thanks, you're right. I just didn't want to lose the sunlight sliding down the hillside. It was a last minute decision to add this from a few days ago as I have nothing new for today:)
@casablanca Bracketed shots are several shots of the same thing - one underexposed, one properly exposed, and one overexposed. You can often set your camera to take these for you and then you select the best of the bunch. If you really have tough lighting conditions, you can use various parts of your shots and merge them together to create more of a 'real' view instead of what your camera thinks it should be. I am rubbish at Photomerge:) Don't think I did any adjustments to this one.
@fbailey Thanks for the explanation. Not heard of this before. Still never tried merging shots and composites defeat me. Probably ought to take a course!! Always enjoy your photos and thanks for taking the time to explain what you do. It is much appreciated.
@casablanca Thank you! You might be able to get an app for your Iphone which has bracketing on. There are loads of YouTube videos out there re composites, but am not sure about Iphone use.
The way I process bracketed shots is:
*choose the main shot I think is best,
take an underexposed shot, line it up (always have to do that), add a greyscale layer mask to that layer;
*Then take the over exposed shot and add an inverted greyscale layer mask,
The programs blur the layer masks to add a 3D effect using Gaussian blur. Sometimes that adds to the shot, sometimes it doesn't.
*I then will choose how much I'll add in of the other layers before merging them.
You can also paint out things on the layer masks (like the blur from someone moving).
That brings out the details you can't see on the standard shot as the underexposed shot tends to have more sky, the overexposed more detail in dark areas of the shot.
@shannejw Thanks v much indeed for such a detailed reply. Will def give this a whirl. Only realised my camera HAD bracketing last week ... it amazes me how capable they are, little mini computers almost
You can also pull up colours by using the curves menu to, for example, increase the blue in the over exposed shot to make the sky work better - before you add the layer mask though.
I need to learn more about bracketing
*choose the main shot I think is best,
take an underexposed shot, line it up (always have to do that), add a greyscale layer mask to that layer;
*Then take the over exposed shot and add an inverted greyscale layer mask,
The programs blur the layer masks to add a 3D effect using Gaussian blur. Sometimes that adds to the shot, sometimes it doesn't.
*I then will choose how much I'll add in of the other layers before merging them.
You can also paint out things on the layer masks (like the blur from someone moving).
That brings out the details you can't see on the standard shot as the underexposed shot tends to have more sky, the overexposed more detail in dark areas of the shot.