I’ve been dabbling with HDR images for several years now. The process involves taking three (or more) images at different exposure levels and then using software to blend the images together – the over-exposed image captures good detail in the shadows and the the under-exposed image captures good detail in the highlights. The end result can often be striking. The results can often be striking and, because the human eye has a much higher dynamic range than a camera it can often better approximate the detail that someone sees in reality.
Because three images are being blended, it is difficult or impossible to capture HDR images of people or moving object which is why they are typically only seen of architecture or landscapes. In the early days I used a tripod and manually adjusted the exposure. These days my camera has a bracket setting and will take 3 images at the proper exposure in quick succession.
Because of the required software post processing the results can’t be fully appreciated in the field and the images are only compiled after returning home. Here is a set of HDR images that I took on the recent trip to Turkey….enjoy!
Kusadesi Hillside with houses painted in a stunning gradient
Kusadesi hillside as seen from the corniche
Ephesus column with morning sun
The library at Ephesus - it is good to get there before the crowds.
An HDR image with people in it is a challenge because multiple photos are involved and people tend to move. Here is a rare one where everyone held still for the entire bracket.
Columns at the temple of Athena at Preiene
Athena Temple columns
An HDR shot of one of the passageways at the amphitheater at Miletos
Another shot of the passageway at the amphitheater at Miletos
Pedestrain tunnel at the amphitheater - the layout of the facility is recongizable in any modern stadium as well.
A sunset shot of the Galeta Tower durning sunset - taken from a boat on the bosphorus.
The Sulemaini mosque as seen from across the Bosphorus.
Another shot of the Galeta tower. This one caught a flight of sea birds streaking past.
Istanbul Mosque and hillsside during sunset
Another stunning mosque during sunset on the Bosphorus.
The Asian side of Istanbul with hillside homes and a couple of mosques including one with Eid celebration lights strung between the minarets.
The Hagia Sophia is made for HDR. Lots of deep colors and moody shadows.
Looking up at the central dome (blue) and a secondary dome (gold) with a Seraphim in between.
Sunlight streaking in through upper windows. The lens flare really makes this photo work.
One of the Seraphim flanking the central dome.
Another picture of the early sun coming through the upper windows.
Massive hanging laps lit the huge open space.
View of the central dome with some of the scaffholding that I think is just as old. At least is has been there since 2001 for sure.
This shot from the upper gallery really gives a sense of the massive enclosed space. Not a bad architectural feat when most of the world was living in mud huts.
Another interios shot that shows the scaffholding.
The remains of an ealry Christian mosiac in the upper gallery. Some was destroyed but this piece was only plastered over and was later restored.
We’ve been back from vacation for a couple of weeks now but I’m still working through a bit of a back log on getting pictures off of the camera.  Here are few pictures of nature around Bass Lake both large and small. The panorama picture of the storm passing to the north of the lake is one of my favorite pictures.  Enjoy!
Storm over Bass Lake
Storm over Bass Lake
View of the new house from the lake shore
View from the back side
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Crystal took this one out by the swamp. A frog and a bee on the same milkweed plant.
Fungus Among Us
Wild flower on Bass Lake
The profile is his best side.
I was getting close to him and he stated to take an aggressive stance. Seconds after this picture he went for me.
A wolf spider giving me the stink eye. Eight of them.
We recently stopped at Interstate Park which is on the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Â It is a wonderful park and home to the largest concentration of Glacial Potholes in the world. Â The glacial potholes form when rocks in a fast moving river fall into a small divot and swirl around knocking against the rock and acting as a drill. Â They make circular drill holes some times called “Witches’ Cauldrons”. Â Often quite small, some in the park are over 60 feet deep!
Crystal, Kai and Nora at Interstate Park checking out the glacial potholes. In both quantity and size of potholes it is a world wonder.
Ben, Kai and Nora pose on the edge of cliff in the park.
Kai and Nora climbing on rocks in the park.
An HDR shot of the Taylors Falls Queen
Checking out one of the larger cauldrons. Kai is maveling at the duckweed growing in the hole. Duckweed is, of course, the world's smallest flowering plant.
Nora and Crystal check out a pothole in this HDR pic
Getting ready to decend into the "Bottomless Pit". It turned out that it did have a bottom but at over 60 feer deep it was an impressive glacial pothole.
Getting ready to decend into the "Bottomless Pit". It turned out that it did have a bottom but at over 60 feer deep it was an impressive glacial pothole.
On December 31 I went out in the early AM before the sky started to change and tried to capture a few interesting shots of the house. It was below zero with a respectable breeze which was not conducive to having dextrous fingers to fiddle with camera knobs. That combined with the difficulty of focusing and shooting in very low light kept most from turning out but there are a few worth sharing. For reference these were taken when the sky was almost entirely dark – they seem like dawn is well along only due to the long exposure. The only lights in the house were the patio light in the back, the fireplace inside and the Christmas lights strung on the deck.
The ones below are a combination of long exposures, high dynamic range and extreme photoshopping.
Bass Lake view
A dawn view of the house. It was cold out. Below zero with a bit of a breeze.
Another shot of the house
This time from the back with the patio lights on
Long exposure shot
This was taken before dawn but with a very long exposure.
The woods behind our house. This is taken standing by our garage and looking across the wetlands to the house.
Our cabin
Taken from Bass lake just before dawn and photoshopped 4 ways to Sunday.
Our winter vacation back to Danbury Wisconsin is over (as are the lengthy flights home).  It was wonderful to visit family and friends and connect during the holidays.  Playing in the snow and sitting next to a fire while the snow fell outside was a treat as well. As a parting homage to Wisconsin winter here are a few more outdoor shots that I took over the last month.
Well our early summer vacation has drawn to a close. We have successfully made the transatlantic trip once again with little incident unless you count Kai’s meltdown in Amsterdam when he was going on almost 20 hours with no sleep.
Below are a series of photoshopped or otherwise enhanced images that I took over this vacation at our house in Wisconsin. I still have a few more galleries of different family visits that I will post in the coming days so stay tuned!
