High Dynamic Range in Photoshop with just one image.

What is HDR??

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. Dynamic range is the difference between the highest and lowest light you can capture in camera.
An HDR photo is really just two or three (somethime up to 9!) photos taken at different exposure levels and then squished together with software to create a better picture.Thats the simplest way i can describe it. Ideally, the photographer takes a series of bracketed photos – that is, photos of the same subject taken with varying shutter speed/aperture combinations in order to produce a set of images with varying luminosity and depth of field. Then, with the help of advanced post-processing software, the photographer is able to blend the photos together and create a single image comprised of the most focused, well-lit, and colorful parts of the scene. Check out the images below to see how it looks:


I would like to explain several different techniques on how to achieve HDR style imagery using digital methods.

The first one I would like to show you is HDR in photoshop with just a single image:

1. Open a RAW file in Camera Raw

2. Underexpose the image by sliding the exposure button to the left.

3. Slide the recovery button all the way to the right (or fairly close to it).

4. Move the fill light slider across to the right.

5. Move the blacks slider to the right to add depth to the shadows and
increase contrast.

6. Add further contrast by moving the contrast slider to the right.

7. Moving the clarity slider across to the right will add contrast and an effect
of sharpness.

8. Once this work has been done in Camera Raw, open the image in Photoshop.

10. Go to Image > Adjustments > Shadows/Highlights

11. Increase the amounts by moving the sliders to the right.  This will lighten 

the shadows and enhance your highlights.  Areas of contrast will also get a glow effect.

12. Use the High Pass Filter to add sharpness and bring out the detail even more. Go to Filter > Other > High Pass. Move the radius slider to the right until you see the detail coming through and click ok.

13. Next select a blend mode: Overlay, vivid light and linear light will all create a strong effect (Overlay is the most subtle of the blending modes, Linear giving the strongest affect).  You may need to reduce the opacity of the high pass layer, I reduced the opacity to 75% as I chose to use the vivid blend.

13. Flatten your image at this point.  Layer > Flatten Image.

14.   A final sharpen can be carried out using smart sharpen to create the HDR 

look sharpness.  Go to Filter > Sharpen > Smart sharpen.  Use the Amount and Radius sliders to increase the sharpness.  Use this and the High Pass Filter carefully, you can very easily overdo the effect.

There you have it, a HDR styled image without having to do it with the traditional bracketing method!