
Introduction
In a previous article, we talked about what the optimal shutter speed is when shooting HDR photography. Now, we are going to discuss the optimal aperture setting in HDR photography. When shooting HDR images, we want to capture as much detail as possible. Each camera lens will have an aperture “sweet spot,” where you can get the most detail and sharpness. However, the lens’s “sweet spot” may not always be the optimal aperture setting when shooting HDR images. In this article, we will discuss what exactly a “sweet spot” is, as well as the general rule of thumb for the optimal aperture setting when shooting HDR photography.
THE “SWEET SPOT”
When shooting HDR photography, the optimal aperture setting will actually depend on the overall scene and look that you are going for. However, with every lens, there is an optimal aperture setting that will yield maximum sharpness. This is known as the “sweet spot.” Since every lens has a “sweet spot,” we recommend you look through online resources that will tell you the exact optimal aperture setting for your lens. At apertures below the “sweet spot,” you will start to lose detail due to a thinning depth of field. At higher apertures, your images will start to lose detail due to diffraction, which reduces a bit of the sharpness in your images. As a rule of thumb, a lens’s “sweet spot” will be at around 3-4 full stops above the maximum aperture setting. For example, if your lens is a 2.8 lens, your “sweet spot” will be somewhere around F/8 to F/11.
THE STARBURST EFFECT
As mentioned before, the optimal aperture setting is really going to depend on the actual scene and overall effect that we are going for. For example, sometimes we will need to use a wider aperture because we need the extra light, even if it reduces a little bit of sharpness in the image. A closed down aperture at F/16 and beyond will cause diffraction. This may not necessarily be the lens’s “sweet spot,” but we are shooting at F/16 because we want to create a certain effect.
Shooting with higher apertures at F/14, F/16 and beyond will create starburst patterns in the lights in our images. Therefore, if we want to create the starburst effect from the sun in our image, we will use one of those aperture settings. That setting will then become the optimal aperture setting for our image, instead of the lens’s “sweet spot,” because the starburst effect is the overall look we want in our image.
Below is an example of what the starburst effect looks like in the lights.
CONSIDERING THE OVERALL EXPOSURE
When shooting HDR photography, it is important to consider the overall exposure of the image. This can often outweigh whether or not you are shooting at the lens’s “sweet spot.” Whenever you approach a new scene, you should think about the composition you are going for and whether or not you want to create a starburst effect in your images. If these considerations are not that important to you, then just shoot at your lens’s “sweet spot” because that will maximize overall detail in the image. However, if these considerations are important, then you do not need to choose the lens’s “sweet spot.” Instead, choose your own optimal setting that will give you the overall look you want to create in your image.
CONCLUSION
Shooting at your lens’s “sweet spot” will maximize the quality and detail of your HDR images. However, your lens’s “sweet spot” may not be the optimal aperture setting when you want to create a starburst effect in your HDR images. Instead, shoot with a higher aperture to create starburst patterns, which will make that higher aperture the new optimal aperture setting.
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO HDR
- 1.1 – Introduction to HDR
- 1.2 HDR Workshop Introduction
- 1.3 What is HDR?
- 1.4 What is a Stop of Light
- 1.5 Boosting Dynamic Range by Combining Exposures
- 1.6 When Do You Really Need to Shoot HDR Images
- 1.7 Improvements in Technology
- 1.8 Installing the Presets
- 1.9 – What you will Need for HDR Photography
- 1.10 – Tripod
- 1.11 – Remote Shutter Release
- 1.12 –Lens Filter
- 1.13 – Memory Cards
- 1.14 – Backpack
- 1.15 – UNDFIND Bag
- 1.16 – Laptop
- 1.15 – HDR Software
CHAPTER 2: HDR CAMERA SETTINGS
- 2.1 – HDR Camera Settings Introduction
- 2.2 – What is Auto Exposure Bracketing
- 2.3 – How Many Exposures Do You Really Need
- 2.4 – Changing Your Cameras Bracketing Order
- 2.5 – Ceteris Paribus (Shutter Speed Changes)
- 2.6 – Capture All Shots by Shooting in Continuous Modes
- 2.7 – Camera Modes
- 2.8 – Metering Modes
- 2.9 – Timer
- 2.10 – Setting the Correct Median Exposure
- 2.11 – Nailing and Locking the Focus
- 2.12 – In-Camera HDR
- 2.13– In-Camera HDR
CHAPTER 3: HDR CONSIDERATIONS
- 3.1 – HDR Considerations Intro
- 3.2 – Using a Tripod
- 3.3 – Optimal Shutter Speedl
- 3.4 – Optimal Aperture Settings
- 3.5 – Optimal ISO Settings
- 3.6 –Moving Objects and Ghosting
- 3.7 – Using DSLRs with Faster Frame Rates
- 3.8 – Using Mirror Up Mode-Mirror Lockup
- 3.9 – Shooting in RAW vs. JPEG
- 3.10 – Macro Mode with Food Photography
- 3.11 – Clean Your Lenses & Sensor!
- 3.12 – Don’t Forget the Photographic Composition
CHAPTER 4: SALTON SEA, CA
- 4.1 – Salton Sea, CA HDR Introduction
- 4.2 – Salton Sea HDR | Pt.1| How it was Shot
- 4.3 – Salton Sea HDR | Pt.2| RAW preparation and HDR Export
- 4.4 – Salton Sea HDR | Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 4.5 – Salton Sea HDR | Pt.4| RAW Processing and Photoshop Import
- 4.6 – Salton Sea HDR | Pt.4| Photoshop Layer
- 4.7 – Salton Sea HDR | Pt.6| Final Image Processing
Chapter 5: PAGE, AZ
- 5.1 – Page, Arizona HDR Introduction
- 5.2 Horseshoe Bend HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 5.3 Horseshoe Bend HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 5.4. Horseshoe Bend HDR | Pt.3| HDR Processing in Photomatix Pro
- 5.5 Horseshoe Bend HDR |Pt.4| RAW Processing and Adobe Photoshop Import
- 5.6 Horseshoe Bend HDR |Pt.5| Photoshop Layer Blending
- 5.7 Horseshoe Bend HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
- 5.8. Antelope Canyon HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 5.9 Antelope Canyon HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 5.10 Antelope Canyon HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 5.11– Antelope Canyon HDR |Pt.4| Final Image Processing
- 5.12 – Antelope Canyon HDR |Pt.5| RAW Processing and Photoshop Import
- 5.13 Antelope Canyon HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
Chapter 6: MOAB, UT
- 6.1 Moab, Utah HDR Introduction
- 6.2 Moab Utah HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 6.3 Moab Utah HDR | Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 6.4 Moab Utah HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 6.5 Moab Utah HDR |Pt.4| Processing and Photoshop Import
- 6.6 Moab Utah HDR |Pt.5| Photoshop Layer Blending
- 6.7 Moab Utah HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
Chapter 7: SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- 7.1 Salt Lake Union Pacific HDR Location
- 7.2 Salt Lake Union Pacific HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 7.3 Salt Lake Union Pacific HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 7.4 Salt Lake Union Pacific HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 7.5 Salt Lake Union Pacific HDR |Pt.4| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 7.6 Salt Lake Union Pacific HDR |Pt.5| Photoshop Layer Blending
- 7.7 Salt Lake Union Pacific HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
- 7.8 Salt Lake City HDR Introduction
- 7.9 Salt Lake LDS Temple HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 7.10 Salt Lake LDS Temple HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 7.11 Salt Lake LDS Temple HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 7.12 Salt Lake LDS Temple HDR |Pt.4| RAW Processsing and Photoshop Import
- 7.13 Salt Lake LDS Temple HDR |Pt.5| Photoshop Layer Blending
- 7.14 Salt Lake LDS Temple HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
- 7.15 Salt Lake Capital HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 7.16 Salt Lake Capital HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 7.17 Salt Lake Capital HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 7.18 Salt Lake Capital HDR |Pt.4| RAW Processing and Photoshop Import
- 7.19 Salt Lake Capital HDR |Pt.5| Photoshop Layer Blending
- 7.20 Salt Lake Capital HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
Chapter 8: SALT LAKE MOUNTAINS, UT
- 8.1 Salt Lake Mountains HDR Introduction
- 8.2 Heber Valley Fishing Bracketed HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 8.3 Heber Valley Fishing Bracketed HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR
- 8.4 Heber Valley Fishing Bracketed HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 8.5 Heber Valley Fishing Bracketed HDR |Pt.4| RAW Processing and Photoshop Import
- 8.6 Salt Lake Union Pacific HDR |Pt.5| Photoshop Layer Blending
- 8.7 Heber Valley Fishing Bracketed HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
- 8.8 Heber Creeper Train HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 8.9 Salt Lake LDS Temple HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 8.10 Heber Creeper Train HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 8.11 Heber Creeper Train HDR |Pt.4| RAW Processing and Photoshop Import
- 8.12 Heber Creeper Train HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 8.13 Heber Creeper Train HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
- 8.14 Uinta Summit Panorama HDR |Pt.1| How it was Shot
- 8.15 Uinta Summit Panorama HDR |Pt.2| Single Shot Faux HDR Processing
- 8.16 Uinta Summit Panorama HDR |Pt.3| Photoshop Panorama Processing
- 8.17 Uinta Summit Panorama HDR |Pt.4| Final Image Processing
Chapter 9: BRYCE & ZION, UT
- 9.1 Bryce Canyon HDR Introduction
- 9.2 Bryce Canyon HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 9.3 Bryce Canyon HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 9.4 Bryce Canyon HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 9.5 Bryce Canyon HDR |Pt.4| RAW Processing and Photoshop Import
- 9.6 Bryce Canyon HDR |Pt.5| Photoshop Layer Blending
- 9.7 Bryce Canyon HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
- 9.8 Road Side Panorama HDR |Pt.1| How it was Shot
- 9.9 Salt Lake LDS Temple HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 9.10 Road Side Panorama HDR |Pt.3| Photoshop Panorama Processing
- 9.11 Road Side Panorama HDR |Pt.4| Final Image Processing
- 9.12
Zion River HDR |Pt.1| Location - 9.13 Zion River HDR |Pt.2| How it was Shot
- 9.14
zion River HDR |Pt.3| RAW Preparation and HDR Export - 9.15 Zion River HDR |Pt.4| HDR Processing
- 9.16 Zion River HDR |Pt.5| RAW Processing and Photoshop Import
- 9.17 Zion River HDR |Pt.6| Photoshop Layer Blending
- 9.18 Zion River HDR |Pt.7| Final Image Processing
Chapter 10: LAS VEGAS, NV & LOS ANGELES, CA
- 10.1 Las Vegas and Los Angeles HDR Introduction
- 10.2 Las Vegas Aria HDR |Pt.1| How it Was Shot
- 10.3 Las Vegas Aria HDR |Pt.2| RAW Preparation and HDR Export
- 10.4 Las Vegas Aria HDR |Pt.3| HDR Processing
- 10.5 Las Vegas Aria HDR |Pt.4| RAW Processing and Photoshop Import
- 10.6 Las Vegas Aria HDR |Pt.5| hotoshop Layer Blending
- 10.7 Las Vegas Aria HDR |Pt.6| Final Image Processing
- 10.8 Downtown Los Angeles HDR |Pt.1| How it was Shot
- 10.9 Downtown Los Agneles HDR |Pt.2| Single Shot Faux HDR Processing
Chapter 11: BONUS
- 11.1 Heber Creeper Train HDR
- 11.2 Heber Valley Fishing SIngle Shot HDR
- 11.3 Uinta Summit Bracket HDR
- 11.4 Bryce Canyon Panorama HDR
- 11.5 Zion Entrance Panorama HDR
- 11.6 Las Vegas Cleveland Clinic HDR
- 11.7 Palos Verdes HDR
- 11.8 Shen Zhen Pier HDR
- 11.9 China Street Photography HDR
- 11.10 Stearns Wharf HDR
Total Course Run Time: 13H 6M 50S
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