HDR panorama tutorial

[TMorita]

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Here's a bit of clarification.

o If you are using Lightroom to do the HDR merge, then the in-camera white balance doesn't matter. This is because Lightroom uses DNG as the HDR output file, and since DNG is a raw camera format, it stores the white balance and the raw  pixel data separately in the file. The panarama merge occurs on the raw pixel data without using the white balance data. So the in-camera white balance does not matter. The white balance is only baked into the pixel data when the files are viewed on a monitor or output as a non-camera-raw format such as JPEG or TIFF.

o If are using Photoshop to do the HDR merge, then the in-camera white balance does matter. This is because Photoshop uses TIFF as the HDR output file, and since TIFF files are not a raw camera format, it does not keep the white balance and the pixel data separately. The white balance is "baked" into the pixel data so it does matter. If a panorama merge is done on TIFF files with different white balances, the colors will not match across the panorama because the different white balances are "baked" into each shot.

Since this tutorial assumes Lightroom is being used, the in-camera white balance doesn't matter for this tutorial.

Toshi

Edited December 9, 2020 by TMorita

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[TMorita]

Here's a screenshot showing the output of the Lightroom HDR merge.

The three photos in the red rectangle are the HDR input files.

The photo with the yellow rectangle is the HDR output file.

The filename of the HDR output file is L1000053-HDR.dng. 

So the Lightroom HDR merge generates a DNG format output file, where the white balance and the raw pixel data are stored separately.

 

Toshi

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[TMorita]

Here's another example using the chair example.

Again, the input files are marked with a red rectangle.

The output file is marked with a yellow rectangle.

The output is again L10000171-Pano.dng which is a DNG file.

The white balance is not "baked into" the pixel data, and the white balance information and pixel data are stored separately in a DNG file.

Toshi

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Edited December 9, 2020 by TMorita

[TMorita]

Here's an example of the sky not being uniformly the same hue.

It's an HDR shot taken at sunset, with no panorama used.

This shot is facing roughly south, so the sun is in the west on the right hand side of the frame.

Notice how the sky on the right side of the photo is noticeably lighter than the sky on the left side.

The camera is in the shade for this shot, so the difference is not due to lens flare.

Update: I might have used a CPL filter on this one, so maybe not the best example.

Toshi

 

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Edited December 10, 2020 by TMorita

[TMorita]

Here's another example - it's the rightmost HDR shot from the panorama before merging..

The camera is facing south again, and since the sun is on the right side, the sky on the right side is noticeably lighter than the left side.

This one I'm pretty sure I didn't use the circular polarizer, so the change in sky color should be entirely natural.

(Yes, I know there is sensor dust)

Toshi

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Edited December 10, 2020 by TMorita