My camera has functions

I have been looking at getting a new camera recently.  Although I haven't as of yet purchased anything, I have been learning a lot more about cameras due to the OCD nature of my pre-purchase research.  A camera is quite an investment for me not only in terms of finance but also because it is a tool for capturing experiences that I am very afraid of forgetting.  I don't have a bad memory but it does need to be triggered if I am to remember things in sufficient detail. 

I might write about the experience of researching a new camera in a different post.  The search for a new camera did mean that I had to learn the purpose of a large number of camera functions so that I could compare them in terms of relative benefit.  One of those functions is exposure bracketing.  What it does is take a number of photos, usually three a few stops over and under your current exposure.  You can use this when you are having trouble getting the balance in your picture right.  If you can shoot in raw, it is not really necessary because you can get the same variation in processing those images on your computer.  

What exposure does however is makes creating photos with a higher dynamic range (less shadows or white patches) more easily.  Especially if you have photoshop or one of those HDR programs at home. I am not going to get into how complicated it can be, I want this to be simple so that I can do it while I still have enough enthusiasm, my care factor tends to drop off sharply. 

Select exposure bracketing mode in the camera and find one of those scene where it is hard to get everything exposed properly.  Make sure that the camera is steady, This means holding the camera like granddad taught you, leaning on something steadier than you are, or a tripod if you don't mind everyone looking at you while you take photos.  

Take your shot, the camera will take three photos at different exposures.  

Go home, turn on the computer, get the photos onto the computer. 

Open your software, and select the images.  I have photoshop so I will talk about that, if you have something else, read the manual for your software.  In photoshop, go to file-> Automate-> merge to HDR.  Select the three images.  Play with the toggles on the right.  Save the photo.   Read the online tutorial that Adobe have if you want more information on what it is that you are doing.  

This is what comes out of my tired little Canon G9, after that little procedure.

이사진이 어린이대공원

건대입구역 에서 사진을찍었어요.

건대입구역 에서 사진을찍었어요.

I am not really into over doing it on the HDR front, just a little boost but still keeping the light to give the scene the feel that it should have.  These were on a overcast winters day, in late afternoon with the kind of light that people talk about with seasonal affective disorder. 

They could probably benefit from a little judicious cropping but I couldn't be bothered at the moment.