What is HDR photography?

HDR photography, or High Dynamic Range photography, involves capturing multiple exposures of the same scene at different exposure levels and merging them to create a single image with a greater dynamic range of luminosity than what a standard photograph can achieve. This technique allows for greater detail to be captured in both the shadows and highlights of an image, resulting in a more balanced and visually striking representation of the scene as the human eye would perceive it.

The process typically involves shooting several images of the same scene—some underexposed to retain detail in the highlights and others overexposed to capture details in the shadows. These images are then combined using software that aligns the different exposures and enhances the overall tonal range, thus giving the photograph its distinctive look while maintaining detail across the entire frame.

Other options present concepts that do not accurately describe HDR photography. While the editing process may come into play after capturing the images, it is not merely an editing technique but rather a method of image capture and processing that specializes in dynamic range enhancement. Similarly, HDR photography is not constrained to capturing only highlights or limited to black and white photography, as it often employs vibrant color and rich tones to present scenes in a more lifelike manner.