Just got EOS 40D:) Whant to start playing with taking HDRI...

[lukx]

I've found few basic tutorials on the net how to take HDR pictures but I can't find anything how to create those panoramic HDRI.
For example something like this from Suurland website:


I assume I have to take 360 and then use some software to create this effect? Cna you recommend something?
Or it's different technique to create those HDRI Panorama.

[peterguthrie]

I bought the HDR handbook, which I would highly recommend: http://www.hdrlabs.com/news/index.php also have a read of the forums there - lots of good advice.

My workflow is somewhat simplified because I use a Sigma 8mm fisheye on a Canon 5d which produces a full circular image like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pg/2368...n/photostream/ . The problem I have is that the 5d can only take 3 bracketed images at a time (even my pentax k10d beats that, and nikons are much better) so I take a burst of 3 bracketed exposures, then adjust then adjust the shutter speed in manual mode and shoot again (as quickly as possible!) I have found that 12 stops gives pretty good strong shadows from the sun.

Once you have the photos taken, merge then together in photoshop (merge to HDR) and then save it as a exr or hdr. The program I have had most success with for the next stage is hugin http://hugin.sourceforge.net/ it will do pretty much whatever you want it to, but all I have used it for so far is 'unwrapping' my fisheye images to equirectangular projections like this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pg/2347...n/photostream/

Have fun!

Peter

[lukx]

so I need to get also some fisheye lens...

[RErender]

You do not need a spherical lens although it is probably the preferred method. With a normal lens you'll need to shoot as many brackets as you want while rotating around in a 360, 12 angles at 30 degrees is probably sufficient. Then blend the exposures together for each angle and then stitch them together into a panorama.

[peterguthrie]

If you shoot many angles and stitch them together you will also end up with a much higher resolution hdr, which is a nice reward for the extra effort.

When shooting skydomes though, you'll have problems with moving clouds if its a windy day.. as it seems to be every day in the UK...

[tricky]

Peter - do you find that the resolution you achieve with a single shot 8mm is suitable for reflection maps (as well as lighting) when rendering scenes, or does the detail become a bit lost? For instance, we render at around 4000pixels across usually. Would the detail in your HDR be high enough?

[peterguthrie]

I'm happy enough with the resolution for reflections (cropped example attached), but I take straight photos of the sky as well with a normal lens for the background.

Here is a full res (5616 x 2808 ) jpg from the exr: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/...6d8e2e38_o.jpg
I'm lucky enough to live in a part of north london with not too many high buildings around! (you can just about make out the london eye to the far right, and the BT tower to the far left)

I might be persuaded to share the exr with you nice people... send me an email peter@peterguthrie.net

Lukx, if you were considering a fisheye lens, a reminder that you would need something like the sigma 4.5mm due to the 40D's cropped sensor: http://www.hdrlabs.com/news/index.ph...28252988319375