In Simple terms...please explain HDR

[Spinning]

I just don't get it or understand. Maybe I am not reading the right stuff.
But I take 3 pictures different exposure and combine them? What program do I use? I never downloaded the fuji program. I have photo shop elements.

[TheObiJuan]

In the past multiple exposures were obtained and at a later point they were blended together.
The sky from the underexposed one, the foreground from the regular exposed one, and some details from the overexposed image.
This could be done, albeit with much labor, in photoshop by layering the images and deleting the unnecessary portions.

With the advent of CS2 and other applications that could finally do Tone Mapping, where all the pixels from all of the images are mapped and adjusted to represent an average, if you will. Final adjustments are made in the program to the photographer's desire so they can replicate what they saw or wanted to see.

Photoshop CS2 and CS3 offer this feature, as well as Photomatix, another application.

Please visit this page and roam around. :)

http://www.vanilladays.com/hdr-guide/#whatishdr

Please feel free to ask anymore questions for further clarification.
BTW, I am not certain if the bundled Fuji software would be able to render an HDR image.

[erichlund]

You might also want to read the thread "Guide to HDR Photography" started by Dennis (Prospero). He wrote an excellent tutorial, and there are lots of examples and discussion about that and alternatives. One of the alternatives is presented in an unnecessarily confrontational manner, but the thread is still well worth a read.

[TheObiJuan]

Good point Erich, referencing that thread completely slipped my mind!

http://dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32314