What is HDR? The easiest way to take photos and record HDR videos on your phone

If you’ve heard a lot about the HDR feature on your phone’s camera but still don’t understand how to use it and the advantages it brings, let’s learn how to take HDR photos and videos on your phone with Tnhelearning.edu.vn. The simplest dialogue through the following article.

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Learn about HDR

What is HDR?

HDR – High Dynamic Range roughly translates to wide contrast range. This is a term used to describe the difference between the brightest and darkest areas that devices such as cameras or phones can record and reproduce into the images we capture.

When using the phone to take pictures, the shooting environment will be very diverse as well as having different bright and dark areas. Therefore, HDR was born with the main purpose of improving the ability to take photos in poor lighting conditions .

Over the years, smartphone manufacturers have gradually improved and developed many algorithms to help the phone handle the difference between light and dark better, helping to improve the phone’s photography capabilities.

It is a fact that today’s phones, despite having smaller cameras, are gradually showing the ability to take photos, record videos as well as process images not inferior to professional cameras like DSLR or Mirrorless. .

Types of HDR photography

When you use your phone to take a photo, there are two ways to use HDR mode: automatic and manual . However, manual HDR photography will only be available for phones that do not have HDR built-in.

When shooting HDR photos manually , it may take more effort. Because you have to take many photos with different exposures and then use a computer to combine the captured photos and then process them to get the best photo.

For machines with built-in automatic HDR function. When you press shutter, the camera will automatically take multiple photos with different exposure levels. After that, it will automatically calculate and combine the photos to produce a picture with a reasonable contrast.

In short, if you are someone who has no experience in image editing, then it is recommended that you choose a phone model that has a built-in HDR photography function . This makes it possible to take beautiful photos without spending too much time editing.

HDR Video

Now we can also shoot HDR videos . The development of technology has helped us to do that. But HDR photography and HDR video recording use different processes.

While the end result is nearly identical to an HDR shot, HDR video is captured using different means. Instead of capturing multiple images and merging them together in-camera or through post-production, HDR video is captured as a single exposure.

Newer camera sensors are capable of capturing a wider range of images than ever before. Incorporating impressive sensor technology that can capture light and reproduce good colors, capable of being used for video recording.

How does HDR work?

HDR images are typically created by taking multiple photos in quick succession with different exposure values. The software will then combine them into a single image that can preserve details from the darkest and brightest areas to create a beautiful photo.

Previously, users had to take 3 consecutive photos with different exposure times, then copy them to a computer using Photoshop (or an image editing application) and then use the HDR function to combine the photos. The final image produced has light and dark details clearly visible in the frame.

Now manufacturers have integrated HDR photography technology on phones to do all of the above automatically.

Difference between normal photo and HDR photo

To be able to see the difference between normal photography and HDR photography, you need to take photos in both modes at night or in backlit, low-light conditions . That’s when you’ll see the benefits of HDR.

For photos taken in normal mode in low light or backlit conditions. The resulting image will sometimes be too dark or completely bright, blurring the subject or out of focus, the image is not of high quality.

In contrast, with photos taken with HDR mode, thanks to the stitching of multiple photos, the phone will produce a photo with a balanced light and dark . Besides, the colors obtained will be more harmonious than shooting in normal mode.

When to do and not to shoot HDR.

HDR on your phone or built-in camera for the purpose of helping you take better photos. However, this mode is not always useful. Here are some situations where you should and shouldn’t shoot HDR.

When to take HDR photos

• Landscape photography, backlit conditions : When you take pictures outdoors with strong sunlight, strong light. HDR will help your photos have more harmonious and vivid colors.

• Photographing in environments with complex lighting : When taking photos in conditions where there are too many shadows cast in different directions, your camera may be disturbed. When there is HDR, it will help balance and make the subject more prominent.

• Taking photos of subjects when the background is too bright : Similar to taking photos with backlight, it will make your subject dark and out of focus. When using HDR, the machine will automatically reduce the brightness of the background behind and help brighten the subject.

• Shooting in low light conditions : This is the case that will be encountered most often. Especially taking pictures in a cafe, at night or taking photos of indoor interiors… At this point, HDR will help balance the light and dark, helping your photos become clearer.

When not to use HDR

Umbrella is a very useful and must-have feature that improves photography. However, it’s not always possible to take photos with HDR, as they can make your photos even worse. Here are some situations where you shouldn’t shoot HDR:

• Shooting moving subjects : Since HDR is a method of compositing, they only really come into play when the subject is still. The more firmly you hold the camera, the more still the subject and background will help the image to be sharper and less blurred.
• Take photos in each colorful field : HDR tends to distort the original color of an object. Therefore, if you take a photo in a place with too many colors, the system will be confused, making your photo more gaudy and dazzling.
• Take an HDR photo while turning on the flash : The light from the flash will make the amount of light absorbed more than it actually is, which can make your photo too bright and blurry.

How to enable and disable HDR photography and video recording on your phone

How to turn on and off on iPhone

The iPhone is a line equipped with HDR feature. Therefore, when taking photos with iPhone, users can set the HDR mode automatically so that the device automatically activates HDR if it finds it necessary and automatically corrects the image for you.

In case you turn off auto HDR and want to align yourself, the HDR icon will appear on the screen when taking a photo. At this point, you can click on the word HDR to turn it on or off depending on the purpose of use.

In addition, when you take an HDR photo on your iPhone, it will automatically save an HDR photo and an unprocessed original photo. You can set the option to save or not save this original image in the Camera settings.

How to turn on and off on Android

For power Android phone models equipped with automatic HDR mode. Turning on / off this mode is also quite simple. On the camera interface, click on the Settings icon , then choose to turn on HDR (fresh color) and take photos as usual.

In general, most phones today are equipped with automatic HDR feature. The phone will know when to shoot and when not to shoot in HDR mode and your job is just to raise the camera and capture the beautiful moments.

Tips for taking HDR photos on a professional phone

To be able to use HDR mode on your phone to take good photos, you need to pay attention to a few rules:

• Do not shoot HDR when the subject or surroundings move : Because HDR is an algorithm that merges many photos with different exposures into one. Therefore, you should shoot when the scene is “still” to ensure a high-resolution photo.
• Hold the phone firmly, avoid shaking : Not only when taking HDR photos do you need to hold the phone firmly, but when taking normal photos, you also need to hold the device so that it is most fixed so that the camera can capture the best subject. .
• Avoid overusing HDR, use it at the right time : HDR can make your photos have vivid colors, high contrast, but at the same time can also turn the photo into a disaster if you overuse the feature. This.

Hopefully, the above article will help you better understand the HDR feature on smartphones. Also know how to apply this function when taking photos and videos to get the best products!