I recently published an article on the Photo Cascadia blog discussing some of the basic exposure blending techniques I use. Exposure blending is the processing technique I get asked about more than any other, and this is the topic most requested in my digital image processing classes.

So, what is exposure blending? Simply put, it is a method of combining the best exposed portions of two or more exposures of a scene to maintain detail and balance in the brightest and darkest areas. Camera’s have serious limitations in their ability to “see” wide ranges of light. Scenes with a fairly narrow range of light can be captured in a single exposure. But in many dramatic natural light situations the range of light from the brightest areas, like a sunset sky, and the darkest areas, like a shadowed canyon in the foreground, are far outside the ability of film or digital sensor to record all at the same time. This is in contrast to our own eyesight which is able to see a very wide range of light.

For this reason, many of the dramatic light photos people try to take have sky that is completely overexposed or white and landscape that is completely underexposed or black. These images never live up to the way that the person taking the photo experienced the scene and often evoke the disclaimer, “it looked way better than this when I took it”. Since the invention of photography in the 19th century photographers have tried to compensate for this shortcoming. Traditional film photographers developed a long list of techniques, both in camera and through darkroom processing, to try to create images of high light range scenes that matched what they could see. Digital cameras and the ability to process images using computers have now given photographers the best options for dealing with this problem. It is possible to take multiple exposures of a scene in camera, exposing each image for a different part of the light range, and then combine the properly exposed portions of each into one final image. The product is a photograph that has light balance and shadow and highlight detail that more accurately expresses our vision. Photographs that would previously have been impossible are now possible, although not without some effort, skill and artistic vision.

There are automated software solutions, known as High Dynamic Range (HDR)software, that can blend multiple exposures automatically, making it possible for even the most amateur photographers to combine exposures and create high dynamic range images. The most current versions of Photoshop have HDR software built in. Other popular HDR software includes Photomatix, Nik HDR Efex Pro, and UnifiedColor HDR Expose. Currently, however, all the software solutions I have tried create quality issues for someone like myself whowants to create large fine art prints. They allow very minimal local control over the effects they create and often produce a very cartoonish or glowing look that may or may not be what is intended. Most problematic to me are the color shifts, low contrast and digital artifacts that can be introduced by HDR software. For these reasons almost all of my exposure blending is done using hand blending techniques with layer masks in Photoshop.

These techniques are an art form in their own right, taking years to master and greatly increasing the overall difficulty and level of skill required in the photographic process. The exciting part is that the creative control that darkroom masters such as Ansel Adams had, and that was largely lost in the era of color film, has now back in the hands of the photographer. Marc Adamus sums up the challenge and value of this approach eloquently on his website stating, “My process in the field today is more difficult, more complex and more creative than it ever was or could have been with film…to think about this all in the field and bring back the right exposures to fulfill my vision of the scene has taken considerably more practice than learning how to use a colored or graduated filter in the film days, and has also opened new creative avenues. Anyone who thinks of digital photography as a ‘crutch’ of sorts, simply does not understand these processes and the precision with which they must be executed in-camera as well as in processing.” Marc does such a good job communicating the ways that many contemporary photographers work that I would encourage you to read his entire artist statement if you have the time.

If you are interested in learning more about the basic concepts and techniques behind exposure blending I would recommend reading my articles, Bracketing Exposures For Exposure Blending and The Basics Of Exposure Blending. I also offer classes on exposure blending as well as private instruction.

I’d love to hear your comments related to this topic. If you are an outdoor photographer, is this a technique that you use? What are your experiences with it? If you are not a photographer, what are your impressions such contemporary photography techniques? Please feel free to leave me a comment or share this article using the social media links below.