I did a little research, and the technique Zack uses on his High Dinamic Range (HDR) photos is created by the software called Photomatix. You can find this software at www.hdrsoft.com. Download the trial version and start creating some really fun images. Here's the process in a nutshell.Set up your tripod, shoot a range of exposures capturing the maximum and minimum values or darkest to lightest areas of your subject. Photomatix allows you to merge all these exposures into one image, capturing the dynamic range of your photograph.
Click here for a quick tutorial
› How do I shoot HDR?
Most digital cameras are only able to capture a limited dynamic range (the exposure setting determines which part of the total dynamic range will be captured). This is why HDR images are commonly created from photos of the same scene taken under different exposure levels.
Here are some recommendations for taking different exposures for the HDR image:
1. Mount your camera on a tripod
2. Set your camera to manual exposure mode. Select an appropriate aperture for your scene (e.g. f/8 or less if you need more depth of field) and the lowest ISO setting.
3. Measure the light in the brightest part of your scene (spot metering or in Av mode to point only the highlights) and note the exposure time. Do the same for the darkest shadows of your scene.
4. Determine the number and value of exposures necessary. For this, take as a basis the exposure time measured for the highlights. Multiply this number by 4 to find the next exposure with a stop spacing of 2 EV. Multiply by 4 successively for the next exposures till you pass the exposure measured for the shadows. (Note: For most daylight outdoor scenes excluding the sun, 3 exposures spaced by two EVs are often sufficient to properly cover the dynamic range).
5. You can make use of Auto-Exposure Bracketing if your camera supports it and if it allows a sufficient exposure increment and number of auto-bracketed frames to cover the dynamic range determined in step 4. Otherwise, you will have to vary the exposure times manually.
For a complete overview of this process visit: www.hdrsoft.com. For a great site on all typs of photoshop techniques using your digital camera visit www.dpchallenge.com
