Creating HDR Images & Panoramas in Lightroom & Photoshop

Date: 27th November 

Time: 7-9pm

Duration: 2 hours

Workshop Overview:
This workshop will guide participants through creating high dynamic range (HDR) images and panoramic photos using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Participants will learn how to blend multiple exposures for HDR photography, stitch images for panoramic shots, and refine their results using advanced editing tools. The session will be hands-on, allowing participants to practice techniques as they are demonstrated.

Target Audience:
Photographers (beginner to intermediate) who want to learn how to merge exposures for HDR images and stitch photos for panoramas, enhancing their landscape, architectural, or creative photography.

Workshop Agenda:

1. Introduction to HDR & Panoramic Photography (10 minutes)

• What is HDR?
• Definition: High Dynamic Range photography and its purpose (capturing more detail in highlights and shadows).
• Why use HDR? Ideal for landscape and architectural photography.
• What is Panoramic Photography?
• Definition: Combining multiple images into a wide-angle view.
• When to use panoramas: Landscape and large-scale scenes.

2. Creating HDR Images in Lightroom (25 minutes)

• Capturing Bracketed Photos for HDR:
• Explanation of bracketing: Taking multiple exposures with different settings.
• Tips for shooting: Use a tripod and keep ISO consistent.
• Merging HDR in Lightroom:
• Live Demo:
• Select bracketed photos in Lightroom.
• Use the “Photo Merge > HDR” option.
• Adjust settings: Auto Align, Auto Settings, Deghost Amount (for moving objects).
• Preview and merge the photos into a single HDR image.
• Hands-on Practice:
• Participants select their bracketed photos and practice merging them in Lightroom.
• Basic HDR Editing:
• Tone adjustments: Exposure, Highlights, Shadows.
• Enhancing details with Clarity and Contrast.
• Optional: Adjust white balance and color vibrancy.

3. Creating Panoramas in Lightroom (25 minutes)

• Capturing Photos for Panoramas:
• How to shoot for panoramas: Overlap images by 30-40%, use manual settings for consistent exposure.
• Merging Panoramas in Lightroom:
• Live Demo:
• Select multiple images for stitching.
• Use the “Photo Merge > Panorama” option.
• Options: Spherical, Cylindrical, Perspective projection.
• Use Boundary Warp to fill edges or Auto Crop.
• Merge and create the panoramic image.
• Hands-on Practice:
• Participants select their panoramic images and stitch them together using Lightroom’s Panorama Merge.
• Basic Panoramic Editing:
• Adjusting exposure, contrast, and clarity.
• Fixing distortion and cropping for composition.

4. Refining HDR and Panoramic Images in Photoshop (25 minutes)

• Why Use Photoshop for Refining?
• Photoshop’s advanced tools for blending, retouching, and sharpening.
• Sending Files from Lightroom to Photoshop:
• Live Demo:
• Right-click > Edit in Photoshop.
• Adjust exposure, color, and fine-tune details.
• Advanced Editing in Photoshop:
• HDR Editing:
• Use layer masks to blend exposures more precisely.
• Adjust brightness, contrast, and selective color adjustments.
• Panoramic Editing:
• Remove unwanted objects using the Clone Stamp and Healing Brush tools.
• Correct wide-angle distortions using the Warp tool.

5. Exporting Final HDR & Panorama Images (10 minutes)

• Export Settings in Lightroom & Photoshop:
• Optimal settings for web, print, and social media.
• Choosing file formats: JPEG, TIFF, or PSD.
• Exporting HDR and panoramic images while maintaining high quality.

6. Recap & Q&A (15 minutes)

• Summary of Key Steps for HDR & Panoramas:
• Recap: Shooting techniques, merging in Lightroom, and refining in Photoshop.
• Q&A Session:
• Open floor for questions, troubleshooting, or additional demonstrations requested by participants.

Workshop Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

• Know how to capture bracketed images for HDR and overlapping images for panoramas.
• Understand how to merge and create HDR images and panoramas in Lightroom.
• Use Photoshop to refine HDR and panoramic images with advanced editing techniques.
• Export high-quality images for multiple platforms.

Materials Needed:

• Laptop with Zoom installed