The HDRI Handbook its out in version 2.0 and a fresh arrival at Amazon. To be honest I was not able to go through the book entirely. Not because of losing the interest in reading or finding it boring. It is just to much information to read in a short time. It is loaded with deep knowledge of the author Christian Bloch . It contains 7 chapters in over 650 pages. Tons of very useful information on HDR for both the beginners and experienced HDR photographers as well as for computer graphic artists. I simply could not wait until I finished reading it to let you know that this is a must have book if you are into HDR photography or would like to learn about it.

The HDRI Handbook is a real comprehensive guide. I would even go beyond and call it the bible of HDR. It introduces the reader into the secrets and basics of taking a set of photos how to merge them and create an HDR. It offers an overview of the major role-players in software for HDR images. Not only naming two or three of these, nope, as said before it is a comprehensive guide it is high rising more than 20 different programs and plug-ins for Mac and Windows computers. Next to the software you get beneficial hints on hardware companions to control your camera and exposures like the Promote Control, your cameras remote or the Nintendo DS . And even the iPhone as a companion for HDR photography is highlighted and the handbook envisions several useful iPhone Apps.

The HDRI Handbook tells you about the different image file formats as well as the different digital imaging sensors that are currently used by the majority of digital cameras. It prepares you to have the right equipment with you when going out to take photos. It shows you how to control your camera, how to take the different exposures and how to merge these into a single HDR image up to the finishing touch with Photoshop.

Tonemapping is one of the features that makes an HDR photo look like an artistic or realistic image. How to achieve your personal result is sampled in over 6 workflow examples. It describes ways how to process the HDR image and assign proper effects and filters.

Still not enough? The HDRI Handbook introduces you into the challenging panoramic HDR imaging and if you like even more to the principles of computer graphics and techniques, mastering light and rendering computer graphics into your images. You will find spotlights of today namable photographers of distinction with samples of their daily work using HDR techniques.

And if you are not into HDR the handbook still offers plenty of information that can be useful in your photography, your workflow and finishing touch. It gives you basic information on how to read curves and histograms, how to use a color card or describing the nodal point in panorama photography and loads of more information.

The HDRI Handbook 2.0 is available as a printed version as well as an eBook. I have received an PDF and due to lack of an eReader or an iPad, I have to read it on our iMac and my recommendation is to get the paperwork. Maybe I’m old fashioned here but I like to have something in my hands when reading or following instructions.

Now it is time to get your copy or read more on the official book website :