Orion Nebula for HDR displays

[MarkS]

I've started experimenting with producing images for display on HDR screens. 



If you are viewing with an HDR capable operating system, graphics chip and display with an HDR capable web-browser then you should see the letters "HDR" appear at the bottom left of the image. 

A link to the original image is here: Orion Nebula 4K HDR

The image was shot using my (unmodified) Canon EOS R on the Tak Epsilon E180 with the following exposures:

• 90x120sec ISO 1600
• 30x30sec ISO 400
• 30x16sec ISO 100

The result looks particularly good on an OLED screen or the iPhone's Super Retina XDR display, especially in a semi-darkened room.  The stars and Trapezium area will look very bright. 

On Windows 10/11, the Chrome and Edge browsers are HDR capable (use F11 to toggle full screen on/off). Firefox is not HDR capable.  The Safari browser on an iPhone is not HDR capable but the image can be saved and then opened in the Photos app for full effect. 

At present, this is all "bleeding-edge" technology so the results might still be hit or miss.  There is a forthcoming ISO standard for gain-mapped JPG files and hopefully this will lead to wider support.  Unfortunately, the display of static HDR images lags a long way behind the film industry.  For instance, David Attenborough documentaries on BBC iPlayer and a lot of Netflix content have been HDR for years.

I've produced another version of the image, optimised for HDR screens that don't have the deep blacks and high contrast ratio of OLED HDR screens:

Orion Nebula 4K HDR v2

Mark

[Rick]

About the only bit of kit I have that might actually handle HDR display is my phone, but it looks pretty good even without the HDR on my monitor.

[Carole]

I don't see an HDR bottom left with either my laptop or my phone, but as Rick says, it is a stonking image Mark. 

[Dave A]

Mark
That is a great image
I love how the Stars shine so much