I'm getting ready to do a HDR image to get the full range and brightness of a landscape shot. In my research I put together some do's and don'ts

• Do use Manual mode, and Autofocus turned off
  
• Don't use your camera's auto-bracket function
  
• Do take a series of shots by adjusting the shutter speed. Three shots above and under the normal exposure.
• Don't change the aperture as the HDR won't work.
• Do set the aperture to f/22 for landscape shots
• Do, focus into the middle of a landscape.
• Use your histogram on your camera to check the exposure.

Lens Information from EXIF data 

There's a lot more information in EXIF than can be told. One thing that Aperture 1.5x doesn't put in is the lens information, the name, focal length and aperture of the lens. To test out your Jpeg, there's a little tool called 'EXIFTool'. The EXIFTool is a perl module extension.

EXIFTool CPAN Source (PERL) http://search.cpan.org/~exiftool/

Applescript and EXIFTool to update Aperture 1.5/2.0  see  http://www.xs4all.nl/~bhh/Software/ApertureScripts.html 

First test out the ExifTool before updating Aperture  

Run the EXIFTool from Terminal this will show a heap of information which is contained within the Jpeg file. From my example using my Canon 30D didn't show up lens information, probably due to the fact the lens I was using is the old 20-35mm 2.8 L. Should be interesting to see if the Canon 5D with 35mm 1.5 L  shows the lens information in EXIF data (that's when I get it next week!)

Once I have my hands on the 5D I'll see if I can update the Blog Engine Extension to support lens information feature, 

Note: Camera Firmware

If you have new lens and wish to see the correct EXIF data especially for the lens information then ensure you update to the latest Canon / Nikon Firmware

 ExifTool Version Number         : 7.21

File Name                       : IMG_8078.jpg

Directory                       : .

File Size                       : 196 kB

File Modification Date/Time     : 2008:03:23 15:44:02

File Type                       : JPEG

MIME Type                       : image/jpeg

JFIF Version                    : 1.1

Profile CMM Type                : Lino

Profile Version                 : 2.1.0

Profile Class                   : Display Device Profile

Color Space Data                : RGB

Profile Connection Space        : XYZ

Profile Date Time               : 1998:02:09 06:49:00

Profile File Signature          : acsp

Primary Platform                : Microsoft Corporation

CMM Flags                       : Not Embedded, Independent

Device Manufacturer             : IEC

Device Model                    : sRGB

Device Attributes               : Reflective, Glossy, Positive, Color

Rendering Intent                : Perceptual

Connection Space Illuminant     : 0.9642 1 0.82491

Profile Creator                 : HP

Profile ID                      : 0

Profile Copyright               : Copyright (c) 1998 Hewlett-Packard Company

Profile Description             : sRGB IEC61966-2.1

Media White Point               : 0.95045 1 1.08905

Media Black Point               : 0 0 0

Red Matrix Column               : 0.43607 0.22249 0.01392

Green Matrix Column             : 0.38515 0.71687 0.09708

Blue Matrix Column              : 0.14307 0.06061 0.7141

Device Mfg Desc                 : IEC http://www.iec.ch

Device Model Desc               : IEC 61966-2.1 Default RGB colour space - sRGB

Viewing Cond Desc               : Reference Viewing Condition in IEC61966-2.1

Viewing Cond Illuminant         : 19.6445 20.3718 16.8089

Viewing Cond Surround           : 3.92889 4.07439 3.36179

Viewing Cond Illuminant Type    : D50

Luminance                       : 76.03647 80 87.12462

Measurement Observer            : CIE 1931

Measurement Backing             : 0 0 0

Measurement Geometry            : Unknown (0)

Measurement Flare               : 0.999%

Measurement Illuminant          : D65

Technology                      : Cathode Ray Tube Display

Red Tone Reproduction Curve     : (Binary data 2060 bytes, use -b option to extract)

Green Tone Reproduction Curve   : (Binary data 2060 bytes, use -b option to extract)

Blue Tone Reproduction Curve    : (Binary data 2060 bytes, use -b option to extract)

Exif Byte Order                 : Big-endian (Motorola)

Make                            : Canon

Camera Model Name               : Canon EOS 30D

X Resolution                    : 72

Y Resolution                    : 72

Resolution Unit                 : inches

Modify Date                     : 2008:03:22 10:08:37

Exposure Time                   : 1/500

F Number                        : 8.0

Exposure Program                : Program AE

ISO                             : 200

Exif Version                    : 0221

Date/Time Original              : 2008:03:22 10:08:37

Create Date                     : 2008:03:22 10:08:37

Shutter Speed Value             : 1/500

Aperture Value                  : 8.0

Exposure Compensation           : 0

Metering Mode                   : Multi-segment

Flash                           : Off

Focal Length                    : 350.0 mm

Flashpix Version                : 0100

Color Space                     : sRGB

Exif Image Width                : 900

Exif Image Height               : 599

Focal Plane X Resolution        : 3959.322034

Focal Plane Y Resolution        : 3959.322034

Focal Plane Resolution Unit     : inches

Custom Rendered                 : Normal

Exposure Mode                   : Auto

White Balance                   : Auto

Scene Capture Type              : Standard

Image Width                     : 900

Image Height                    : 599

Encoding Process                : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding

Bits Per Sample                 : 8

Color Components                : 3

Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling            : YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2)

Aperture                        : 8.0

Image Size                      : 900x599

Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 6.2

Shutter Speed                   : 1/500

Circle Of Confusion             : 0.005 mm

Field Of View                   : 0.9 deg

Focal Length                    : 350.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 2183.4 mm)

Hyperfocal Distance             : 3179.26 m

Light Value                     : 14.0

Details

Camera

Canon

Camera Model

Canon EOS 30D

Aperture

f/10.0

Focal Length

350mm

ISO

100

Description