Dog Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot.)

This photo gallery features high dynamic range (HDR) photos—images that have a large exposure range, allowing for deeper contrast and detail in both shadows and highlights. The HDR effect can easily be overdone, leaving photos looking overprocessed, but when the techniques are used correctly, HDR pictures can have a stunning, otherworldly quality.

Photo Tip: To create a good HDR (high dynamic range) photograph, use equipment that is a bit higher end than a simple point-and-shoot camera. The main items you’ll need are: a camera capable of capturing images in RAW format; a good, sturdy tripod; and software such as Photomatix or Photoshop.

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How to Take HDR Pictures

Get tips for taking great high dynamic range, or HDR, photos with in this how-to photo gallery from National Geographic.