Matsumoto Castle

HDR photography, when applied sparingly, is a fantastic way to bring out details in scenes with extreme highlights and shadows. Shooting in RAW simplifies this process—you can boost the shadows and tone down the highlights directly in post-processing without resorting to multiple exposures. With a capable camera, the dynamic range is often sufficient to capture all the necessary details in one shot.

Using Matsumoto Castle as an example, HDR techniques enhance the scene beautifully: balancing the deep shadows of the wooden structure against the bright sky and reflective moat. The result? A natural yet striking image that preserves the castle’s dramatic presence without looking over-processed.