High Dynamic Range imaging in design education

High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging is a popular photographic technique that accurately captures the lighting conditions of the scene from which they are created. HDR images can subsequently be used to illuminate 3D virtual scenes realistically, or be a source for numerical lighting simulations. This paper discusses two workflows that have been developed using inexpensive digital cameras and open source software, supporting the interactive exploration of realistic lighting conditions, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in a digital environment. The paper first details the suitability of the qualitative workflow as a vehicle for teaching the technical aspects of lighting to architecture students, due to its relative ease of implementation, close relationship to existing design tools, and application to visual design work. Finally, the extension of this technique to enable simplified numerical analysis is discussed.