I've been experimenting with HDR images for a few years. With HDR, it's possible to have tremendous detail in the darker elements of your photo, even when you have full saturation of white elsewhere. You can also make the image more artistic by experimenting with Photoshop's HDR composition process.
To get started, use a tripod and take multiple, bracketed exposures of your subject. Then use Photoshop's Automate, Merge to HDR Pro to create your composite HDR image.
Various HDR merge controls in Photoshop let you control the degree of realism vs. whimsical coloring, softening, shadows, etc. Shooting in raw format is encouraged because raw format images provide more detail to the HDR composition process, resulting in amazing HDR images that can be printed at very large size.
↑ East River and Manhattan Upper East Side.
HDR Intensified Image with Pink Color Emphasis.
↑ Grand Central Terminal HDR Composite Image.
Last warm evening of 2017 for outdoor photography.
↑ Roosevelt Island Parking Garage, East Channel of the East River, and
Ravenswood Generating Station. HDR Composite Image.
Ravenswood Generating Station. HDR Composite Image.
↑ East River and Manhattan Upper East Side. HDR Intensified Image.
Orange and Blue Color Emphasis.
↑ Northeast Roosevelt Island, Astoria House, RFK Bridge, and Railroad Bridge.
HDR Composite Image.
