If you havent guessed, you dont have to limit yourself to using layers from files shot at different exposures. If you shoot RAW or NEFs, as in my case, you can apply the same techniques by starting from the first/original file and simulating several exposures by processing under and over exposed images of the first original file during your Photoshop conversion. This technique is especially useful when shooting action shots and didnt have the opportunity to make several exposures of the same scene without the subject moving.

As you can see, theres lots of potential when it comes to post processing images in your digital darkroom. This is one approach that has every possibility to expand the light capture capabilities of your camera without changing your equipment.

Cheers

Tom

Update - 28 Sep 04

I've been using this technique for over a year now with great success.

But like anything, techniques evolve and this one is no different. While the concepts are the same I've tweaked a couple of things to make the whole technique easier to implement and the image better. Fig 8 is a multi-image composite shot at several exposure values. Here I have six layers separated by almost four stops. Instead of adjusting each and every individual layer mask with a curve adjustment, I found simply changing the opacity of the layer tends to do the same thing. Starting from the top layer, I work my way through all the layers adjusting the opacity of each. Obviously, as you get closer to the bottom you tend to keep the layer's opacity near 100% until the bottom layer is never changed from 100%. Overall this type of adjustment is quick and tends to maintain the coherence of the layer unlike applying a very aggressive layer adjustment the previous technique required.

Good Luck...