Christian Bloch who runs HDRlabs.com and is a VFX Artist at EdenFX just posted a great overview video on Vimeo. It covers using a high res HDR image as backdrop for an entire green screen scene. “The Advantage is total flexibiliy of viewpoint and exposure, leaving more time for detail enhancements and animations.”

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/9048082[/vimeo]

He also posted a video “Demonstrating using Gigapano sized photographic imagery for rapid prototyping shots of city flyovers.”

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/9048164[/vimeo]

Both are excellent examples of using images in a video/compositing post production environment. Even if you don’t intend to learn video editing or compositing they are worth watching just to see how the photos were used in concert with 3D/2D compositing.

Christian is the author of The HDRI Handbook which I wish I had found back when it was first released! It would have saved me time figuring out a ton of geeky stuff I found out on my own through various sources online. It is not a beginner’s book by any means, but an amazing reference.  He’s announced he is working on a 2nd edition this year and I’ll definitely be getting that one as well when it releases.