A few weeks ago, I wrote about my journey to HDR. At the time, it was still unclear whether a reliable workflow could even be implemented for WeOnlyWalk. The technical hurdles were higher than expected, and many tests initially failed to produce the desired results.
We now have some good news: The first HDR videos on WeOnlyWalk have been successfully published.
From theory to practice
The switch to DaVinci Resolve Studio was an important step in this process. While the free version already delivers excellent results, the Studio version offers the tools necessary for a professional HDR workflow.
The footage is still captured with the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 in 10-bit D-Log. Instead of optimizing the images for SDR using LUTs and numerous manual adjustments, color management now handles most of the work. The result looks more natural, more consistent, and closer to what was actually seen on location.
A surprising discovery
I was particularly surprised by how impressive the footage looked even without extensive grading. Once the HDR workflow was set up correctly, the result was an image that looked much closer to reality than anything I’ve published on the channel so far.
The first impression was so striking that even people without a technical background immediately noticed a difference. The most common description wasn’t “more colorful” or “vibrant,” but simply: “It looks more real.”
That is ultimately the goal of WeOnlyWalk.
YouTube and HDR
Even after a successful export, the release remained a nail-biter. Although the files were technically correct as HDR10, it took a while for YouTube to fully process the HDR versions.
The first few hours were therefore marked by a lot of patience. Gradually, the HDR resolutions appeared, and eventually the videos were correctly recognized as HDR and delivered.
This experience has shown that processing HDR on YouTube still takes time and isn't always completed immediately, even when the source files have been prepared correctly.
What does that mean for WeOnlyWalk?
HDR will be a regular feature of the channel going forward. Walks thrive on light, atmosphere, and natural contrasts. This is exactly where HDR really shines.
At the same time, compatibility is maintained. Viewers without an HDR-capable display will still receive a high-quality SDR version, so no one has to miss out on the content.
The focus remains the same as before: authentic walks, natural ambient sounds, and the most realistic portrayal possible of the places I visit.
HDR is not an end in itself. It is another tool for bringing the atmosphere of a walk even closer to the actual experience.
I look forward to sharing the upcoming walks with you in this new quality.