HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography - post your HDR

[Optimus Rhyme]

Just keep playing with the photos. Take loads and loads of pics and see what works for you. That's the fun of it. You will notice that some things work better than others, and some photos you like more than others.

Personally I found I liked shooting in RAW rather than shooting a bracketed shot, but not everyone is like that. Try completely odd settings too for the tone mapping too, and see what settings you like best.

Just keep toying around, it's all good fun.

One suggestion to everyone though is to watch the Luminosity bar. Try to put it over to the right if you want to avoid the halo effect. But not too far, your photos can look flat.

 

[Kashchei]

While I actually like the photographs, I don't think they really benefited from HDR really. Very nice shots though.

Schnebar, I love the shots of Santa Barbara. I forgot the name of the hotel these shots were taken at--care to remind me?

 

[Optimus Rhyme]

Optimus Rhyme, I love the shots of Santa Barbara. I forgot the name of the hotel these shots were taken at--care to remind me?

I wish I could help you, but those were not my photographs, for that you'd have to ask Schnebar.

Speaking of which, you did a much better job with the 2nd posting. I like the shot. When it comes to day light shots though, you have to watch that luminosity bar as it will give you the halo effect. (The white light around the edges of the buildings etc)

 

[termina3]

That was the idea for that first one. You know, somewhat over the top.

Sorry... but there's over the top and then there's out of the ballpark.

Like the 2nd shot much, much more.

 

[Schnebar]

Schnebar, I love the shots of Santa Barbara. I forgot the name of the hotel these shots were taken at--care to remind me?

Thanks. It is the Fess Parker Double Tree Hotel.

Santa Barbara is a good place to live because of all the pretty things to take pictures of but the only problem is that there are no big buildings for those cool HDR shots of sky scrappers.

 

[Optimus Rhyme]

Thanks. It is the Fess Parker Double Tree Hotel.

Santa Barbara is a good place to live because of all the pretty things to take pictures of but the only problem is that there are no big buildings for those cool HDR shots of sky scrappers.

That just means you have to be more creative in what you take pictures of.

Check out this site.

http://stuckincustoms.com/

He has some of my favorite HDR photos and only a few are done in HDR.

His tutorial is here. http://stuckincustoms.com/2006/06/06/548/

I find it to be my favorite tutorial.

 

[Mustard Chops]

Here's another;

 

[abisai]

Sorry... but there's over the top and then there's out of the ballpark.

Like the 2nd shot much, much more.

Well the second one is my favorite which is why its the desktop background for my second monitor. As far as the first one, I still like it and I guess the idea behind it for me is to have some fun with what I am doing.

Considering I've only had the Nikon D40 for less than two weeks and Photomatix for a couple of days it's not too shabby.

 

[termina3]

Considering I've only had the Nikon D40 for less than two weeks and Photomatix for a couple of days it's not too shabby.

If you're getting what you want, then it's excellent.

 

[benzslrpee]

beer!

well...i took a pic of something i like the a lot

 

[KidneyPi]

well...i took a pic of something i like the a lot

I don't think that picture benefits from HDR. I think the best way to improve that picture is put the bottle in my hand.

 

[tjespo22]

how are these, any suggestions or tips? i dont do much HDR, these are some of my first, im using photomatix

my favorite

 

[sidharth80]

Hi Folks,
I have been a regular at macrumors ever since I got my macbook last december. A month back I chanced upon this HDR thread and it inspired me to try my hand in photography.... I got a canon rebel xti... and the attached photograph is my first attempt at HDR.

All positive and negative feedback welcome!

 

[klymr]

Hi Folks,
I have been a regular at macrumors ever since I got my macbook last december. A month back I chanced upon this HDR thread and it inspired me to try my hand in photography.... I got a canon rebel xti... and the attached photograph is my first attempt at HDR.

All positive and negative feedback welcome!

Not bad for a first attempt! You need to remember to use a tripod though. It just takes a bit of practice and you'll get it. The image that I have attached was one of my early attempts at HDR. Just keep with it and you'll be a master!


On a side note, I went and had one of my HDR shots printed at Wal-Mart and the two ladies in the photo department told me that next time I come in to have one printed to sign a copyright form because it was one of the most beautiful pictures they have ever seen. That's a huge positive! They also told me to sell them. I just don't know where to take it to do that. The attached image is the one that I am talking about. It's toward the beginning of this thread. I have since digitally altered a bit of a blur into it and made it look a lot better.

 

[juanster]

nice photo i liek it a lot, i Did a couple of my first hdr's today i will post them tomorrow when i get a chance

 

[sidharth80]

Not bad for a first attempt! You need to remember to use a tripod though. It just takes a bit of practice and you'll get it. The image that I have attached was one of my early attempts at HDR. Just keep with it and you'll be a master!


On a side note, I went and had one of my HDR shots printed at Wal-Mart and the two ladies in the photo department told me that next time I come in to have one printed to sign a copyright form because it was one of the most beautiful pictures they have ever seen. That's a huge positive! They also told me to sell them. I just don't know where to take it to do that. The attached image is the one that I am talking about. It's toward the beginning of this thread. I have since digitally altered a bit of a blur into it and made it look a lot better.

Thanks for the encouragement ll try n improve.... need to master photoshop as well... so that can fine tune these HDRs.
Any links which can help learn about layering in Photoshop?

Thanks again!

 

[klymr]

Thanks for the encouragement ll try n improve.... need to master photoshop as well... so that can fine tune these HDRs.
Any links which can help learn about layering in Photoshop?

Thanks again!

Good luck mastering photoshop! That'll take a while I'm still working on that part myself.

As far as tutorials, I'm not sure where to point ya. Your best bet is to search the graphics forum and the web. If I think of anything, I'll holler.

 

[Hans86]

Heres one

heres one of a bus i did in puerto rico.

 

[pinktank]

I dont believe any professional in the field will look at these seriously

 

[The General]

I dont believe any professional in the field will look at these seriously

Obviously. Maybe some of the regular ones made in photoshop using layer masks, but the ones made using Photomatix's "details enhancer" tool? Hah.

Most of these are utterly awful. HDR is the crutch of a terrible photographer.

 

[Hans86]

For the General...

I believe this was a post from you made about HDR in the past.

Okay well this is my first attempt at HDR. It's not too good. I used Photomatix and combined 3 different exposures. The tank that reads "toyota" is just straight gray, I dunno why. But yeah, hopefully this is a good start, because I love HDR.

Followed by a photo that I think most would agree, is a less than stellar example of HDR. And now from this thread...

Most of these are utterly awful. HDR is the crutch of a terrible photographer.

It seems to me like you're a little burned by a technique you yourself failed to accomplish and instead of trying to work at it, decided to make fun of it to make yourself feel better for not being able to do it correctly...

I don't believe this is a place to rip on other peoples work, and just because you don't think that HDR stacks up against other photos, doesn't give you the right to look down on people who use it.

I mean comon, its a technique, and a pretty cool one at that. I thought that your comment was rude and unprofessional and that, while yes, constructive criticism is welcome, your comment was far from it.

And trust me when I say that i'm not agreeing or disagreeing with your opinion on HDR,(for me, I was merely experimenting with a technique I had never tried before, It isn't a crutch as you would call it for me to fall back on) I'm simply calling you out on your very rude comment towards other peoples work. This is no place for it. In the future, just try to stick to the motto of "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all." And keep your petty comments to yourself.

 

[pinktank]

I'd agree that his wording was a little crude, It should be really noted that it doesn't make a good photograph our of a bad one

 

[termina3]

I'd agree that his wording was a little crude, It should be really noted that it doesn't make a good photograph our of a bad one

Interesting use of the word crude–where do you hail from (general dialectic location).

 

[The General]

blah blah blah

More than a year ago when I posted that, I was a terrible photographer. So everything is just as I stated... HDR sucks, most of these images are crap including the one I posted over a year ago. I'm kind of confused as to what you were trying to do here. Are you trying to get back at me? Have I hurt your feelings?

HDR is for the lulz, not for any sort of professional purpose. People don't want their wedding photos to look like that, they don't want senior photos or prom photos looking like that. The only place HDR has in this world is the occasional "zomgtastic HDR photos" link on the front page of digg.com and maybe a coffee table book or two you'll find down at Barne's and Noble.

HDR is easy.

 

[Doylem]

More than a year ago when I posted that, I was a terrible photographer. So everything is just as I stated... HDR sucks, most of these images are crap including the one I posted over a year ago. I'm kind of confused as to what you were trying to do here. Are you trying to get back at me? Have I hurt your feelings?

HDR is for the lulz, not for any sort of professional purpose. People don't want their wedding photos to look like that, they don't want senior photos or prom photos looking like that. The only place HDR has in this world is the occasional "zomgtastic HDR photos" link on the front page of digg.com and maybe a coffee table book or two you'll find down at Barne's and Noble.

HDR is easy.

Well, yes, HDR is 'easy'... in terms of using a tripod and following instructions. But it's hard to use the technique with skill and imagination - as can be seen by some of the, erm, less successful examples on these pages...

As for "no professional purpose", you've used obviously inappropriate examples. No-one is suggesting that HDR is a technique that will improve (most) portrait or wedding pictures. But, hey, there are other forms of professional photography... and a pro will use the tools at his/her disposal to get a required result.

I've been experimenting with HDR for landscapes. I've had plenty of failures (good learning experience ), but some successes too, I feel. The point is finding which scenes are improved by the technique... and which aren't. Some people like to create cartoon-like imagery... but not me.

"HDR sucks" is not what I'd call a thoughtful response. It's a technique. It can be used well, it can be used badly.

If you don't like it... don't do it...