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HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography - post your HDR
- Thread starter valdore
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In my personal opinion, realism is the only reason to use HDR. The dynamic range of the cameras we use is only a fraction of what we see with our own eyes, so HDR can be useful to show someone else exactly what you were looking at when you stood there.
A well-done HDR image can really take a shot to the next level and create a sense of depth to the image. Unfortunately, the majority of HDR images are far from realistic. Rather than being used as a tool which allows us to increase the small dynamic range of our cameras, it's usually used as an "effect" which makes images far too vibrant and contrasty.
This certainly isn't meant as a criticism to those who like the effect - just my 2 cents.
Best regards.
I think the main polarizing point of HDR is what people think it really is. I don't know too many people that don't like HDR at all, but among those who do, there seems to be two groups: those who view it as a tool, and those who view it as a means of creative expression. The former think of it as a way to enhance photos to increase realism or reveal details that would otherwise be hidden, while the latter think of it as a way to exaggerate the feeling of a scene or evoke a certain emotion, rather than simply depict how it looked.
This. This is what HDR photography should look like. It's got a nice balancing of lights and shadow you usually don't see in the HDR contingent. Most of the pictures I've seen on the internet tend to jack up the effect to the fullest, destroying just about all the contrast and atmosphere of the shot.
I can understand someone going overboard with it for the sake of style, but I get the impression that too many people use it as a press button for instant awesome effect.
Excellent shot, sir.
edit: Xeep and Keleko's shots are great, too.
I have not done a lot of HDR, but I have read criticism of "glow" at the transitions. I'll assume that the effect around the sign and along the edge of the building is an example of this.
How does one minimize this?
/Jim
California Sunset by louisLBNC, on Flickr
I got really lucky. HDR off my phone (nexus 4) just had to warm it up ever so slightly. Looking back, the horizon might be crocked a bit...
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Here's my first attempt. Using LR 5 & NIK HDR Efex. Not really sure what I'm doing but I prefer it to the rather flat original. Any tips more than welcome. My camera doesn't have any HDR settings, so I used a tripod and manually played with the exposure (which is what I believe I should be doing). Then played around with stacking in LR and then exported to HDR Efex.
Okay so read this tutorial http://hdrguide.com/hdr-tutorial-hdr-efex-pro-2, and think I've got it right. Let me know what you think.
Thanks Jessica. Amazing bit of software. I need to learn a lot more of course, but it's only been 5 months since I took up photography.
This is really fantastic! It's the kind of HDR I love to see - not over-the-top, but really captures a lot of shadow detail in direct sunlight which can be difficult to do. I feel like I'm seeing what you were actually looking at when you pressed the shutter. Great work!
Thanks. I'm not a fan of really cartoonish HDR either so I just wanted to really make the photos pop and give an enhanced feel of what it was like to be there. It would appear that I achieved that
Here's another one from the same day. Not quite as striking as the others but along the same lines.
Stormy Day HDR
HKPorter_HDR03 by jkramerbob, on Flickr
This was one of my early HDR attempts. I have attempted quite a few more. Most of which I now dislike because they have an over-processed appearance.
HKPorter_HDR03 by jkramerbob, on Flickr
This was one of my early HDR attempts. I have attempted quite a few more. Most of which I now dislike because they have an over-processed appearance.
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So, after scrolling through this thread I got quite the inspiration. There are many amazing shots here, and contrast and exaggeration of colors is breath taking. Seriously, very cool.
I went downtown tonight mainly to try HDR photography. As i am new to photography (2 weeks since a camera purchase), i was not expecting to get anything worth posting. But mainly i got a good practice and i came up with several questions that Im hoping to get a feed back on.
1. HDR shots take 3 photos. Is there a rule of thumb to which you should post process? I kinda went with the underexposed one, just because i felt the contrast is stronger in those. Or I have also read that in Photoshop you can merge all three shots somehow, however i am not sure what the benefit of that is.
2. How much do you guys actually post edit the pics? Seems like HDR photography could be something close to an actual paining, as there are so many aspects to consider when editing.
3. Are there any resources that you guy would recommend to help me study this style more thoroughly?
Thank you.
I went downtown tonight mainly to try HDR photography. As i am new to photography (2 weeks since a camera purchase), i was not expecting to get anything worth posting. But mainly i got a good practice and i came up with several questions that Im hoping to get a feed back on.
1. HDR shots take 3 photos. Is there a rule of thumb to which you should post process? I kinda went with the underexposed one, just because i felt the contrast is stronger in those. Or I have also read that in Photoshop you can merge all three shots somehow, however i am not sure what the benefit of that is.
2. How much do you guys actually post edit the pics? Seems like HDR photography could be something close to an actual paining, as there are so many aspects to consider when editing.
3. Are there any resources that you guy would recommend to help me study this style more thoroughly?
Thank you.