HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography - post your HDR

[Doylem]

Yeah, the second's blown out at the sun, but oh well, I don't think it looks terrible.

From what I'm finding, HDR can't 'cure' the problem of blown-out highlights, when including the sun in the picture. No matter how many bracketed exposures you take, there always seems to be a 'white hole' where the sun ought to be. And in some cases, HDR can make things worse rather than better.

I've been taking the easy way out: only including the sun when it's much lower in the sky (towards sunset), or partially hidden by cloud or haze. These conditions seem to respond better to the HDR treatment, IMO.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Are you a san clementian? I'm from san clemente as well

Actually no. I'm north of SC and not from Orange County at all. Born and raised in LA County.

 

[jo1970]

I thought that this was a nice contrast between old and new buildings. The white line across the top is vapour trail from a plane.

 

[Evangelion]

Subtle, but there's a difference compared to the original

That is probably the best fireworks-shot I have ever seen. Well done!

 

[onomatopoeia]

 

[Evangelion]

How do you guys make your HDR's so "vivid". I have tried few multi-exposure HDR's, but my attempts have always looked flat and "undynamic". I have so far used Photomatix, and I'll go ahead and buy it if I manage to figure out how to properly create HDR-images...

 

[Martin C]

You are tone mapping after generating the HDR correct?

 

[Evangelion]

You are tone mapping after generating the HDR correct?

Yes. I move the sliders around, and the image does change, but I can never get anything that resembles anything like this or this

 

[onomatopoeia]

Yes. I move the sliders around, and the image does change, but I can never get anything that resembles anything like this or this

It helps to have a well composed and technically proper shot to begin with. HDR can't save a bad shot. I'm willing to bet that those two excellent examples you link to would stand on their own (non HDR) pretty damn well.

 

[bootedbear]

Yes. I move the sliders around, and the image does change, but I can never get anything that resembles anything like this or this

You're not alone Evangelion. I've tried my hand at this as well, and all I can achieve is to make the shots look weird, rather than vivid.

As a real noob at photography, I'm assuming that I'm just not taking good source material to begin with.

Any of the pros here want to lend a hand at suggestions for us beginners? Is it the original photos, or ham-handedness within Photomatix (or both)?

 

[Doylem]

You're not alone Evangelion. I've tried my hand at this as well, and all I can achieve is to make the shots look weird, rather than vivid.

As a real noob at photography, I'm assuming that I'm just not taking good source material to begin with.

Any of the pros here want to lend a hand at suggestions for us beginners? Is it the original photos, or ham-handedness within Photomatix (or both)?

As has been suggested, HDR isn't a technique to 'rescue' dull pix. And, anyway, HDR works on some subjects/lighting conditions better than others. This is a learning process that may need to come AFTER the ability to shoot good, well-exposed, well-composed pix at every time of asking. I've seen a few pix on the forums that I would have deleted... not spent time putting them through the HDR round-trip.

Patience, too: just because the first efforts don't look so good, keep trying. See what works... and what doesn't. But, yes, work on "good source material"...

 

[eddx]

I don't really shoot much HDR but my friend has a new HDR website which might be worth looking at...

www.dontdopeas.com

Take a look, encourage him to blog because he is new to photography and blogging

 

[bluewoodboarder]

Created from one RAW

 

[Evangelion]

It helps to have a well composed and technically proper shot to begin with. HDR can't save a bad shot. I'm willing to bet that those two excellent examples you link to would stand on their own (non HDR) pretty damn well.

Of course HDR wont turn badly composed or boring picture in to a work of art . But I would guess that you could turn even such a picture in to one of those "artsy" or "surreal" looking HDR-pictures, they would still be bad pictures though, just different looking.

Note: That extreme HDR-look might not be something I would be pursuing in the long run, I'm just curious as to how people make those images.

All is not lost though. I took few pictures yesterday (crappy as pictures, I was mainly interested in experimenting in HDR), and my results got better than before.

 

[Airforce]

Here is my first "official" try at HDR.

Three duplicates of one RAW file adjusted to +/- 2
Olympus E410
14-42@42mm
f/10,
2.5 seconds
ISO 100
One very tired dog that didn't want me to go to work!​

What do y'all think?

 

[Doylem]

Here is my first "official" try at HDR.

Wow, that fur is amazing! Not sure if I like the pic or not... but it's different.

 

[marclapierre13]

I like it alot! It reminds me of a robert bateman painting. I like the idea of the clothes, and patterns, but you you should remove the other distracting stuff, and JUST have the camo...itd be great than.

 

[Airforce]

I like it alot! It reminds me of a robert bateman painting. I like the idea of the clothes, and patterns, but you you should remove the other distracting stuff, and JUST have the camo...itd be great than.

Wow, that fur is amazing! Not sure if I like the pic or not... but it's different.

Thanks you two! It's actually pretty fun doing this stuff with the programs I currently have (Lightroom, Photomatix Pro, Gimp). I'm no good at cropping unfortunately(or photography for that matter!). Every time I tried something, it seemed like "too much taken off".

 

[soup4you2]

Just played around briefly, but i really love almost all of the images i've seen posted in here.

 

[wwwdotcomdotnet]

I'd like to get into some HDR photography, but I have a few questions.

When you take the RAW pictures and upload them to your computer, do you use a program to automatically layer them on top of one another, or do you do it by hand. Also, can anyone recommend any cheaper alternatives to PS CS3 for doing something like this?

 

[Doylem]

I'd like to get into some HDR photography, but I have a few questions.

When you take the RAW pictures and upload them to your computer, do you use a program to automatically layer them on top of one another, or do you do it by hand. Also, can anyone recommend any cheaper alternatives to PS CS3 for doing something like this?

Check out the first post in this thread, for some useful info...

 

[SolracSelbor]

Just played around briefly, but i really love almost all of the images i've seen posted in here.

Best HDR shot I have ever seen on this forum!

 

[wwwdotcomdotnet]

I probably should have read the second half of your OP

 

[wwwdotcomdotnet]

Are there any cheaper or even free programs that will allow me to layer different RAW files? Purchasing both Aperature and something like PS puts a huge dent in the bank account, especially after buying a Mac.

 

[onomatopoeia]

Are there any cheaper or even free programs that will allow me to layer different RAW files? Purchasing both Aperature and something like PS puts a huge dent in the bank account, especially after buying a Mac.

Photomatix is $100. You could use the software that came with your camera to manipulate the RAW files (levels, etc.) until you can purchase Aperature.