HDR Horse Barn - CC Please

Photog4Christ

I am still learning how to use Photomatix. This was done with the free version.

I was out driving around with my niece yesterday and we found this old horse barn. Please give me some feedback. Thank you.





Oh and I should add, that there is some Topaz Adjust in here too.

thapamd

Nice shot of the bark, Neal, but it doesn't look very HDRish to me. I don't see any detail in the dark shadows inside the barn. I do see more detail than expected in the FG grass, however.

Photog4Christ

thapamd wrote:

Nice shot of the bark, Neal, but it doesn't look very HDRish to me. I don't see any detail in the dark shadows inside the barn. I do see more detail than expected in the FG grass, however.

Well, it is 5 exposures! Thank you for the feedback and the thumbs up. I'll see what I can do about the shadows. Trust me... there wasn't anything to see in there anyway!

Photog4Christ

Anyone else??

Please.

Thank you

ront

I agree with Mahesh's comments also. The sky also looks a bit noisy. At least on the laptop I am looking at.

Ron

Doug Solis

On the positive side, the image looks very realistic and not HDRish as Mahesh said. You have good clarity in the wood and grasses. I love Topaz Adjust it is a fun add on. The sky color seems to me to be a bit off in its hue, perhaps it is my screen.

Nice job.

Miguel Delinquento

Neal, quite honestly I don't know what the gain would be by using HDR on a shot like this. No clouds to get cool lighting layers off of--the digital artifacts are in the blue sky.

The barn itself is very shotworthy, but the surroundings are uninteresting. I would crop away most of the non-building stuff and concentrate on the great textures of the barn. In black and white.

M

Photog4Christ

Miguel Delinquento wrote:

Neal, quite honestly I don't know what the gain would be by using HDR on a shot like this. No clouds to get cool lighting layers off of--the digital artifacts are in the blue sky.

I agree. Initially, when I set out there were a few clouds but they dissipated as I was driving around. I just wanted to go out and find some old buildings like this and experiment a little.

The barn itself is very shotworthy, but the surroundings are uninteresting. I would crop away most of the non-building stuff and concentrate on the great textures of the barn. In black and white.

How's this?

Photog4Christ

Photog4Christ

BTW: That last one is not HDR, just a single exposure.

I just noticed a "smudge" above the roof line. I guess it's time to clean the sensor.

Miguel Delinquento

Hi Neal,
I like the last sepia-toned one the best of the three. The more I look at the barn the more I wish there were other artifacts, people, or animals (you know, animals, minerals, vegetables) there. The mere shell doesn't quite seem distinctive or strong enough to carry a shot alone.

M

Photog4Christ

Miguel Delinquento wrote:

Hi Neal,
I like the last sepia-toned one the best of the three. The more I look at the barn the more I wish there were other artifacts, people, or animals (you know, animals, minerals, vegetables) there. The mere shell doesn't quite seem distinctive or strong enough to carry a shot alone.

M

Miguel:

Thank you for the feedback.

There are tons of these "I'm surprised it's still standing" type barns around here. Not many of them have animals, vegetables are minerals around, but here's one and another one.

redleash

Neal-

I wish I could come up there and shoot those barns--looks like lots of nice possibilities for you. I do think some of those barns will lend themselves to HDR, with or without clouds, so keep experimenting. A lot of people don't like the extreme HDR view but sometimes it works, so you might try to push it a bit to see what happens. And definitely keep shooting those without HDR--some fabulous subjects. Maybe it's because they are one of my favorite subjects.:D

I liked your final version, the sepia one, the best.

Cheers,
Lauren

Photog4Christ

Thank you Lauren. I like the sepia the best too!

I'm sure that there are many photo opportunities down there in Texas, but if you're ever up here, give me a call.