Some experiments in HDR.

lazarkl · August 22, 2009

I'm experimenting with HDR using Photomatix Pro. My goal is to refine my techniques to come up with as natural looking (as the human eye sees it) as possible. This has largely been a matter of trial and error. What I'm posting is part of my learning process. Comments more than welcome.

black mamba · August 22, 2009

I don't do HDR myself but I do appreciate much of what I see done using that process. Your work is pleasing to me....it is certainly not to the extreme some folks go for. I do feel, however, that these pictures have a sort of pastel overture to them that might not quite be normal. I do like these shots and that observation on my part is not meant to detract from them. If I were doing HDR, I would be happy with these.

Tom

kdog · August 22, 2009

Nice shots, but to my eye, they don't really look done yet. HDRs generally need quite a bit of post to look right. Here's about a 30 second adjustment; curves, a bit of saturation, and local contrast enhancement. Dunno how you feel about people editing your shots, and I'll be happy to take this down if you're not cool with it.

My edit:

Your original:

Regards,
-joel

Jessy · August 22, 2009

nice pictures to start with but I prefer kdog's edit. I too am in the process of learning HDR by trial and error. My end goal is the same as your's "what the eye sees". But kdog was right not enough contrast or saturation. I think his edit is near to a perfect product.

anvilimage · August 23, 2009

...and here is my edit. I'm not big on cranking the saturation slider at all, but this image is definitely lacking in its level of blacks. By adjusting the curves and the black level, it will tend to darken/saturate all of the colors overall. I increased the contrast a bit by giving it more of an "S" curve, too....

Do you shoot in RAW? Did you sharpen at all?

Panther · August 23, 2009

Howdy Lazarkl,

Really very nice images and compositions,
and I agree with Tom and Joel,
they have that light pastel look to them,
they are pleasing to my eye,
and certainly enjoy them the way they are
especially that first one it really a very stunning composition,
but if you are going for the "Natural Look"
I think the curves adjustment and some sharpening,
like Joel's rendition shows, but maybe even only 3/4 of that would be "Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust Right":D:D:D

Look forward to seeing more of your work, really am intrigues with your subject and where you're shooting at.

anvilimage · August 23, 2009

my version is a tad on the dark side in the shadows, but if I was to process this with access to all of the exposures I would also blend back in some detail in the shadows. FWIW...

I think it's a great subject and I like the lines of the road leading your eyes to the house. You could probably work that a little more by stepping to your left a couple paces...

squirl033 · August 23, 2009

HDR takes a soft touch on the sliders, and some compromises to get a good result. these seem a bit too bright, more so than is realistic. it's also very easy to oversaturate, as some of these photos show, and the smoothing has to be just right to avoid the "halo" effect around the tops of trees, houses, etc. where they meet the sky. the newest version of Photomatix, 3.2, is much better about that than the previous releases.