First Attempt At HDR

Bryce WilsonBryce Wilson Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
edited May 25, 2011 in Landscapes
I have read about HDR for several years now and it has me intrigued. Being mostly a people photography person that seldom does landscape type photography, I've not given it a shot.

Currently I am visiting the Hudson Valley area of New York. The road that my motel is on (9W) has a pull off or car park by a bend in the road and I thought it was an easy place to give it a try. Granted, this isn't a spectacular location or view, but it was an easy place to practice for my first time. I was more interested in getting the technical portion down before I hiked two hours for the "perfect" location only to find I was doing it all wrong.

This is a five exposure combination taken with a 50mm lens and combined in CS3. For a first attempt I'm somewhat pleased especially with the cloud formations. Any tips for improvement or tricks in post that I might be missing are most welcome.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60399337@N06/5738118669/&quot; title="The Road To West Point by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2764/5738118669_a072fc0eff_b.jpg&quot; width="840" height="672" alt="The Road To West Point"></a>

Comments

  • HomerHomer Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited May 19, 2011
    The Hudson Valley is a really cool place for HDR. I think you should have done a little bit more tone-mapping, just to give it a little more HDR feel.
  • Bryce WilsonBryce Wilson Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
    edited May 19, 2011
    If you don't mind, please explain Tone Mapping. There was no option that I saw with the photoshop process that gave me that option. Is that something that is done prior to assembling the images or after? Again, keep in mind that I'm a newbie at this, so be gentle! :D
  • TmetroffTmetroff Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
    edited May 19, 2011
    Have you looked into photomatix Pro 3 at all? Thats what I use for HDR and I love it

    P.S It looks like you have a little dust on your image sensor
  • Hikin' MikeHikin' Mike Registered Users Posts: 5,467 Major grins
    edited May 20, 2011
    The photo doesn't do much for me, but you did a great job with the HDR. I really don't care for the typical over-done HDR look. This looks very 'normal'.
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  • Bryce WilsonBryce Wilson Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2011
    Homer wrote: »
    The Hudson Valley is a really cool place for HDR. I think you should have done a little bit more tone-mapping, just to give it a little more HDR feel.

    Yes, I agree, the Hudson Valley looks like it is chock full of HDR opportunities. I wish I would have had more time to explore. I was in for the West Point graduation ceremonies and didn't have much time to go out and do my thing.

    On the tone mapping issue, I'm not sure, but if that is what gives some of the HDR product that over saturated look, I'm not a big fan. What has me captivated by the HDR process is the ability to have everything appear as it does to the human eye.
  • Bryce WilsonBryce Wilson Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2011
    Hikin' Mike wrote: »
    The photo doesn't do much for me, but you did a great job with the HDR. I really don't care for the typical over-done HDR look. This looks very 'normal'.

    I agree, I wasn't aiming for a piece of art to be hung in a gallery. The scene was certainly nothing special. I was just looking for a venue that gave the variety of textures and exposure challenges to experiment with the HDR process. This venue looked like an easy place to see what I could accomplish.

    I'm not a big fan of that over saturated, heavily processed HDR look either. To me the advantage that the HDR process brings to the table is to to be able to represent what the human eye could see but the camera cannot in a single exposure. I will take the "normal" statement as a compliment! Thank you.
  • squirl033squirl033 Registered Users Posts: 1,230 Major grins
    edited May 24, 2011
    properly done HDR does not have an artificial or "video game" look to it... it's supposed bring details out of the shadows and keep highlights in check while still looking natural. unfortunately, it's been overdone so badly and so often that most people don't even know what its real purpose is anymore. but your blending here is really very well done... the exposure is balanced, with good detail in the shadow areas, yet doesn't look "overcooked" at all. well done, especially for a first attempt!
    ~ Rocky
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  • rontront Registered Users Posts: 1,473 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2011
    +1 to Rocky's comments!

    Ron
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  • idiotabroadidiotabroad Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2011
    No halos!! that appears to be my normal problem...
    Mark

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