Serengeti Camp HDRs - 1st Try

kitvan

Hey all, I'm looking for some feedback on these. They were done handheld, so they are probably not the sharpest shots you've ever seen...but I'm still learning about combining exposures in a tasteful fashion so I could use your guys' opinions.

anonymouscuban

I really like the second shot. I can't really comment on the tonal qualities of these since I'm at work and my monitors suck really bad... very flat.

kdog

Cool shots! They are a bit compressed due to the tone mapping. I tried applying a standard S curve and some local contrast enhancement to your first one and it really popped off the page. I can post the edited version if you like.

hawkeye978

Agree with Joel. #1 and #3 have great contrast and drama in the sky but the foreground is somewhat flat. HDR tends to bring out great detail but it shows up everywhere so it makes the image look a little flat. Some quick contrast fixes can really make a picture pop.

kitvan

kdog wrote: »

Cool shots! They are a bit compressed due to the tone mapping. I tried applying a standard S curve and some local contrast enhancement to your first one and it really popped off the page. I can post the edited version if you like.

Thanks for the comments... Yeah definitely post it in this thread if you got it. Thanks!

hawkeye978 wrote: »

Agree with Joel. #1 and #3 have great contrast and drama in the sky but the foreground is somewhat flat. HDR tends to bring out great detail but it shows up everywhere so it makes the image look a little flat. Some quick contrast fixes can really make a picture pop.

Thanks, I'll definitely keep this mind... I'll probably be taking a second swing at these when I get the time.

kdog

Ok, cool. Here's your original


Here's my 30 second edit


Now watch everybody chime in and say they like your version better. :giggle

black mamba

Well, the original versions are very nice and represent some good work. I've got to say, though, that Richard's tweaking really did bring a little more " life " to the image. I'll give a " well done " to both of you.

Tom

kdog

black mamba wrote: »

I've got to say, though, that Richard's tweaking really did bring a little more " life " to the image. I'll give a " well done " to both of you.

Tom

Hi Tom, if you think Richard did this, it must be REALLY good.

Cheers,
-joel

kitvan

Yeah I definitely agree...short of losing too much detail in the clouds/trees by clipping the highs and lows, I think the original lacks a certain vibrance that kdog's S-curve gave it.

Now you got me spending time on this I'll probably try duplicating the original BG layer, setting duplicate to Luminescence to avoid auto color shift, apply the curve/levels, then do some selective color work to add some further pop. Might work might not... your revision looks pretty good.

black mamba

Sorry, Joel. I was listening to the TV and heard the Jaguars fumble the ball ( Jones-Drew ) and I kind of lost my mind....forgot where I was and what I was doing.

Tom