Midday HDR

[LanceHaynie]

I was asked to get a "quick" snapshot of a client (I work for a TV station so they are expecting a shot from a P&S) of ours around 3pm. I figured this would be a perfect chance to try out HDR. I would of preferred to wait until the sun was behind the building. The big burnt out sun is driving me nuts.

C&C welcome of course, other than the poor lighting conditions. What would you have done differently? This is comprised of 4 shot's about in 2 stop increments. Merged in Photoshop CS5 using the "Merge to HDR Pro" automate function.

[Darkman]

FWIW, I have been unimpressed with Photoshop's HDR. Granted, I've only got CS2, but I have had zero luck getting a "cool" HDR effect. I end up doing a "fake" HDR to get the wild color contrasts you see in other folks' work.

That aside, it's not awful. It would have waited another hour for the light you really wanted.

[cfortner]

Personally I like the shot. If using for advertising purposes, I find that the magenta tones in the middle of the shot draw my attention away from the business names.

[LanceHaynie]

Originally Posted by Darkman

FWIW, I have been unimpressed with Photoshop's HDR. Granted, I've only got CS2, but I have had zero luck getting a "cool" HDR effect. I end up doing a "fake" HDR to get the wild color contrasts you see in other folks' work.

That aside, it's not awful. It would have waited another hour for the light you really wanted.

You know, I kinda noticed that it was hard to get any of the "cool" looking effects. Even when playing with it. Maybe it was the burnt out sun that kind of made the program have a hard time reading all of the tones and colors. I may try again today just for kick's as a fun shot. However, the color is much more vivid on my computer and printed than it is in the browser. I am not sure why it changed the colors a bit.

Originally Posted by cfortner

Personally I like the shot. If using for advertising purposes, I find that the magenta tones in the middle of the shot draw my attention away from the business names.

Thank you, I agree on the magenta. I wish I had the ability to really take the time on it. You should have seen how washed out and ugly the quick "snap" was.

[Jake]

I find the sun and the pool of yellow it's sitting in very distracting.

That said, you were just asked to get a quick snapshot so you probably exceeded their expectations with this image.

[LanceHaynie]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

I find the sun and the pool of yellow it's sitting in very distracting.

I agree, my eye's are drawn right to it.

[venchka]

Re-shoot.
LR/Enfuse plugin.
Personally, that photo doesn't make me want to eat there.

[LanceHaynie]

Originally Posted by venchka

Re-shoot.
LR/Enfuse plugin.

I am going to have to try that! I didn't know about the LR/Enfuse plugin.

I really haven't had the time to figure out all of the neat plugins that are available to Lightroom. The only ones I have running so far are the Nikon Tether plugin, LR/Mogrify (for borders in exporting, though still haven't created a border I like) and SmugMug.

[LanceHaynie]

I tried the new content aware fill with CS5, it still looks really off... I think I either have to let them keep it or fix it as a side project just for me.

[tml]

The center of attention should be the restaurant, not the clouds. The power lines are very distracting as well. I do not feel extreme HDR effect is appropriate in this case. Perhaps, an evening shoot with long exposure will give the restaurant and a warm and inviting quality. Tri

[venchka]

In order to focus attention on the restaurant and avoid the clutter (wires, poles, etc.) you may need to make a stitched pano. It doesn't have to be really wide. Just tall enough to show the buildnig & sign without the wires, etc.
Microsft ICE will do it on a PC. I think there is a MAC version also. Reads RAW files. FREE!
LR/Enfuse comes from the same place as Mogrify. That's how I found it. It read RAW files. It works. It's cheap. The best kind of software.

[LanceHaynie]

Originally Posted by tml

I do not feel extreme HDR effect is appropriate in this case.

I normally don't like extreme HDR in any case. :D I tried the presets in CS5 but none of them looked natural. However, I did download LR/Enfuse today and am going to play with that. From the examples it looks like it can create more natural and even tones.

[LanceHaynie]

Originally Posted by venchka

In oreder to focus attention on the restaurant and avoid the clutter (wires, poles, etc.) you may need to make a stitched pano. It doesn't have to be really wide. Just tall enough to show the buildnig & sign without the wires, etc.
Microsft ICE will do it on a PC. I think there is a MAC version also. Reads RAW files. FREE!
LR/Enfuse comes from the same place as Mogrify. That's how I found it. It read RAW files. It works. It's cheap. The best kind of software.

No Mac version for me to try... Though I have been playing with this program called DoubleTake for Mac to make stitched photos. I may try that, I just hate the idea of using a photo in an ad that I don't even like. If it was raining today I would do it today.

[LanceHaynie]

Last attempt, lol... More subtle HDR and some cloning (needs work) to remove the wire clutter