Downtown Houston: HDR vs Single exposure

[DiskoJoe]

Here are a few recent photos i did earlier this week. The first three are 5 shot hdrs that have been toned mapped with photomatix and ps CS4. the fourth photo was a single exposure done with auto focus and the last photo is one I took with manual focus. just wanted to see what people think of the different types of processing and the subtle differences in the framing. i dont have all the exposures used loaded to flickr but could possible upload them if someone really wants/needs to see them.

1.

DSC00708 -2_09 -1_10 - 0_11 +1_12 +2_tonemapped version 2 edit by DiskoJoe, on Flickr
2.

DSC00708_09_10_11_12_tonemapped version 3 edit by DiskoJoe, on Flickr
3.

DSC00713_4_5_6_7_tonemapped color edit by DiskoJoe, on Flickr
4.

DSC00713_4_5_6_7_tonemapped bw edit by DiskoJoe, on Flickr
5. single exposure - auto focus

DSC00721 version 5 normal by DiskoJoe, on Flickr
6. single exposure - manual focus

DSC00723 manual by DiskoJoe, on Flickr

[Angelo]

The #2 HDR has a much cleaner sky.
#6 is fairly clean except for, what could be clouds or ac exhausts darkening the the sky atop of the buildings.
I like the framing on #2 best.

[Tom]

I don't really like the composition of any of them. The horizon bisects the frame and the tallest building (Chase Tower) is directly in the center. Looks kinda like Houston is giving the view the bird.

[pfeldman]

I pretty much agree with Mr. Campbell. However, #1 - because it's over the top HDR - is funky enough that that the big finger and bisecting horizon aren't as obvious. Do tone down the yellow, however.

[CtrlAltDel]

HDR is very new to me, I really like what you have done with the 3rd photo. I like the darker colors. Great job!

[DiskoJoe]

@Thomas Campbell - theres nothing i can do about chase tower. that huge building is a photographers nightmare. especially from any southern facing view. and if you dont like them you can elaborate. thats what i want to know, why?

@pfeldman - YEAH, the yellow is overwhelming but pretty natural. I think i will have to hit that with the desaturation.

@CtrlAltDel - thank you. 3 was actually my favorite too.

[Tom]

@Thomas Campbell - theres nothing i can do about chase tower that huge building is a photographers nightmare.

You can shoot at a different angle. You didn't have to shoot the skyline from where you were.

[DiskoJoe]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

You can shoot at a different angle. You didn't have to shoot the skyline from where you were.

I have a few other shots from further to the left up the hill. but if chase wasnt so tall you would not have made that comment. plus i wanted to get the length of the bayou in the shot to get the nice water reflections. from further over you would not get the nice long streaks.

[venchka]

In order to remain a member at TPF, I don't "do" HDR.
The black & white photo is interesting enough to make me want to go shoot there.

EDIT: What time of day were these made? None of them look like night.

[DiskoJoe]

^^^

these were taken around 8 pm on tuesday. not all are hdr either. very nice spot. here is a bw from daytime


DSC00691 by DiskoJoe, on Flickr

and here is an unedit version of one of the night exposures.....

DSC00711 +1 by DiskoJoe, on Flickr

[kwhite]

Originally Posted by DiskoJoe

Here are a few recent photos i did earlier this week. The first three are 5 shot hdrs that have been toned mapped with photomatix and ps CS4. the fourth photo was a single exposure done with auto focus and the last photo is one I took with manual focus. just wanted to see what people think of the different types of processing and the subtle differences in the framing. i dont have all the exposures used loaded to flickr but could possible upload them if someone really wants/needs to see them.

I don't usually comment on HDR processing. As far as I can tell the technique is probably useful in moderation. Unfortunately HDR as currently practiced is generally extremely immoderate. Maybe this is due to a lack of mature tools that encourage subtle processing. That said the B&W image is the best of the bunch.

I can see how the composition is limited based upon the variety of rectangles you have chosen to include in the image. If that scene and angle is what you are interested in capturing then the composition is right. For me the image does not read well from left to right and top to bottom. Once I get past the HDR there is nothing to make me want to look at it more than once.

[venchka]

GOOGLE Oloneo PhotoEngine. Download the free trial version. Give the HDR module a test drive. Be gentle with the sliders. I think I used the Auto Tonemapping slider. I know it was a single slider and the scale went from 0-300. I kept the amount under 100. The package includes noise reduction and interior lighting modules. Good luck.

[DiskoJoe]

thats not bad software for free. not quite as powerful as my photomatix4.0 though. but decent results. for noise reduction i use neat image.

[venchka]

Give it a try. It will out HDR Photomatix. The re-light function is totally awesome. Individual control of each light source in a room.

[goshields]

Joe:

Interesting...
I enjoyed looking at the set.

Why the difference between #5 & #6?

You stated that #5 is auto focus and #6 is manual focus, but that should not render the difference in exposure. Just wondering?

Grady