South TX Sunset

[LANCE B.]

Thanks, Wayne. I've got the whole Lee filter system to do it in the field, which is were I would prefer. Old school, I know. More of a sense of accomplishment or "I earned it" so to speak. My post skills are amateurish and I really need to improve them. I like the simplicity of Enfuse and LR, though. If I'm bracketing from a tripod, I hand select my compensation but hand held set on machine gun, I just go with a 1.5 or 2 each way. But I see your point, it certainly isn't as dynamic as hand selecting.

[venchka]

Wish I had those filters. For the view cameras mostly.
Jump in the gradient filters in Lightroom. You can't hurt anything. Practice on a virtual copy.

[LANCE B.]

I wish I had a view camera, lol.

Good advice on the practice. Thanks.

[PEC]

Originally Posted by venchka

Have you tried the gradient in LR on the original RAW files? Maybe two gradients. One to burn in the sky & one to dodge the foreground? For a very nominal donation, you can own LR/Enfuse.

LR/Enfuse - Blend Multiple Exposures Together in Adobe Lightroom

Does LR/Enfuse work on the RAW files or should I convert to JPGS first?

[kenw]

Originally Posted by PEC

Does LR/Enfuse work on the RAW files or should I convert to JPGS first?

even if it doesn't, you should never convert to JPGs until you are completely finished with all editing. If you have to convert 1st, use something like TIFF.

[auddii]

Originally Posted by PEC

Does LR/Enfuse work on the RAW files or should I convert to JPGS first?

Lightroom can handle RAW; it's what I use to edit, then convert to jpg.

[PEC]

Man, I am having issues installing this plugin - it gets to 12-14% and times out. Ugh...

[PEC]

Moved conversation to another thread, didn't mean to hyjack OP

LR/Enfuse

[LANCE B.]

lol...no worries here. Thanks for the good etiquette.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by LANCE B.

I wish I had a view camera, lol.

Good advice on the practice. Thanks.

We have been known to assist in correcting that condition.

Originally Posted by PEC

Does LR/Enfuse work on the RAW files or should I convert to JPGS first?

Yes. And LR virtual copies. And TIFF files from my scanner.

I don't know why LR/Enfuse won't install for you. I'm a complete Dunce and it installed for me.

[LANCE B.]

[QUOTE=venchka;1339257]We have been known to assist in correcting that condition.



LOL...

[scottbuckel]

To get back to the image, for me the overall effect worked pretty well. The composition is very good. Many folks doing HDR do not think seriously about the compositions and depend on the "effect" to carry them.

I have done lots of them in the past. Unfortunately, to my way of thinking you left out the last step in the processing. This image looks ready to go into Photoshop (or any other image editor you like) and then do some more optimization. As presented the image is rather flat and lacks contrast - which is exactly what most HDR processing software will do. I would selectively desaturate the greens and add contrast with curves and you will have an even better image. The clouds may go to far then you could process them independently much as venchka suggested. stuckincustoms.com has a really good tutorial on HDR, in case you have not seen it - I like most of Try's work, but for me much of it is to processed for my taste - but he has gotten quite a name for himself in HDR. He usually starts in Photomatix and them goes to photoshop for his images.

Just a few thoughts and I hope this helps,

Scott

[LANCE B.]

Thank you, Scott. I appreciate the compliment. You are correct about the range. The histogram after processing is pretty jammed into the middle. I regularly check Trey's website and like his style. It's not my everyday thing but I would like to expand my horizons....forgive the pun.

Since I need the practice as stated above, I'll play around with your suggestions, too. Thanks again.

L-

[Marhowie]

Nicely done, like what you've done here.
Can't comment on HDR use, since I don't use it myself..

[LANCE B.]

Thank you, Howard. I appreciate the compliment.