first try at HDR bride

[shane87]

This is my first HDR fake. I used a GIMP script, Please CC. Thanks

[Some Idiot]

looks over saturated on my screen

[hue-e]

doesn't look like HDR to me.. the sky is blown out for one... and I second the over-saturation

if you used some automated process, those almost never look right IMO.

[The Philos]

I was thinking the same thing - the point of HDR is to have proper exposure everywhere.

[ldelacruz]

Shane,
The pose, lighting, composition and the colors are not flattering. A few improvements would have been to shoot with the sun behind you, shallower DOF, using the rule of 3rds and proper exposure. Do you have a flash?

[arich]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

Shane,
The pose, lighting, composition and the colors are not flattering. A few improvements would have been to shoot with the sun behind you, shallower DOF, using the rule of 3rds and proper exposure. Do you have a flash?

+1

I also don't generally like HDR toned portraits, you can using lighting and PS to achieve a similar effect (see: Dave Hill), but I think HDR should be reserved for landscapes and architecture. And plugins that promise the HDR "look" should always be avoided because they're pretty much just gonna look like crap.

[shane87]

Thanks for the feed back. At the time I did not have a flash the sun is to my back but due to the trees it is completely blocked. I love the location. I need to learn to shoot it better and a flash would have been key here. I had trouble with the dark foreground and light background as you can see with the sky being washed out. What is the best program for making a true hdr photo. I cant a afford photoshop right now.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by shane87

Thanks for the feed back. At the time I did not have a flash the sun it to my back but do to the trees it is completely blocked. I love the location I need to learn to shoot it better and a flash would have been key here. I had trouble with the dark foreground and light background as you can see with the sky being washed out. What is the best program for making a true hdr photo. I can a afford photoshop right now.

For Portrait - Don't
Concentrate on the basics of lighting , posing and exposure and then start tricking things up

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by shane87

Thanks for the feed back. At the time I did not have a flash the sun is to my back but due to the trees it is completely blocked. I love the location. I need to learn to shoot it better and a flash would have been key here. I had trouble with the dark foreground and light background as you can see with the sky being washed out. What is the best program for making a true hdr photo. I cant a afford photoshop right now.

What programs do you have? Have you read up on how to shoot multiple pics and merge? Also, do you have an example of what you are trying to accomplish? Maybe point us to a pic or link.

[Steve Balderrama]

Originally Posted by shane87

Thanks for the feed back. At the time I did not have a flash the sun is to my back but due to the trees it is completely blocked. I love the location. I need to learn to shoot it better and a flash would have been key here. I had trouble with the dark foreground and light background as you can see with the sky being washed out. What is the best program for making a true hdr photo. I cant a afford photoshop right now.

Why do you even need HDR for this type of shot? The last thing you want is for the background distracting from the bride. If anything I'd be looking to bring the background down rather than trying any HDR thing on it. The biggest issue here is the huge expanse of blown out sky. First thing you should have probably done is pose her in a different way or location so you didn't have that problem to deal with, especially since it cuts through her shoulders.

But then I tend to think that HDR is way beyond it's 15 minutes, except for very specific uses in landscapes and such, and only if not overcooked.

And a hint on the pose.. it makes it look like she's thinking "I'm going to strangle myself before I go through with this wedding..." ;)

[arich]

Photomatix Pro

Just wondering though, do you understand what an HDR is? That you need multiple exposures of the exact same shot?