HDR Help!

[CSebesta]

I downloaded the trial version of Photomatrix, somewhere on this hallowed site someone suggested it as the best software. Then I took 3 hand held pics of this Labor Day sunrise shot at a nearby golf course.

I tend toward fully saturated colors, and I kind of like the results and may purchase the full version.

Any ideas, Am I anywhere close to what HDR is suppose to do?

Thanks,

Charles

[rickthestick]

I love Photomatix. It's so easy and straightforward to use. I'm just starting out with it too and am still learning a few things, but there are some things I learned.

Get as many different exposures as possible. If 3 different shots works 5 will look even better. Try to get a wide range of exposures especially when shooting with sun in the shot as with sunrises and sunsets. Try to get shots exposed for the brightest highlights all the way down to the darkest shadows and everyting in between. For example with your picture you might have wanted to take a shot where the sky was blown out and the golf course was better exposed. It all depends on the mood you're looking for though.

Using a tripod really helps out too. Photomatix digitially aligns the pictures pretty well, but there's no replacing a tripod. It can make a big difference in the finer details like the trees along the horizon.

I love HDR though. It opens up so many more artistic options and can give some real life to ordinary shots. The best way to learn though is just take pictures and see what works and doesn't quite work. I whole heartedly recommend getting the complete version of Photomatix.

Some of my first HDR attempts:

[ekohl]

Here us my first "real" attempt- used phomatix

[thelegend1472]

Post one of the originals so we can see the difference then we'll be able to tell more. I've had plenty of experience with HDR and results vary. Not every shot will look absolutely outstanding with the method. Some shots look better creating the image from just one raw file, and some like posted above will look better from 5 or even 7 images. It all depends.

[Valdo Foto]

Originally Posted by CSebesta

I downloaded the trial version of Photomatrix, somewhere on this hallowed site someone suggested it as the best software. Then I took 3 hand held pics of this Labor Day sunrise shot at a nearby golf course.

I tend toward fully saturated colors, and I kind of like the results and may purchase the full version.

Any ideas, Am I anywhere close to what HDR is suppose to do?

Thanks,

Charles

I notice two good things in your HDR picture: One, for a hand held capture you did extremely well. The best HDRs involve not only the subject but also the camera to be absent of movement, hence a tripod is always recommended. But number two, most importantly, somehow you managed to avoid the halos over the tree line.

I assume you bracketed your three shots with one stop apart, if so, my only suggestion would be to either make your three pics two stops apart or do five pics with one stop apart. The reason for this is because I would like to see more detail in the grass and in the clouds, ie: extend your dynamic range a little more.

All in all, I think you are doing great! (at least a whole lot better than me )

Just my two cents

[Howard Barlow]

I love HDR, but haven't tried it yet. I am thinking of buying Photomtrix, also. There are various resuls that can be obtained, I have found. I particularly like this effect.

[CSebesta]

First off, thanks guys for the comments and request for files, but I owe Rick an apology for not responding to his post more quickly, his pics have been in my head all week, I like his tones better than mine.

I am off tomorrow, (only have a sunrise HDR appointment) and will respond to the other post and we will see what happens tomorrow.

Thanks again Rick for the inspiration, any additional inspiration from you or others will also be appreciated (criticism too).

Bryan, thanks for the offer, based on your other stuff I am a believer you can help out.

Charles

[rickthestick]

Charles I'm glad I could help. It does help though to get a little lucky with a good sunset or sunrise :). I would sure like to see any new HDR's that you have. It's amazing the different effects that can be achieved with an HDR. It can turn ordinary pictures into extraordinary. There are so many different styles of HDR that I need to experiment with.

[CSebesta]

Valdo, thanks for commenting, I was sitting, (yes on wet grass, hehe) with my elbows propped on my knees, and a lens with VR helps as well.

Rick, the D70s I am shooting limits to 3 frames, unless you guys can help me figure out a better way. That day I shot 1.7 stops apart @ F8, now I know to use 2 stops.

Bryan, here is the middle pic of the three, I assume you are thinking about layer masks so I think this is the best for that. I would be happy to email you the raw images if you like pm me with the address to send them to.

Eric cool pic and Howard thanks for the link, neat stuff there.

Thanks for the comments and help.

[thelegend1472]

I think you've achieved an HDR look perfectly. I'm assuming you did more than just convert based on the color change, but you can definitely see the full spectrum of highlight and shadow areas. Congrats on your HDR image! Keep experimenting. It's the best way to get better, especially with something that has no real rhyme or reason to it.

[RDM]

Very nice. I think you're on the right path. Try to shoot at the lowest ISO for best results. The more shots you add in the more noise you will produce. Always bracket at +-2. Your camera by default should cover near that range of exposure, so setting the bracket amount any less is useless. I shoot at A-Priority and fire off 3 shots. If I want to get more range I carefully slide the exposure +-2 in each direction and fire off 3 more, producing a total 9 shots, 4 of which are disposable (duplicates). I then have 5 exposures to work off of in photomatix.

There are people that like the halo effect and kudos to them, but I'm more of an either "as natural as possible" or "very surreal".


*edit* In case you're looking for more examples:

Number 1
Number 2
Number 3
Number 4
Number 5

[CSebesta]

Bryan and Roland thanks for the cofidence boost.

Roland, of the 5 images 1 and 2 are of the style that fascinates me. All are wonderful though.

Do you guys PP in Photoshop after HDR? I'm thinking curves, saturation etc with layer masks as approriate.

BTW just bought the liscense so I am a 'legal' user now and I may tweak this Pic a little more, any thoughts on additional PP would be appreciated.

Charles

[RDM]

Originally Posted by CSebesta

Bryan and Roland thanks for the cofidence boost.

Roland, of the 5 images 1 and 2 are of the style that fascinates me. All are wonderful though.

Do you guys PP in Photoshop after HDR? I'm thinking curves, saturation etc with layer masks as approriate.

BTW just bought the liscense so I am a 'legal' user now and I may tweak this Pic a little more, any thoughts on additional PP would be appreciated.

Charles

Thanks!

I definitely do. The product that comes out of photomatix is more of a blank slate for me. It is rarely the final product. Do what you feel is required to get the image you envisioned when taking the shot. Curves, saturation, levels, layer masks... go bonkers. Skies the limit.