Pseudo HDR: Landscape and Cathedral Pictures

[smseeley]

A little out of the ordinary for me, but wanted to try this technique out. For each picture I used 1 RAW picture processed 2 different ways: 1 overexposed and 1 underexposed. I then conbined the two in Photoshop and ran an HDR action on it from Action Central. I then played around with Unsharp Mask until I liked the final outcome. What do you all think??





And the same one toned down a bit:




And the same processed a little different without the HDR action:








Processed a little different, not sure which I like better:

[Hikin' Mike]

I like the natural look, so I like the 1, 5 & 6.

[Duffy Pratt]

I really like number one.

The external cathedral shots, except for the second one, all have really obvious halos around the church.

Of the two internal shots, I like the one without the HDR action better.

Duffy

[FreshPhotography]

The HDR version of the inside of the cathedral made me squeel a little bit. Love it! Some of the ones of the outside were a little strong for my tastes, but overall -- GREAT JOB!

[MattMoore]

HDR?

Looks kind of like a high pass filter of some sort.

[Patti Edens]

I also prefer the ones where you either toned down the action or didn't use it. The halos are a bit too much for my taste.

I really like the landscape shot - the composition is wonderful and the stormy looking sky is great. Where is it?

Regarding the action for nw85887...

Originally Posted by nw85887

HDR?

Looks kind of like a high pass filter of some sort.

This is the text file that downloads with the action from Action Central...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HDR for Dummies (presented at the IVRPA Savannah Summit by Jook Leung October 2005)

A quick exposure blending PhotoShop Action (for 2 exposures)

The method:

Create an inverted layer mask that brightens the shadows while blending
the highlights - all at the same time - using the Overlay blending mode in Photoshop’s
Layers pallette.



The Photoshop Action:

Record the steps in a Photoshop Action and call it “HDR for Dummies”

1 - Setup the Photoshop file with darker file in layer 1 (use the Move tool with the Shift key held down)

2 - Set current (layer 1) to 50% (this is to get a 50/50 distribution of tones for the Overlay layer)

3 - Merge the layers (cmd-E)

4 - Duplicate layer (Background Copy + Background layers)

5 - Desaturate Background Copy layer (cmd-shift-U)

6 - Invert Background Copy layer (cmd-I)

7 - Gaussian Blur Background Copy layer (Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur)
Depending on size of file, enter blur value, default 50 pixels.

8 - Change Blending Option of Background Copy Layer to OVERLAY and Opacity of 75%

stop action, evaluate results...

9 - Selectively duplicate the Overlay Layer (cmd J) for more local intensity and adjust opacity to taste.



Review:

The Overlay Mode can brightens(Screen) the shadows and darkens(Multiply) the highlights simultaneously when used as an inverted layer mask.
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[smseeley]

All of these were taken in Helena, Montana. Thanks for you comments everyone! Now that I keep looking at them, I like the toned down versions better too.

[MattMoore]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

Regarding the action for nw85887...

Got it, I only thought high pass b/c I use a "faux-HDR" process which employs the use of a high pass filter when I PP some pics and I recognized the "halo" type effect around the higher contrasting areas (see the post below the sign); but I usually just remove those areas in a final product.



(Yes, I know the dust/dots are there (most pronounced on the 2nd), I just used this as a quick example).

[MattMoore]

As I found out today, pseudo-HDR and real HDR are WAY different.