Hdr

[Kushnirenko]

High Dynamic Range Photography
Some articles about this:
http://www.cybergrain.com/tech/hdr (http://www.cybergrain.com/tech/hdr/)
http://clarkvision.com/imagedetail/dynamicrange2/
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/hdr.shtml
One of my first attempt: souce shots (croped)

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Sep, 25, 2006

[JTL]

That looks more like HPF photography to me...

[FLiPMaRC]

:confused: Digital Blending? http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23926

[Kushnirenko]

:confused: Digital Blending? http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23926

I read Your comment. Like? very liked! I'm reading!!! Many Thanks!!! So on!

[Kushnirenko]

HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Poskin theatre.
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Sep, 25, 2006

[Kushnirenko]

HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Sep, 27, 2006

[Kushnirenko]

Memories of reprisal kobzar's.
HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Oct, 4, 2006

[CptOfGondor]

Hey guys what software do you use to do HDR?

[Kushnirenko]

Hey guys what software do you use to do HDR?

PhotoShop 9 CS2 + Photomatix Tone Mapping Plugin + Brain ;)

[CptOfGondor]

sounds very complex..lol

[Kushnirenko]

University
HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Oct, 4, 2006

[Kushnirenko]

HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Oct, 14, 2006

[Kushnirenko]

2 x HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Oct, 31, 2006

[Kushnirenko]

Non winter clouds.
HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Jan, 20, 2007

[Kushnirenko]

Gosprom
HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Jan, 20, 2007

[Kushnirenko]

Follies of the nature. Rainbow and thunder-storm in the middle of January!
HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Jan, 22, 2007

[Prospero]

Follies of the nature. Rainbow and thunder-storm in the middle of January!
HDR 3 shots +- 1Ev
Kharkiv, Ukraine. Fuji FinePix S9500. Jan, 22, 2007

Nice picture, Kushnirenko. You're right, this year's winter is really weird. I remember that last year you used to send in nothing but pictures of your city covered by a thick layer of snow, but this year I haven't seen any yet. In the Netherlands it's the same thing. This week is the first cold one since the start of the winter. When I was young I used to beable to skate on the frozen ponds in the winter, but I doubt if that is ever going to happen again...

[Elisha]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/elishajesudason/2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/elishajesudason/3-1.jpg

[sparky]

PhotoShop 9 CS2 + Photomatix Tone Mapping Plugin + Brain ;)


I'm 0 for three on this then:D

[mumbles420]

Here's my first ever HDR attempt.

4 shots merged together using CS2's HDR function.

Some EXIF:

Camera: Nikon 8700
F-Number: 2.8
Shutter: 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000
ISO: 50

[Prospero]

Nice HDR attempt, Brian. The sky might have looked better if you had added a picture or two even more underexposed.

Here is one of my HDR pictures:

21470

I took this one in The Hague today. It is made of 7 exposures, ranging from 3 stops under to 3 stops overexposed. It was tonemapped with Photomatix and after that edited with photoshop. Here ar more pictures I took in The Hague including two more HDR's http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29510.

[mumbles420]

5 Exposures From 1/60-1/1000 sec @ f/2.9 | ISO 50 | WB: Cloudy | Cokin Circular Polarizer | RAW Files Combined In Photomatix Pro | Minor Adjustments In CS2

http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs19/f/2007/259/3/d/Dock_Yourself_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

[Bynx]

The more I see of HDR results the more I believe its the best thing since sliced bread. Good job guys.

[mumbles420]

Bynx, yeah they're really fun and exciting to see what the final will look like.

6 Exposures From 4 to 1/8 Second @ f/3.1. | ISO 50 | WB: Cloudy | Raw Files Combined In Photomatix Pro | Minor Level and Curve Adjustments in CS2

http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs19/f/2007/257/7/b/I_Have_No_Idea_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

There are some haloing over the trees but it's not too bad and I still like it. Printed it the other day and it looks great. :D

[Bynx]

Nice job Mumbles. Nice feeling in the picture you have conveyed. The colors are pretty rich but I like the shot very much. This shot I took the other day is a HDR made to Prosperos specifications. The colors arent very bright but I covered the range from shadow to highlight. What do you think?

[mumbles420]

Bynx, thanks for the comment.

Yeah Prospero's HDR tutorial is very nice and well explained. It helped me a bit. Every HDR is different so settings are always are going to be different. You can go for the realistic or vivid painting look. It's souly about personal preference and what the artist's wants.

Here are some great tutorials with examples:

http://hdrphotos.net/

http://www.vanilladays.com/hdr-guide/

http://www.popphoto.com/howto/3038/how-to-create-high-dynamic-range-images.html

Your image looks nice and realistic. It might need more exposures with more stops. I'm really not one to give critique on this because I'm new and learning this HDR stuff though.

Nothing too much to the scene but I'm just still experimenting with these HDRs:

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs21/f/2007/260/e/d/Kitty_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

[Bynx]

Thanks for the further info mumbles. The pond scene was my 3rd HDR. It was handheld and the bracketing was only 1 f-stop between shots done automatically by the camera. When I have my tripod and its not so windy I will try 2 f-stop difference. This shot was my first. The colors are a bit brighter. But I love the clarity.

[TheObiJuan]

I dug up some AEB'd shots that I took years back and did a test run on Photomatix.

NOTE: The shots do not align perfectly because I was chimney climbing 20' off the ground between two granite boulders and shooting without a tripod.
Guess this image will emphasize why it's crucial to use a tripod, else images will be slightly blurred.

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/5448/hdrshotxg4.jpg

[mumbles420]

Thanks for the further info mumbles. The pond scene was my 3rd HDR. It was handheld and the bracketing was only 1 f-stop between shots done automatically by the camera. When I have my tripod and its not so windy I will try 2 f-stop difference. This shot was my first. The colors are a bit brighter. But I love the clarity.

You're very welcome. Yours looks nice. I like the clouds and blue sky. The clarity as you mentioned is spot on.

[mumbles420]

5 Exposures From 4-1/4 second @ f/7.7 | ISO 50 | WB: Cloudy | RAW Files Processed In Photomatix Pro | Levels, Curves & Smart Sharpen In Photoshop CS2

It was really windy so some cloud movement can be seen here but I think it works.

http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs21/f/2007/262/a/0/Homeless_Road_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

For some reason the photo lost lots of it's contrast and saturation when I uploaded. Does anyone know why?

[Bynx]

Mumbles I noticed a difference when I saved the final fine in Photoshop with EMBED COLOR PROFILE: sRGB IEC61966-2.1. Without this clicked on and no sRGB profile the pics were darker and less contrasty.
By the way, great shot. Gotta love those clouds.

[mumbles420]

This home is on the market for $2,750,000 US.

http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs19/f/2007/268/0/d/_2_750_000_US_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

6 Exposures: 1-1/30 second @ f/7.6 | ISO 50 | WB: Cloudy | RAW Files Processed In Photomatix Pro | Levels, Curves, Saturation, Noise Ninja & Smart Sharpen In CS2.

[3In2Out]

The shots are great mumbles...wow. Cant wait to give this a try once my skills are better. lol :D

[Bynx]

Wow wow wow that is one helluva good shot mumbles. I love it. Rather than a photograph it looks more like an excellent piece of art. Great job.

[AcroRigo]

Thats Freakin BAD ASS!!!!

[mumbles420]

The shots are great mumbles...wow. Cant wait to give this a try once my skills are better. lol :D


Wow wow wow that is one helluva good shot mumbles. I love it. Rather than a photograph it looks more like an excellent piece of art. Great job.


Thats Freakin BAD ASS!!!!

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the kind words and support.

[mumbles420]

5 Exposures: 1/30-1/500 @ f/7.3 | ISO 50 | WB: Cloudy | RAW Files Processed In Photomatix Pro | Levels, Curves, Color Balance, Noise Ninja & Smart Sharpen In CS2.

http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs20/f/2007/268/8/e/Harem_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

[Bynx]

Another winner. You have a fine grasp of HDR. Dont ya luv it?

[mumbles420]

Another winner. You have a fine grasp of HDR. Dont ya luv it?

Well I myself don't know if I have a fine grasp but but I'm for sure getting better ;). Don't I love what, HDRs?

[toriaj]

Brian, I love that last shot! What a great capture. Is there a way in HDR or regular processing to get rid of the glow around the tops of the trees, or even it up in the sky so that the glow doesn't follow the height of the trees?

[Prospero]

Brian, I love that last shot! What a great capture. Is there a way in HDR or regular processing to get rid of the glow around the tops of the trees, or even it up in the sky so that the glow doesn't follow the height of the trees?

If I get haloing I usually clear that up with colour control points in Capture NX. I darken the halo with a control point and then use the paint brush to limit the effect to the halo.
In essence, the same thing can be done by using adjustment layers in photoshop.

Great shot, Brian. You captured the atmosphere really nicely.

[mumbles420]

Brian, I love that last shot! What a great capture. Is there a way in HDR or regular processing to get rid of the glow around the tops of the trees, or even it up in the sky so that the glow doesn't follow the height of the trees?

Thank you. Yeah there are many ways to remove the halos. Check out this link - http://beforethecoffee.wordpress.com/hdr-post-processing-tutorial/. They are mainly caused do to my lack of experience with all this HDR stuff. I'm still learning.

6 Exposure: 1-1/30 Seconds @ f/7.3 | ISO 50 | WB: Cloudy | Raw Files Processed In Photomatix Pro | Levels, Curves, Saturation, Noise Ninja & Smart Sharpen In CS2.

http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs20/f/2007/269/2/0/Roots_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

[toriaj]

That's a great link, thanks Brian!
I love the colors in your image. I just wish there was something special in the foreground to grab my attention. But I still enjoy the picture, thanks for posting.

[mumbles420]

That's a great link, thanks Brian!
I love the colors in your image. I just wish there was something special in the foreground to grab my attention. But I still enjoy the picture, thanks for posting.

Yeah there wasn't much there but I liked the roots that were exposed.

5 Exposures: 1/15-1/250 @ f/7.8 | ISO 50 | WB: Cloudy | RAW Files Processed In Photomatix | Levels, Curves, Saturation, Color Balance, Noise Ninja & Smart Sharpen In CS2:

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs20/f/2007/271/5/f/Crazyness_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

[Gintaras]

mumbles, your HDR are stunningly BEAUTIFULL and that s taken with Coolpix 8700!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: i like that U keep natural color in them. probably takes hell a lot of PP work??? are you following Prospero's HDR manual or you got the one of your own?

[mumbles420]

mumbles, your HDR are stunningly BEAUTIFULL and that s taken with Coolpix 8700!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: i like that U keep natural color in them. probably takes hell a lot of PP work??? are you following Prospero's HDR manual or you got the one of your own?

Wow, thanks a bunch. It makes me happy that you like them. Yup, all taken with the 8700. It doesn't take me much time for pp. All the things I do to the photo, I put in the description. depending on the photo it takes me roughly 30mins. tops. Maaaybe, maaaybe 45mins. I've read Prospero's tutorial but don't follow it. His tutorial is to make the Most realistic looking HDR possible. It's great for general knowledge to make an HDR though. Where as I try to go for the surreal painting look and feel.

Here are some links that I like and helped me:

http://hdrphotos.net/

http://www.thinsite.net/tutorials/?p=6

5 Exposures: 1/1/15 seconds @f/8 | ISO 50 | WB: Cloudy | RAW Files Processed In Photomatix Pro | Levels, Curves, Color Balance, Saturation, Noise Ninja & Smart Sharpen In CS2.

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs20/f/2007/274/0/7/Stilts_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

[mumbles420]

4 Exposures: 1/8-1/60 Second @ f/7.4 | RAW Files Processed In Photomatix Pro | Levels, Curves, Color Balance, Saturation, Noise Ninja & Smart Sharpen In CS2

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs19/f/2007/277/2/5/Contrast_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

[TheObiJuan]

Taken on campus at Texas A&M University.
Shot created from: -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3. All were necessary for the fountain to come out close to as I saw it. Jesus, it was bright!

http://www.styleandspeed.com/theobijuan/pics/HDR/Highlights%20&Shadows%20-%20Auto-1.jpg

[Bynx]

Can you please tell me what Im doing wrong? Im just not getting the effect I want. Perhaps its just the subject.

[TheObiJuan]

Post the sample images and we'll see what we can do and instruct from there.

[mumbles420]

Can you please tell me what Im doing wrong? Im just not getting the effect I want. Perhaps its just the subject.

Yeah, just let us know how you're shooting the photos and what programs you're using.

[Bynx]

I guess it would help if I supplied some info. The shot of the path through the woods was 6 shots hand held. Each was about 1.5 fstops apart. I wasnt expecting to shoot an HDR but the scene looked nice so I did it in spite of the fact I didnt have my tripod. There is nothing spectacular about the final product. Perhaps this is the best a scene of mostly green leaves and tree bark come out. I guess I just expected something more like Im seeing from your pictures Mumbles and Prospero and ObiJuan. You guys knock my socks of with your pics. I just want to knock my own off.

[TheObiJuan]

Well by giving us at least three pics to work with we can show you if it's you or the subject matter that is limiting.
I found myself challenging myself by going to different HDR websites and doing HDR on competition pics.
It's interesting to see what some people think is realistic. :rolleyes:

I'm certain with a little practice you'll be pleased.

Go outside, shoot a dark shadow + sky scene [like the side of your house] and expose -2, 0, +2 and try try try to get it as you saw it by moving the magic sliders.

[Bynx]

Here are the 6 exposures I had to work with. All hand held.

[Prospero]

Here are the 6 exposures I had to work with. All hand held.

The exposures seem to be fine. If you can allign them (so, if you handheld them well enough and the scene was not too windy) you should beable to turn them into a nice HDR.

Since the scene has a lot of fine details and sudden changes in brightness (around the branches) I think the settings you could try in Photomatix is using a low strength (below 20 percent) and the lowest light smoothing settings. Also, it may help to set the local contrast at a lower setting.

After that you can change luminance and the other settings till it looks like you want it too look. You may need to do a lot of post processing after photomatix to get the result you like.

[hokeyguy]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/1497785400_b5785d61a8_b.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k16/hokeyguy/Untitled-1-1.jpg

[TheObiJuan]

Oooh, the texture of that shot is awesome.
Pretty wicked.
Nice job of using HDR to improve texture in shadow detail rather than extremely contrasty scenes.

[Bynx]

Starting to understand the settings a little after extensive reading. This is the latest attempt.

[Zigtek]

Hi, I have just entered the fascinating world of HDR.
Here's a couple of my first attempts...
Both were shot using a Sony DSC-H5, +/- 2.0ev


http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g159/Zigtek/Lumsdale-Falls.jpg


http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g159/Zigtek/Tansley-Church.jpg

[Bynx]

From someone new to HDR too, Id say you have a nice grasp of it. Good subjects, composition and lighting.

[3In2Out]

Great pics everyone :eek:

[Zigtek]

Thanks Bynx,
I am still niggled by the "neon" green leaves at the top of the waterfall pic, but I absolutely love the church, and was sooo impressed when I saw the tonemapped image for the first time.

[Bynx]

Zigtek I will assume you used Photomatix Pro to create your HDR. If so when you get to know the settings better you will be able to control the neon look.

[mumbles420]

http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs19/f/2007/283/6/b/Just_Tree_Line_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

5 Exposures: 1/8-125 @ f/7.4 | RAW File Processed In Photomatix Pro | WB: Cloudy | ISO 50 | Levels, Curves, Color Balance & Smart Sharpen In CS2

[TheWengler]

Hey guys, here's my first attempt at HDR. I was pretty lost when dealing with the settings in the tone-mapping step. Any advice you guys have would be great. It'll probably just take some practice. The original set of photos is here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lswenger/HDRTestTemp

[TheObiJuan]

That's a great start.
The image needs more contrast, perhaps a simple s-curve in photoshop?

[krzkrzkrz]

When doing HDR's do you keep the focus point at the same area, or does this matter at all?

[TheObiJuan]

If the focus point changes then the image may not align exactly since the out of focus parts may be diffused.

[Bynx]

Wengler, Im curious....did Photomatix put those watermarks on the picture? Is it an unregistered version? I have an unregistered Mac version and it puts a grid over the final pic.

[TheWengler]

Wengler, Im curious....did Photomatix put those watermarks on the picture? Is it an unregistered version? I have an unregistered Mac version and it puts a grid over the final pic.

Yeah the software put those there. I'm just using the trial version for now.

[FLiPMaRC]

Here's my latest HDR.

HDR 3 shots +- 1-2/3 Ev ... Photomatix
Zurieq, Malta. Canon S3 IS. September 2007
http://www.pbase.com/flipmarc/image/86606659/large.jpg


This is an old one. It's my first attempts of HDR using Photomatix about a year ago.

Liberty State Park, New Jersey
http://www.pbase.com/flipmarc/image/70975882/large.jpg

[TheWengler]

FLiPMaRC, I like number 2. Very cool.

[Bynx]

I agree wholeheartedly and #2 is my favorite. Great shot. I only wish you had included the base. Id like to know what it said.

[FLiPMaRC]

FLiPMaRC, I like number 2. Very cool.

Thanks! :)


I agree wholeheartedly and #2 is my favorite. Great shot. I only wish you had included the base. Id like to know what it said.I'll take a pic when I go back to the park. I live about 15 mins away :D

[Zigtek]

#2 is a stunning pic! I'm impressed.

[mumbles420]

FLiPMaRC, I absolutely agree with everyone else, #2 is wonderful. The details on the statue are great.

http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs19/f/2007/285/6/6/Golfland_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

5 Exposures: 1/15-1/250 @ f/7.8 | WB: Cloudy | ISO 50 | RAW Files Processed In Photomatix Pro | Levels, Curves & Saturation In CS2 | Circular Polarizer Used

[Bynx]

Mumbles, another great shot. It would make a great Xmas card when the scene is covered in snow. Do you live nearby?

[TheWengler]

Here are a couple new attempts. I'm still trying to figure out the details so I'm open to suggestions and comments. If you're wondering what it says in the sand in #1 it's "F*** Leo", I guess someone was mad at their boyfriend...

[TheObiJuan]

An improvement for sure, Lukas!

The images are appearing to look more and more 'real'.
I noticed the small misalignment of the clouds in image 1.
What I have done in the past was open the HDR image in PS and added an original layer that matched the sky closely and replaced the clouds so they are punchier and not blurry.

Either way, they look great!

[Bynx]

In Photomatix would clicking the box to Reduce Ghosting do the same thing in sharpening the clouds ObiJuan?

[TheObiJuan]

The "reduce ghosting" feature fixes moving objects according to Photomatix's webiste.

------
Let me find where I read it a while ago...
Here ya go:
http://www.popphoto.com/photosoftware/3964/photomatix-pro-releases-v24-hdr-processing-program.html

[Bynx]

I did an HDR pic of someones photo here. It was a seascape with a sailboat. The 3 exposure pics were taken long enough apart that the sailboat was moving and rolling. The three images were off quite a bit. Using the reduce ghost feature ended up with just one image of the boat in the final rendition. I used the object ghost feature not the ripple feature. I imagine it would do the same for clouds.

[TheWengler]

In the image of the cliff there's misalignment in the top of the cliff too. :( I'll have to see if I can get that straightened out. I also noticed some spottiness/grain in the sky as well. It almost looks like poor mixing of the coloring from the different jpgs or possibly just poor jpg quality. My quick fix was to used noise reduction but that's not a real solution.

Here's another one. This was made from 3 jpgs pulled from 1 raw file. There's a some blowout in the sky and it doesn't quite look real, but I think it turned out well.

[Bynx]

Wengler, I have a nice solution to your noise problem. I will email you.

[mumbles420]

Mumbles, another great shot. It would make a great Xmas card when the scene is covered in snow. Do you live nearby?

Thanks man. Yeah it would look amazing in the winter, only if it snowed here ;). Well where is nearby?

TheWengler, Totally agree with TheObiJua, a much improvement with the last two. The cliff one is great. Good job.

[TheWengler]

Wengler, I have a nice solution to your noise problem. I will email you.

Alright, thank you.

[TheWengler]

TheWengler, Totally agree with TheObiJua, a much improvement with the last two. The cliff one is great. Good job.

Thank you. I enjoy your shots as well. Where are you in California?

[mumbles420]

Thank you. I enjoy your shots as well. Where are you in California?

I live in Rohnert Park, a little city in Sonoma County. It's about two hours north of Santa Cruz.

[TheWengler]

I live in Rohnert Park, a little city in Sonoma County. It's about two hours north of Santa Cruz.

Oh ok. I have a friend who got married in Kenwood in July. We got lucky with a beautiful day. Not too hot.

[TheWengler]

Here are a couple more from single RAW files. I'm kind of going though my pictures to see what could use some HDR editing. #2 is probably the biggest deviation from the original. The other two are improvements over the original but not overly dramatic changes.

[Prospero]

Here are a couple more from single RAW files. I'm kind of going though my pictures to see what could use some HDR editing. #2 is probably the biggest deviation from the original. The other two are improvements over the original but not overly dramatic changes.

Nice pictures. The exposures of the scenes are great. Nice compositions, too.

I would personally use slightly different settings; I would lower the light smoothing and lower the strength. That way you get less gradations in brightness of the the water and sky (as in picture 1) and you reduce the problem of branches darkening when brigh sky is behind it (as in picture 2).

[TheWengler]

Nice pictures. The exposures of the scenes are great. Nice compositions, too.

I would personally use slightly different settings; I would lower the light smoothing and lower the strength. That way you get less gradations in brightness of the the water and sky (as in picture 1) and you reduce the problem of branches darkening when brigh sky is behind it (as in picture 2).

Ok. I will give that a shot. Thank you for the advice. :)

[mumbles420]

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs21/f/2007/285/2/9/Cloudy_Fall_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

4 Exposures: 1/30-1/250 @ f/7.8 | WB: Cloudy | ISO 50 | RAW files processed in Photomatix Pro | levels, curves, saturation & layer masks to give the clouds A glow

[TheWengler]

I took these 3 today. They look like they're from 3 pretty different locations but I probably only walked 50 yards between the 3 shots over a span of 10 minutes. Any C&C appreciated.

[Bynx]

Very nice Lucas. Very nice.

[toriaj]

#3!!!! :D :D
I love the cactus. Adds such unexpected personality. And the road and the fence make for a beautiful composition.
P.S. I'm jealous of your fog :(

[D Thompson]

Here is one from a couple of weeks ago. 3 exposures @ 1/13, 1/25, & 1/50th @ f8 ISO100. Shot with my 20D, ef24-70 f2.8 L on tripod. Blended the 3 RAW files in Photomatix Pro and then further processing in CS3 included cloning out a guard rail & road, slight levels adjustment, and sharpened.

[toriaj]

Wow, Dennis, that's a great image! And you cloned out a guard rail and road? Now THAT's some PP skills.

[D Thompson]

Wow, Dennis, that's a great image! And you cloned out a guard rail and road? Now THAT's some PP skills.
Thanks Tori. Here is the image after Photomatix, but before cloning.

[Bynx]

Im glad you showed the before pic Dennis. Id never have guessed there was a road back there. It looks like the house was built beside the hill. Good one.

[D Thompson]

Im glad you showed the before pic Dennis. Id never have guessed there was a road back there. It looks like the house was built beside the hill. Good one.

Thanks Bynx. I almost missed cloning the telephone pole in the pond :eek: . I was glad I caught it before I sent it to get printed. Thanks again.

[DonSchap]

A studio-flash HDR ... just for fun

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/donschap/models/small_HDR1.jpghttp://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/donschap/models/small_HDR2.jpghttp://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/donschap/models/small_HDR3.jpg


http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/donschap/models/small_HDR_Finalborder.jpg


Oh well ... and they said it shouldn't be done. LOL :D

[Bynx]

Very good Don. Nice composition and the HDR turned out pretty good. I think you could have gone one more on the overexposure side to give some detail in the very dark shadow areas.

[TheWengler]

It kind of looks like Capitan America is issuing a low blow to Ironman via his right elbow. :eek: Two superheroes but no actual powers...:( I'm stoked for the Ironman movie though! :D

[DonSchap]

Thanks Bynx ... I guess I'm always a little tentative with overexposures. I can give 'er another try and see what shakes out.

I have to do one of these for the Adv. Digital Class ... so this was my first attempt. Printed out rather well. Guess my Color Management class might be paying off as well.

Tough time of year for spectacular clear skies, to do an outdoor version ... but you never know. Maybe downtown, in Chicago, I might be able to get the State Street holiday stuff. Don't have much time left for that, though, class ends next Friday. 20 various images ... ten of which need to be mounted. :eek:

Anyway, here's a variant of the HDR, that I did a few minutes ago. I used a brighter exposure ... so I'm not sure whether it really solved much. I know the histogram was shifted significantly.

312693127031271

31268
A700 w/ T17-50mm @ 40mm - (f/8 - f/13 - f/22) - 1/60 sec. - ISO-200 - Manual Mode - Studio Strobe

[Bynx]

Another good one Don. However, I prefer the depth of color in the first HDR. I think the problem is your lighting is coming from the left keeping the inside of Cpt Americas right leg in shadow. I suggest a reflective card to give some fill in the very dark areas such as under the shield and the inside of right leg and to keep the white on the shield as white as possible. In my opinion, your first shot with the fill would be perfect.

[DonSchap]

Thanks ... we shall see ... what we shall see. It is rather amusing to play with these ... but I have to leave HDR for the time being in pursuit of other Alternative Photography methods, or I shall never finish on time. Friday's the big deadline ... then Sunday. Man oh man, where does the time go? :eek:

[FLiPMaRC]

Don what software are you using? Just PS or Photomatix? For some reason, the end result have dull flat color? :confused: It's more like "digital blending" than HDR :o

[DonSchap]

Yeah, it's PS CS3 ... standard faire.

I know I have to work with it a bit more, but remember ... I'm indoors ...
and not using high-contrast environments. The issue I face is just
demonstrating the technique ... three shots and processing it ... the
emphasis is not so much on the actually rendered product.

I'll try more during the holidays ... when we get the tree set up.

It's always something. Last year, I was playing with long exposure and
came up with this one:

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/donschap/strange%20art/Family-Presents.jpg

That is the image ... and not Photoshopped together.

[Bynx]

Nicely done Don. Thats a shot I want to do. Every year Ive done a family shot with my parents at Christmas. Now my dads dead I want him to be there as a ghost. It will look similar to your shot however, you said you didnt photoshop that one. What did you do?

[D Thompson]

Nicely done Don. Thats a shot I want to do. Every year Ive done a family shot with my parents at Christmas. Now my dads dead I want him to be there as a ghost. It will look similar to your shot however, you said you didnt photoshop that one. What did you do?

It's a old trick. Basically during a long exposure take a flash on low power and fire it with the test button. Also, you can use a flashlight to "paint" during the long exposure as well. For the ghosting effect you trip the shutter, walk into the scene, fire your flash or flashlight, walk out of the scene. Same concept as say you take a 5 second exposure of a scene and someone walks thru it while the shutter is tripped. They either will just barely register or not at all. The main scene is exposed properly and there they are not in one spot long enough to be captured.

[DonSchap]

Dennis' explanation is pretty close ... I come from the old school of film-photography ... before Photoshop ... before the "digital darkroom." :p

Anyway, I had a little easier time than that, using the Canon ST-E2 Speedlight Transmitter. I was able to wirelessly trigger the two slave flashes simulataneously in the couple's hands.

Here is the EXIF data for the image:

43mm - f/16 - 2 sec - ISO-400 - Manual - Coordinated flash - WB-3200K

I had the couple stand in front of the tree,
"smile!"
then released the shutter
the instant after the two flash units went off, they ducked out of the shot
allowed the ambient light from the tree to fill the sensor until the shutter closed.


It's pretty simple and you can have a lot of fun with it. Unfortunately, they are toned kind of bluish due to the strobe's 5600K color cast (Call it a "super-natural effect") ... the tree lights are, of course, Tunsten ... so you should have your White Balance set to around 3200K, to get the best look to the little lamps.

If you get a yellow gel for the strobes, you can kind of match the overall light a bit better and get a more "natural" skin tone from your subjects.

[Bynx]

Thanks for explaining Dennis. Unfortunately, I have to go the Photoshop route. Excellent photo results Don.

[FLiPMaRC]

Dennis' explanation is pretty close ... I come from the old school of film-photography ... before Photoshop ... before the "digital darkroom." :p

Anyway, I had a little easier time than that, using the Canon ST-E2 Speedlight Transmitter. I was able to wirelessly trigger the two slave flashes simulataneously in the couple's hands.

Here is the EXIF data for the image:

43mm - f/16 - 2 sec - ISO-400 - Manual - Coordinated flash - WB-3200K

I had the couple stand in front of the tree,
"smile!"
then released the shutter
the instant after the two flash units went off, they ducked out of the shot
allowed the ambient light from the tree to fill the sensor until the shutter closed.


It's pretty simple and you can have a lot of fun with it. Unfortunately, they are toned kind of bluish due to the strobe's 5600K color cast (Call it a "super-natural effect") ... the tree lights are, of course, Tunsten ... so you should have your White Balance set to around 3200K, to get the best look to the little lamps.

If you get a yellow gel for the strobes, you can kind of match the overall light a bit better and get a more "natural" skin tone from your subjects.

:cool: Cool

[liu1]

My first and only one so far. I bought the program and only used it once.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m119/liu1/Photography/Bridges%20and%20Buildings/Temple.jpg

[Bynx]

I just took these shots about an hour ago. The steakhouse is just down the street and the house is a bit further around the corner. Im interested in what you think of them.

[liu1]

I just took these shots about an hour ago. The steakhouse is just down the street and the house is a bit further around the corner. Im interested in what you think of them.


I like the house photograph very beautiful..

[DonSchap]

Okay ... so here is a seven-shot HDR of our Christmas Tree fror 2007. I produced it, today ... just for fun, to keep the thread going.



31707

Here's HDR 100% crop for detail

31708


And here's the same 100% crop of the middle exposure (source photo). ISO-1600 ... noise is minmal.

31709


It does maintain each christmas lamp's color nicely ... and even though the statues were completely in shadow ... you can clearly make them out ... without "fill" flash and the detail is truly apparent.

[Bynx]

Ah Don, the HDR certainly gives your tree a magical touch. Nicely done.

[mumbles420]

2 shot H.D.R.
Tonemapped in Photomatix
Post processing in CS2

Lonely Oak:
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs29/f/2008/052/4/c/Lonely_Oak_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

[hankbeblazin]

My first try at HDR
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2319174909_b4dff96240.jpg


My second try at HDR
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2383/2319999700_f227c3f334.jpg

[Bynx]

I like your first HDR a lot. Nice strong colors and clarity. Your second shot has something wrong with the shadows on the white clapboard structure. Not sure if checking the box for moving objects or ripples would help but the shadows are just not right. It would be better if you removed the shadows altogether on white boards or at least made them more uniform. They are blotchy. Other than that very nice job for your first attempts.

[born2snooze]

Dont mind me, just trying posting for the first time. Hi All! ^__^

[toriaj]

hi born2snooze, make your way on over to the Introduce Yourself (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?p=290681&highlight=introduce+face+photographer#post290681) thread :)

[born2snooze]

hi born2snooze, make your way on over to the Introduce Yourself (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?p=290681&highlight=introduce+face+photographer#post290681) thread :)

Thank you, Toriaj! :p

[DonSchap]

Okay, so I decided to merge this 4-shot with PhotoShop PS CS3 HDR techniques ... came out looking really improved, in my estimation.

HDR
33970

Original over-exposure shot
33971

Then another experiment ... with a little touch-up ... intense effect.
33985

Original mid-level exposure
34004

[Ratamahatta]

All -2EV/0EV/+2EV

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8431/ps2cz3.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1687/ps3xn0.jpg

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3774/ps4oa8.jpg

Not sure if I like this one:

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4927/ps6xe8.jpg

[Ratamahatta]

DonSchap, was the aperture different from shot to shot?

[DonSchap]

DonSchap, was the aperture different from shot to shot?

Yes ... allowing for DOF changes in the background. Makes for an interesting effect, eh? A tad more ... realistic? I don't know ... I liked the product, to be honest. I'm hoping the customer does also. I plan on printing it, today or tomorrow, with the EPSON 3800 ... biggie-sized. It'll give him something different to put up in his office, other than someone else's calendar shots.

There may be more work on this kind of subject, later. This was, pretty much, an ad hoc first attempt at miniature scale, just to see the results. Comments? Improvements? In the future, I suppose the construction of a rail bed, with gravel, and the appropriate weathering, just to enhance the background appearance. Yes ... a work in progress.

[Nexu]

This is my first attempt at a HDR. The pic is probably a little boring as here in Wisconsin right now the snow has just melted, the grass isn't green and there are no leaves on the trees. But anyways, this pic is MUCH better as a HDR. The originals either had dark parts behind the house, or the sky was completely white and the rocks on the far right had an annoying glow of overexposure.

Not a bad first attempt??

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2348034173_3b5fd28aaf_b.jpg

Canon A570 IS: ISO 100, F2.6, 6mm, 3 exposure HDR @ -1, 0, +1 (I know I probably should have did +/- 2).

[Bynx]

Very good first attempt. The nice thing about this one is the subtlety of your use of the software. It looks completely natural but when looked at closely the sky has detail as well as the shadow areas. Nicely done.

[Aldor88]

Heres my first 2 HDR tries, made of a single raw file. I wasn't going for any dramatic look, just wanted to increase the dynamic range a bit, nothing special.

1.Street rails. In this one i couldn't get the street exposed right without blowing the sky so i made 2 separate exposures and blended them in layers.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2352314526_2b02190d88_b.jpg

2.Art museum. Maybe not too obvious but i kept blowing the white/metal walls when trying to expose the front of the building. So i made 2 exposures with the same technique.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2369/2351704613_6b3cb13b01_b.jpg

[Bynx]

Aldor I suggest you try a couple more exposures each being about 2 fstops apart. So you end up with one for the shadows, the midtones and the sky. But as they are, the are very nice indeed. HDR certainly does good things to a photo inspite of the assaults by others.

[TheWengler]

One of Cathedral Rock, made from 1 RAW file.

[AdamW]

Great composition, Lukas. I like the not-too-obvious HDR effect. However, on my (not perfectly calibrated) monitor here at work, it looks like it could use a bit more contrast.

[toriaj]

Looks like the rock formation could use a little more contrast to me too. But I like the composition, nice leading lines.

[jsnail]

My 1st HDR attempt, from 3 RAW files at -2, 0, +2

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2395/2498772209_177fb054b4.jpg

[mumbles420]

Some friends and I drove up to Ukiah a couple weeks back and went to The City of 10,000 Buddhas (http://www.cttbusa.org/). I was pretty but there wasn't really much to do. We did however eat at a vegetarian restaurant and it was great.

HDR | 3 images auto bracketed by 2 stops | Tone Mapped from RAW in Photomatix Pro 3 | Curves, B&W in Photoshop CS3

The City of 10,000 Buddhas:

http://fc28.deviantart.com/fs36/f/2008/266/6/4/The_City_Of_Ten_10_000_Buddhas_by_AlwaysThinkingPh oto.jpg
EXIF:
Model: Canon EOS 40D
Shutter Speed: 1/4, 1/15, 1 second
F Number: F/8.0
Focal Length: 120 mm
ISO Speed: 100

[Bynx]

That is one excelllent exposure range on the statue. Also cudos on the subtle use of your name. One mighty fine photo.

[mumbles420]

That is one excelllent exposure range on the statue. Also cudos on the subtle use of your name. One mighty fine photo.

Thanks man. It looks sooo great printed. I couldn't believe how well it turned out. This is my first time I converted an HDR and it helps so much.

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. Jan 2010
HDR - both pictures composed from 3 shoots (-2, 0, +2)E

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4248300135_dbe65a49ef.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4248300135_73d66601bd_o.jpg)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4249071204_d62a1f8516.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4249071204_ed6526c4b5_o.jpg)

[danwiz]

Very nice Kushnirenko. I just found this thread - thanks to your knowing that it was here and updating it.

After discovering the thread I downloaded the Photomatix Pro software and installed it and played with it a bit, but I have very few shots taken with a tripod at different exposure settings.

The Photoshop plugin works too and it is what I can use more easily.

Okay, here's a question for all of you. Isn't this very similar to using "Shadows and Highlights" in Photoshop or ACDSee? Doesn't "Shadows and Highlights" do practically the same thing with a single photo?

I'd appreciate it if some of you could take a look at this photo and tell me which version looks best to your eyes - to me it's #3.

http://danwiz.com/DCResource/RedBrickBuilding_PhotomatixExamples_resize.jpg

Okay, I'm editing this to add one more image. I played around with Photomatix Pro some more and used the "Fuse" option with the original photo and the one which I adjusted Shadows and Highlights with ACDSee - the image below is what I got and I am pretty please with this one, what do you think?

http://danwiz.com/DCResource/Feb25_Yokomaha_RedBrickBldg03_a_fused_RC.jpg

[Turo]

I just found this thread as well, and there's some great pics in it! Here's one of mine, generated using a single RAW file and 3 exposures:


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2539/4007657294_15abcfe0c9_b.jpg

flickr link (http://www.flickr.com/photos/arturodonate/4007657294/)

[Kushnirenko]

Very nice Kushnirenko. I just found this thread - thanks to your knowing that it was here and updating it.
...

Thanks, danwiz
Yes, the version № 3 looks better. I recommend also to pay attention to plug-in Shadow Illuminator Pro. I cut out your example and have processed this plug-in. Look result in attached images.
I often use plug-in Shadow Illuminator Pro, especially in case of shoots with flash. However these plug-ins have one essential lack - substantial increase of noise in shades.
Technics HDR allows to expand a dynamic range of a photo. However apply it is necessary in reasonable limits. However it concerns for all tools of post processing of photos - Sharpen, Reduce Nosie and so forth ;)

[danwiz]

Thank you for your comment and advice Kushnirenko. I appreciate it. I think that I also now understand more about the difference between "shadows and highlights" and HDR. I did download and install the Shadow Illuminator Pro plug-in and tried it out on the attached photo - along with the Photoshop HDR Plug-in. So, I begin to understand now.

http://danwiz.com/DCResource/HoraiPine_3Examples_resize.jpg

Thanks again Kushnirenko

[kgosden]

Thought I would see if a little bracketing and HDR work might give a dull Fall day some pop. This was three shots at -2, -1 and 0 EV. Combined in Dynamic-Photo HDR from Mediachance. I have been playing with this program for awhile. I like the simple interface. It takes both JPG and RAW files. Plus it is a low cost program.

[danwiz]

kgosden, I like it! Nice job.

Here is a new one of mine - this is 3 exposures which have been Tone-mapped with Photomatrix Pro "Details Enhancer" and then been enhanced with Shadow Illuminator Pro. This was taken at Hakone's Lake Ashi and that is Mt. Fuji. This is in Japan, of course.

http://danwiz.com/DCResource/Oct23_091_92_93_TM_DE_SIP_MtFuji_AshiNoKo_resize.j pg

[kgosden]

Well, since the Sony page started an HDR Photo of the Day I figured we should try and revive the generic version. I was looking at a few photos from a loop through Uth and Arizona from 2006. Found this shot of Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ. It was a 3 shot bracket merged in Dynamic-Photo HDR from MediaChance. Hawks don't sit still long enough for HDR bracketing :)

[raven15]

Wow, that last one is pretty good. In general I've seen way to many shots from/of that location, but the HDR definitely improved the tones and colors of this. I may have to give Dynamic-Photo HDR a look, the results are pretty natural. So far, I haven't found an HDR program I like.

[kgosden]

Thanks Raven. I probably could knock the saturation down about 5-10%, but it might look a bit too flat. It was late afternoon, ~4pm, when I took it way back in December 2006 so a little color in the light is not unnatural. I wanted the color as I decided to print this on canvas 16x20 so it needs to pop.

[mumbles420]

All three photos are processed in Photomatix and Photoshop with 3 exposures and in 1 stop increments.

Spooner Lake, Lake Tahoe, Nevada:
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs51/f/2009/299/0/2/Spooner_Lake_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

Taylor Creek Visitor Center:
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs50/f/2009/299/c/1/Taylor_Creek_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg

Mt. Tallac, Lake Tahoe, Nevada:
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs51/f/2009/299/8/3/Taylor_Creek_II_by_AlwaysThinkingPhoto.jpg