Pictures I took of Bridge in Easton, PA (HDR) (EDIT: New picture at bottom of thread)

To me those look like very awsome shots. I'm still looking for the 'night' shot. I wanted to do some in Pensacola when I visited my parents but didn't have the chance. Hopefully I'll get a chance soon.

Great work.

The most successful night shots, IMO, are taken during the 'magic hour': after the sun has gone down, but while there's still light in the sky.

In most of these shots, there's a lot of very dark sky - almost black - and not enough bridge. This contrast makes the bridge almost invisible in some shots. Try to shoot a bit earlier, while the ambient light and artificial lights are more 'in balance'...

No disrespect but why the separate thread from the HDR thread?

Megaman said:

No disrespect but why the separate thread from the HDR thread?

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Not all are HDR doesn't need to be in HDR thread IMO. Still great shots.

Like the last one. not so surew about the others - too plain.

I like the 1st example and really like the 4th one, the light under the bridge made that one so much better, which will go with Doylem's comment about lighting.

Megaman said:

No disrespect but why the separate thread from the HDR thread?

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To be honest, I was liking the HDR thread...but it got so big I gave up trying to look through it.

Compositionally, the third one is the best to my eye. It needs something interesting in the sky to be great though- lightning or just good clouds. I'd try starting before sunset when the sky's still lit up and then going until after dark to get a good range of shots and options. Depending on where the sun's setting, a lightly clouded day or heavily clouded would be my choice.

How many different shots (exposures) did you take?

What's the best way to figure out which exposures (and how many) should be taken??

I only tried HDR once - I think I took 3 shots and -1,0,+1 (or something like that), and merged them in Photoshop - the results weren't too impressive. Perhaps the exposure range should be greater? Or I should have taken more than 3?

Thanks

Edit - or does anyone have any really good links to HDR Tutorials? There are so many out there...not sure which are the most effective.

martinmartin said:

I only tried HDR once - I think I took 3 shots and -1,0,+1 (or something like that), and merged them in Photoshop - the results weren't too impressive. .

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Photomatix way outperforms Photoshop. You should try the same images and use tone mapping in a Photomatix trial.

The composition on the third shot is fantastic -- but the bridge doesn't "pop" enough.

The first shot, I love the lighting, but not the composition -- maybe try straightening a bit and perhaps a bit of a crop on the right.

The "stairs" shot has the potentional to very strong, but I'd straighten it. It also looks a bit soft -- longer exposure handheld? If you can take it again, try a tripod, with the lens stopped down so you have sharper focus throughout. I feel like there should be texture in the stone of the stairwell that the image doesn't convey.

You've got some very nice locations here -- if you can visit again, having a much better knowledge of what you have the potential to shoot, I bet you'll find the results to be superior.

How wide was the lens you were using?

I don't like to drag photographers down, but in all honesty these images don't do anything, they lack true composition. They're bland and lack feeling.

Instead of going out with a mission on shooting pictures for HDR in hopes that it will make it awesome, focus on setting up a great breath taking shot.

This goes to prove that even HDR can't make a bad composition look better.

Wow, you are a brave person. I would be afraid to take those shots at that time of day in Easton.

Enjoyed these shots. I used to live right around there, and I don't recall it looking quite so nice in person, so you've definitely achieved something! Good work.