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First try at HDR

A

afroAnt

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 18, 2011
155
2
Hey everyone, so this is my first time experimenting with HDR photography and I would like to know what you guys think. I would love to hear your feedback and tips to improve. The pictures were taken with my Sony Cybershot W150 (thats why the quality of the pictures are not that good) and they were edited and put together with Photoshop. I know these photos aren't the best HDR photos but hey, practice makes perfect!

HDR8.jpg


HDR3%20fixed.jpg


HDR4%20fixed.jpg


HDR10%20fixed.jpg


HDR9%20fixed.jpg


HDR11.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Please use smaller (file size and resolution) photos and the TIMG tags for images with a width bigger than 800 pixel.

4 MB per photo is quite big, even with fast download speeds in most capitalistic countries. Bigger sized files also use more resources, scrolling your post is jumpy, even after maflynn's intervention.

Here is an example of one photo down sized to 1680 pixel width via Preview > Tools > Adjust Size, and the resulting file is only 500 kB in size.

HDR8.jpg

looks like:
Code: 
[plain][INDENT][img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10644330/MR_Image_Hotlinks/MR_screenshots/MR_screenshots_2012_04/HDR8.jpg[/img][/INDENT][/plain]
 
simsaladimbamba said:
Please use smaller (file size and resolution) photos and the TIMG tags for images with a width bigger than 800 pixel.

4 MB per photo is quite big, even with fast download speeds in most capitalistic countries. Bigger sized files also use more resources, scrolling your post is jumpy, even after maflynn's intervention.

Here is an example of one photo down sized to 1680 pixel width via Preview > Tools > Adjust Size, and the resulting file is only 500 kB in size.
Click to expand...

Sorry about that. I fixed up the files size using your suggested method and now the images are all under 700kb.
 
HDR is a contentious subject, as it can range from simply enhancing a photo, to creating wild special effects. It's tempting to overdo HDR when first trying it out, and it looks like you've gone down that road somewhat. The sky in your first four pictures have been darkened too much, but that can be recovered some way by cropping off the 'blank space'. I attach a cropped (and straightened) example.

The fifth photo is your best attempt, and the sixth has been overdone, creating very unnatural vibrant colours to both the grass and the sky.

You didn't attach any unprocessed pictures as a reference, so your results may well be limited by the quality of the photos which your camera creates. Software can only do so much.

Disclaimer: Other opinions do exist
 

Attachments

  • HDR8.jpg
    HDR8.jpg
    570.2 KB · Views: 138
Parkin Pig said:
You didn't attach any unprocessed pictures as a reference, so your results may well be limited by the quality of the photos which your camera creates. Software can only do so much.
Click to expand...

These are the unprocessed 0EV version of each picture:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29817359/DSC05423.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29817359/DSC05441.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29817359/DSC05497.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29817359/DSC05542.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29817359/DSC05411.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29817359/DSC05415.JPG
 
#2 and #6 are my faves. I like #2 because it makes me want to step into the photo and walk around the dock to explore a bit. I like #6 because the colors are so striking... which is the biggest reason I got into HDR photography to begin with... :)
 
To me you can do all of the post processing on those photos to make them stand out without the need to go HDR.
 
I personally cringe when I see HDR photos a lot of the time; however, the first two photos I think are subtle and lovely. The rest are alright but they are a bit too 'fake' for my taste. There are lots of people who like this effect though.
 
Problem with the second one, is that it looks radioactive :p and in the center there is a patch of sky that isnt darkened, missed it in post processing? To me the best HDR is the HDR that cant be seen right away. So just small adjustments.
 
Thanks everyone! I'll try again today with new pictures I have taken and post them either today or tomorrow. I can see why people don't like how it is a little overdone and fake. However, I do like it as the originals were pretty bland but next time I will slightly reduce the amount of adjustments I make to the photo.
 
take your time

You need to make a lot of photos to get a style or type that you like. The basic formula that I use is
9 shot bracket
Aperture Priority
11-14 neighborhood f-stop
Raw
tripod
remote trigger
Import to Aperture
Open with Photomatix Plug-In
Process result in Aperture
Make a couple hundred then come back and ask for a critique. If you're looking for the Batman/Gotham City look, you probably will have to do a lot of looking to find many likers.
 

Attachments

  • Edenton 106 - Version 2.jpg
    Edenton 106 - Version 2.jpg
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  • 2009060820090608DSC_2158-2.jpeg
    2009060820090608DSC_2158-2.jpeg
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Captpegleg said:
You need to make a lot of photos to get a style or type that you like. The basic formula that I use is
9 shot bracket
Aperture Priority
11-14 neighborhood f-stop
Raw
tripod
remote trigger
Import to Aperture
Open with Photomatix Plug-In
Process result in Aperture
Make a couple hundred then come back and ask for a critique. If you're looking for the Batman/Gotham City look, you probably will have to do a lot of looking to find many likers.
Click to expand...

Great pics
 
The biggest problem with HDR is not overdoing it..... Personally I think the edge glows on yours are a little bit ott

This is one of my 9 stop HDR's

18 by simbojono, on Flickr

My intention is to capture as much of a range as I can, but not destroy the integrity of the image by making it look computer generated.

Also I think you need to sort your horizons out, they're all at a slant ;)
 
tekmoe said:
I would say it is more like a tool to help create what you envision.
Click to expand...
I see it another way, HDR takes a mediocre photographer and masks their abilities. Trey Ratcliff comes to mind as someone who made a name out of HDR, not because he is a great photographer.
 
tekmoe said:
So HDR is only useful for mediocre photographers?
Click to expand...
HDR is a crutch to focus more on the color and less on the composition. You can take any image and make it look better with HDR but is that making people better photographers.
 
tekmoe said:
I love reading some of these comments about what HDR should look like. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

+1

I like the way anyone who likes HDR is 'wrong'. I think it's the sweeping generalisations I like best.

Why people who don't like HDR would feel the need to come into a thread about it, and the preach to everyone about how we should share their taste in photo's is beyond me.

Still takes all sorts I suppose.
 
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