Hay Creek before and after - Does the HDR work?

[Scott]

Hi, all -

I'm too distracted by this HDR stuff today.  Piddled around with one of my old pictures - does the HDR version work?  

Before:


After:


I think I need to back the cyan off a little in the HDR version, but overall, I'm fairly happy with it.

Whatcha think?

Thanks,
Scott

[jtzordon]

The HDR version looks better. None of the wonky colors you see a lot of the time.  

[martolod]

works for me.
i find with hdr it needs to one of 2 things
either it needs to be subtle as in scott's creek image.
or it has to be really hyper realistic. anything in between those seem to appear a little wishy washy and half hearted.
just my:twocents: worth.

[titrisol]

Looks a lot more like I would have imagined such a creek.
However the unsharp mask and the cyan need to back up a bit
PS. How are you doing this? care explaining

[Mike Kovacs]

Can you explain more about your HDR technique?  HDR as I understand it uses more than one image as the source.

[KirkT]

that's what I thought too.  You needed two identical images but with the exposure different for each; one with detail in the highlights and one with detail in the shadows.

[KirkT]

I actaully really like the 2nd one.  Seems much more accurate to the real scene to me.

[Scott]

I've been using RAW files on shots with only one exposure, adjusting in CS3 for shadow detail (or highlight detail), then combining the separately saved files in Dynamic Photo HDR, with some final tweaking in CS3 again.   Not ideal, and doesn't work if there isn't enough detail captured in the extremes on the original RAW file, but has been working alright so far.

Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Scott

[Diwan Bhathal]

Free HDR program with Tone Mapping.

Google: Qtpfsgui  (yes, that is the name of the program).  It is free, make sure that you download the Windows version, if you use Windows.

Works very well, the Tone Mapping is quite good.

Best is to set the digital camera to bracketing, and then select EV bracketing.  Camera on tripod, of course.  This gives 3 images 1 EV apart, and is sufficient for a simplistic HDR composition.

As always, just make sure that you do not "color" the print with garish colors, otherwise it will look like uber exposed Velvia, of fall into the Photoshopped to death trap.

Enjoy, it is fun!

[martolod]

downloaded it a few days ago...so far it seems to be very capable.
but as expected, hdr is a resource hungry operation.
need to have a little patience , specially with lower spec computers.

[lesged]

Scott,

I've seldom participated in this forum as a viewer and AFAIK never put anything of mine up for critique. I guess I'm just chicken.

Viewing your image, Scott, and reading other folks comments reinforces a long held suspicion that the angle my laptop's screen is set at is WRONG.

I've set it at an angle where viewing it looks right per a b&W and color test target with 10 step tones. Set for maximum tonal range, your scan looks far too dark. No one made that statement, so before I can make any sensible comment, I'll have to calibrate my laptop. I will, once I find out the proper set-up from one of our technical forums.

[jtzordon]

Les, my laptop screen looks different depending on the angle.  The first one looks better if I am level with the screen.  At an angle, which is how I usually view it, the second looks loads better.

[shadowfox]

Scott, that's a good HDR if I ever seen one.  I like the way it clears up the haze and makes the water so pretty.

I agree with titrisol above, back off the sharpness a bit.  I wouldn't worry about the cyan, since that's what you expect when seeing snow in a shade anyways, it looks natural and provides a good balance for the golden sunset (or sunrise?) colors.

:twocents: