I can't not share my first real HDR shot

[Paulstw]

sunset_campsie by Campsie Photography, on Flickr

I took this last night, around 17:30.
three exposure, -2EV dark, a normal and +2EV light.
Canon 600D, ISO 100, 1/80th, f8
18-55mm Kit lens, @18mm

My personal view is that it's the best landscape picture i've ever taken, and i'm pretty proud of it.
HDR isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love it.

Only thing that's holding me back with my work is this kit lens, and my work in photoshop. There was a huge amount of lens flare to the left, and I tried to clone it out, and ended up ruining it.

My girlfriend said it straight away, "whats happened to the left" my heart sank.

Anywho, I think for a first try, I'm pretty impressed with the result.

Cheers for looking,

P.S. -- If you have any tips for a good landscape lens, then i'm open to all ears.
Paul
Glasgow

[JaKS_Foto]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Excellent

[paulr5604]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Looks great never tried doing a HDR image so might have to give it a go after seeing this one.

[Alun100]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Impressed thanks for posting it!!!!

[Paulstw]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Thanks for commenting folks. I used Photomatix Pro 4.2 and the preset was Painterly.

[Stan]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Some nice colours Paul but it looks like you have tried to darken the sun setting which now looks a bit odd grey.

Stan

[Paulstw]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Some nice colours Paul but it looks like you have tried to darken the sun setting which now looks a bit odd grey.

Stan

Oh yeah I see what you mean. Hmmm I'll need to try this one again lol

[pbizarro]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Good light quality, but to my eyes, the photo is not a success. Why? Because I want to see the deep shadows that are not there, and should be there. Shadows are an essential element in conveying the third dimension, in a 2D frame. I wonder if, for a shot like this, a simple use of a graduated neutral density filter (say 3 stops) would have resulted better.

In you photo, even with HDR, the sun is completely over-exposed.

[Paulstw]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Good light quality, but to my eyes, the photo is not a success. Why? Because I want to see the deep shadows that are not there, and should be there. Shadows are an essential element in conveying the third dimension, in a 2D frame. I wonder if, for a shot like this, a simple use of a graduated neutral density filter (say 3 stops) would have resulted better.

In you photo, even with HDR, the sun is completely over-exposed.

Cheers for the tip.
i'm not investing in any filters at this time, because i'm looking to upgrade my lens for landscape work, so no point in buying gear for a 58mm lens and my new lens may have a bigger filter thread.

Is the sun not going to be blown out in every instance anyway in this type of shot? I don't think i've ever seen a shot where the sun is properly exposed.

[Alun100]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Cheers for the tip.
i'm not investing in any filters at this time, because i'm looking to upgrade my lens for landscape work, so no point in buying gear for a 58mm lens and my new lens may have a bigger filter thread.

Is the sun not going to be blown out in every instance anyway in this type of shot? I don't think i've ever seen a shot where the sun is properly exposed.

Hi Paul Apologise if I'm telling you something you already know, many people use Lee or cokin square filters(oblong), these slot into a holder attached to the lens and you buy an adapter ring for each lens you might use. Often a very wide lens will want an additional filter holder which will be an extra cost to the various starter packs! Again apologise if i mis understood you, got to run for work. Still liked the colour etc!!!! sun overdeveloped or not.

[Judder Man]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

I think you have used the detail enhancer option in your HDR software, is this from CS3 it doesn,t look like Photomatix if it was you could use fusion blending to get the shadows. The sun burn out is unavoidable at +2.

[Paulstw]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

I think you have used the detail enhancer option in your HDR software, is this from CS3 it doesn,t look like Photomatix if it was you could use fusion blending to get the shadows. The sun burn out is unavoidable at +2.

Yes it was Photomatix Pro 4.2 and it was my first time using it, so I guess i'm not familiar with how the settings change it so. I think I slid one slider and it changed to that horrible HDR look that looks fake, so I changed it back and went on to LR for subtle edits.

[Judder Man]

Re: I can't not share my first real HDR shot

Yes it was Photomatix Pro 4.2 and it was my first time using it, so I guess i'm not familiar with how the settings change it so. I think I slid one slider and it changed to that horrible HDR look that looks fake, so I changed it back and went on to LR for subtle edits.

Try loading your bracketed photos again, don't move any sliders, just confirm the processing. If I can remember there are are 16 image presets in the first set is FUSION-DEFAULT select that one, export it to Photoshop. Then just darken the highlights slightly and you should get your shadows back. Fusion Default in Photomatix is a "very mild HDR" think they use to call it exposure blending. I use this method sometimes when there is a big difference in contrast and the camera struggles with the exposure.