Anybody using HDR?

[jbellis]

I started to post this in the image critique section , but decided against it because the pier is a big part of the picture. I'm experimenting with combining images to bring out more of the exposure range. This is three pictures with a range of +2 to -2 exposure. Do you think its over done, ie not realistic? It does appear more dramatic in the image than it did to my eye. Shots were taken before sunrise with exposures between 2 sec and 5 sec.

[jrosamond]

Hi Jim. I am experimenting with HDR also. I love your image. I do not think it is over done, but it really is a matter of personal taste. What application did you use to create the image?

[yellalablady]

It does appear a little over saturated for my tastes. Even with HDR, I feel it should look realistic. This being said, it's a great shot. I love the reflection in the water. I'd like to know what app. you used, too.

[jbellis]

The software is photmatrix pro 3. This image is a tad over saturated for me too, but it has that wow factor that made me want to share it; and find out if anyone else was trying it. The software also can do exposure blending that appears more realistic. Of course those with CS3 can do that without photmatrix.

[jrosamond]

I use Photomatix Pro 3 also. I just read last night that if you want a more realistic look, choose tone compressor instead of details enhancer in the tone mapping window. I haven't tried it yet myself, so I don't know how well it works.

[jckegley]

That is neat. Maybe a tad oversaturated, but I like it. I think the pier is an important piece in this photo.

I have no experience with HDR, I rarely take what I consider a good landscape...let alone 3 of the same scene.

[mark]

I think that the image is great. It is not over saturated, it has the typical east coast sunset/rise look and feel. If anything I think that I would have gone for longer exposures in your set to make the waves smoother over all. It really looks great and would sell in our gallery any day of the week!

[scott.foster]

Hi Jim,

I have begun to use Photomatix Pro. For some photographs, I really like the not-so-realistic result. I don’t believe your image fits the not-so-realistic category.

I like the image for several reasons.

I understand the focus of our group is nature; made-made structures/influence is to be kept to a minimum. However, I have always valued the contrast of nature and made-man structures. The cloud forms provide visual weight to the upper right of the image; it provides balance. The color is very nice; it’s not over-the-top in my option. Your image includes lines, form, color and texture to drive it to success.

Peace,
Scott

[mikebaker]

Jim,

For my tastes I don't think it's over saturated and I've seen that much color in skies many times. Overall I think it's a very pleasing image. The only issue for me is, I wish it didn't have the area of uneven sand (or whatever it is) on the right side at the waterline, that area draws my attention away from the main subject.

Good job.

[charliev]

Hi Jim
I've been using Photomatrix for a while now and I find it quite useful in some situations. I don't think the saturation in your post is off the scale considering the subject but I am disturbed by some of the artifacts that are caused by movement in the waves and the program's attempt to match up exposures.
One technique that I have found useful in the past is to shoot your best exposure, maybe cheating towards overexposure, shoot RAW and let Photomatrix convert that single exposure to HDR. You don't get quite the range of the multiple sxposures and you don't get the benefit of noise smoothing but the results can be unatainable any other way. You can give the resulting image a tweak in Photoshop to make things more realistic if need be.
Here's a snapshot of my wife made at the Dakota Badlands last month that was done that way. It may look over saturated but it was one of 'those days'.
Charlie

[jbellis]

Thanks everyone for your comments. Charlie, I'll give your suggestion a try, if I can make myself set up that early again.:D

[charliev]

I have that up early problem as well. I should mention that the technique that I outlined will sometimes (but not always) introduce some noise artifacts along the transitions of very high contrast edges. Generally, this is acceptable and can be managed if you look out for them. Here's a shot from Zion NP that shows a 100% with and without for comparison. If you look in the upper center of the left image you can see what I mean. The resolution limits of the forum make it a bit hard to see but ther're there. You can also see a general noise gain in the shadow areas.
On the whole the HDR still looks better than the other version anyway.
Charlie

[rriley]

Hi Charlie and Jim,

As a newbie to your forum I'll only add a couple of tricks that I just heard about. Instead of taking multiple AEB exposures and getting different wave patterns, I just tried taking a master raw shot into CS3, creating 3, 5, etc different files using the exposure change and then take these shots into Photomatix. Has worked pretty good when I was in a situation where I didn't have a tripod and couldn't hold the shot steady enough. Of course, that may be what Photomatix does on its own. I'll have to experiment.

Bob

[charliev]

Bob
I'm fairly sure that is what is being done in Photomatrix...Let us know what the results of your experiment are.
Charlie