First attempts at HDR

[D4VE 3LL]

After getting my D80 just after Christmas I've decided to have a go at some HDR (High Dynamic Range)
and processing it in Photomatix pro 3.1. I know some people on here hate HDR but what I want to know is whether or not these are any good from you guys. I've had a few comments on flickr about them but just thought I'd share them with PH. Some say the border is destracting but I feel it enhances the colours. What do you think?

C+C please

Both were taken in Himley, Staffordshire.





Thanks,

Dave

[Mattt]

What did the 2nd look like originally?

[D4VE 3LL]

It's not on this laptop at the moment and it isn't on Flickr but it came from 3 different shots, one under exposed,one over exposed and one normal.

Will post one up later of the "normal" photo.

[Simpo Two]

I like number two but you could slice off a bit of foreground.

[dhutch]

Yeah, i like number two.
- First seams a little over saturated, buts it better than my first dealings with photomatrix.


Daniel

[GetCarter]

I quite like number two (though it needs straightening, unless the roofs really are at that angle)!

[Bernie-the-bolt]

Nice pics!

I quite like mucking about with HDR and had time to play on holiday over Christmas with some diferring results









This is my current favourite...



All of the above were three shots and hand held, processed using Photomatix.

Over the weekend I then had a play with a single 'normal' image, copied it three times upping the stop a couple of notches and reducing it by a couple of notches. I then processed it using Photomatix as I had the ones above and the results are as follows:

Before and 'normal'



Fake HDR

Edited by Bernie-the-bolt on Monday 5th January 12:40

[JimNotJon]

Nice pics! I always have problems with the final picture. Camera is always on ISO 80.. the 3 pictures are always nice and clear but putting them together I ALWAYS get an obscene amount of noise. Help?

[Bernie-the-bolt]

JimNotJon said:

Nice pics! I always have problems with the final picture. Camera is always on ISO 80.. the 3 pictures are always nice and clear but putting them together I ALWAYS get an obscene amount of noise. Help?

If needbe I use a noise reduction software to eliminate anything I don't like.

From memory these above are simply processed and then reduced in size to suit Flickr.

[GetCarter]

JimNotJon said:

Nice pics! I always have problems with the final picture. Camera is always on ISO 80.. the 3 pictures are always nice and clear but putting them together I ALWAYS get an obscene amount of noise. Help?

I assume you meant ISO 800 (not 80!). In which case why? On a D80 you need to set ISO to as low as possible - this will mean you don't get too much noise. 200 is OK, 400 is crap, 800 is dreadful (on a D80... right up to D2X)

[Bernie-the-bolt]

GetCarter said:

JimNotJon said:

Nice pics! I always have problems with the final picture. Camera is always on ISO 80.. the 3 pictures are always nice and clear but putting them together I ALWAYS get an obscene amount of noise. Help?

I assume you meant ISO 800 (not 80!). In which case why? On a D80 you need to set ISO to as low as possible - this will mean you don't get too much noise. 200 is OK, 400 is crap, 800 is dreadful (on a D80... right up to D2X)

Should have mentioned this as well....

My shots go no higher than 400, aside from the night shot which was 1600 (must have used noise software on that one....)

[baz7175]

JimNotJon said:

Nice pics! I always have problems with the final picture. Camera is always on ISO 80.. the 3 pictures are always nice and clear but putting them together I ALWAYS get an obscene amount of noise. Help?

When HDR'ing night images it's best to take a much wider spectrum of images - I typically shoot around 8 exposures of varying length's depending on the level of darkness I'm dealing with - normally ranging from sub-second exposures up to 30 seconds and then Bulb mode if required.

For instance, the shot below of the massive Drei Eck monument in Koblenz was with me standing in absolute darkness (I scared the crap out of 2 people walking past who didn't see me until they nearly tripped over me), the only lighting was the 6 lights being directed onto the monument itself.

This single HDR image is made up of 7 seperate long exposures all using 14mm, f/5, ISO-160 and then times of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 second(s).



In some cases even by shooting more RAW's you will still experience some noise, in which cases you then want to take one of your darker exposures shot and using a seperate layer in photoshop overlay the HDR image in the particularly noisy area to get rid of it, or at least quash it a little

Edited by baz7175 on Monday 5th January 15:50

[N10k]

baz7175 said:

JimNotJon said:

Nice pics! I always have problems with the final picture. Camera is always on ISO 80.. the 3 pictures are always nice and clear but putting them together I ALWAYS get an obscene amount of noise. Help?

When HDR'ing night images it's best to take a much wider spectrum of images - I typically shoot around 8 exposures of varying length's depending on the level of darkness I'm dealing with - normally ranging from sub-second exposures up to 30 seconds and then Bulb mode if required.

For instance, the shot below of the massive Drei Eck monument in Koblenz was with me standing in absolute darkness (I scared the crap out of 2 people walking past who didn't see me until they nearly tripped over me), the only lighting was the 6 lights being directed onto the monument itself.

This single HDR image is made up of 7 seperate long exposures all using 14mm, f/5, ISO-160 and then times of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 second(s).



In some cases even by shooting more RAW's you will still experience some noise, in which cases you then want to take one of your darker exposures shot and using a seperate layer in photoshop overlay the HDR image in the particularly noisy area to get rid of it, or at least quash it a little

Edited by baz7175 on Monday 5th January 15:50

Did you use a tripod?
It looks fantastic!

[baz7175]

N10k said:

Did you use a tripod?
It looks fantastic!

Anyone who can stand with a camera in hand and not shake for even 5 seconds deserves a medal, being able to shoot 7 or so exposures varying from 1 to 30 seconds and not shake isn't something I refer to as reality

Short answer:- Yes, a tripod was used