Trying Out HDR - How Am I Doing?

[yankees368]

I'm just getting in to trying out HDR on my camera recently. I'm a little handicapped in that photoshop will not accept RAW images right now, so I have to work HDR in jpg only. How does this look?

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac1/yankees368/hdr.jpg

[wunaladreamin]

Since you want critique on the HDR, I'll leave the composition out of it. The image is over cooked in the tone mapping (see halos) and really just looks off in general. Most people's first attempts at HDR produce less than desirable results (mine did too), but keep at it and you'll see improvement for sure. What program are you using to generate HDR images?

[gonzalu]

Check out "Stuck In Customs" for some very nice tutorials from someone who is pretty good at it :-)

[DWaviation]

I will also try it..

http://www.dwaviation.de/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_9495-e1338870105658.jpg

http://www.dwaviation.de/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/HDR_capitol-e1338870077304.jpg

What do you think?

[yankees368]

Since you want critique on the HDR, I'll leave the composition out of it. The image is over cooked in the tone mapping (see halos) and really just looks off in general. Most people's first attempts at HDR produce less than desirable results (mine did too), but keep at it and you'll see improvement for sure. What program are you using to generate HDR images?

Thanks for the critique. Right now, I'm using Photoshop CS5 (which I can't get to accept RAW files- plug issue) and really just sliding sliders around. I need to take a lesson. Thanks!

[moose135]

I need to take a lesson.
Paging Dr. Miller...

[wunaladreamin]

Try using a program called Photomatix or one called Dynamic Photo HDR. I use the latter and find it easier to use with the desired results, but either one will definitely work a lot better than PS. One thing to notice is your halos around trees and buildings. When halos appear, you've gone a little overboard with tone mapping.

[wunaladreamin]

Dennis, the Washington monument is gorgeous!

[yankees368]

Try using a program called Photomatix or one called Dynamic Photo HDR. I use the latter and find it easier to use with the desired results, but either one will definitely work a lot better than PS. One thing to notice is your halos around trees and buildings. When halos appear, you've gone a little overboard with tone mapping.

Yea, Eric told me that he uses Photomatix. I will have to look in to getting a copy, but that might have to wait a while. It's a shame that Lightroom can't do it natively.
I did go a little nuts with the tone mapping, so next time I will tone it down.

[wunaladreamin]

You can try a trial version of it which will watermark the hell out of your finished product. As I said, look also into Dynamic Photo. It's much cheaper and easier to use with more options. Cameron from Stuck In Customs is a good person to look at, also go to Flickr and look up Kris Kros. Joe taught me everything I know about HDR and he's a good guy as well. His work is genius.

[yankees368]

Will do!

[eric8669]

Check out "Stuck In Customs" for some very nice tutorials from someone who is pretty good at it :-)


yes, go there. TREY is the man when it comes to HDR. I've been following him for some time, Lots of great tips.

[wunaladreamin]

Trey Radcliffe! Eric I stand corrected!

[gonzalu]

Like I said, Trey is da man... I bought a few of his video tutorials and can't wait to attend one of his live seminars... he comes to NY once in a while.. although now that he is moving to New Zealand, we will never see him :tongue:

[lijk604]

A few quick words of advice to both of you on your HDR's....

1) Just because the strength meter goes to 100% doesn't mean you have to go there. Lowering the strength will help curb the halo's.
2) Tonemapping with Photomatix, by nature, enhances the blue's/purple's in the images. Not sure about the other programs, but you can see that in Dennis's clouds in the monument photo.
3) After you tonemap a photo, bring it back into LR or PS and adjust the color saturation. Usually you have to lower it by at least 10-15%
4) Practice, practice, practice!

These words are not meant to be mean to you guys. Like Kenny said, we all started somewhere, and I know my first HDR's were kind of ghastly compared to what I can produce now. Secondly, but probably MOST important of all...make sure you get the "0" exposure as close to perfect as possible for the main area of your subject. If that exposure on your main subject is too light or too dark, your HDR will look okay, but never, just the way you want it to be.

Either of you guys want to talk about it off-line, PM me and I'd be happy to offer advice/suggestions.

[yankees368]

Thanks for the advice. No need to worry about your comments, I posted here to get criticism :-)

[gonzalu]

Actually with HDR there is no right / wrong and simply taste. If you like it, who cares what other's think? Only seek to get advice to achieve a particular look, not the other way around. Your own creativity and taste is what you should be after. That should be paramount.

You will know that every HDR pro likes to say that after years of "overdoing it" the one thing that almost anyone who has done it for a while wants to achieve is the "as close to natural" as possible ... to me in HDR, the one thing that will NEVER be is a natural look to an HDR LOL. However, almost everyone agrees that halos never look good so that's my current challenge which is to get rid of halos and still have the wild HDR look.

I also use HDR to enhance shadow detail when I screw up the picture or when conditions are such that you have to compromise some part of the scene due to Dynamic Range being off the scale for your capture medium.

[NickPeterman]

Alright, time for some HDR critiques. I really have no eye for "good" HDR, but I like the look with night shots.


Any input?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7094/7158838645_614834ac35_b.jpg

[lijk604]

Nick, for me you nailed this one. You were able to capture detail in the shadows while not blowing out the lights inside the terminal. Well done!

I could not have gotten all this detail without HDR
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3517/3841454872_cf3fca44c4_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnklos/3841454872/)
Grand Central HDR (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnklos/3841454872/) by lijk604 (http://www.flickr.com/people/johnklos/), on Flickr

[NickPeterman]

Thank you! That is a fantastic shot you have there!

Here is one with an airplane for a subject :biggrin:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7346778890_884e3fa9c2_b.jpg

[Vinny Ohare]

I am also getting into HDR and I do the CS5 photoshop thing and see lousy results. I want to get the photomix hdr program and see there are always coupons for it. Just haven't had the time. I agree with others that Trey's stuff is amazing. I follow him on Google+

[yankees368]

Tried again tonight, used a bit less of everything. What do you all think?

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac1/yankees368/DSC_1085-Edit.jpg

[wunaladreamin]

It's an improvement but still a bit flat. TRY PHOTOMATIX!!!

[yankees368]

I want to, but $$$. Lol. When I scrape the money together, I will pick it up.

[wunaladreamin]

I say that because I honestly do not think photoshop is capable of giving you the results you're looking for. The lake scene is a very nice shot!

[yankees368]

Yea, I'm going to have to agree with you. Photoshop does not seem to be able to get that "pop" I'm trying to get. Time to start saving some money. Good thing I don't have to go very far to get to this lake!

[lijk604]

Do you know that you can Tonemap in Photoshop, and then after hitting ok, you CAN process again?
Depending on the shot a second pass with slightly lighter settings could help.
I think this is a much better HDR than your first try.
One thing you might try is bringing one of your original files in and making a layer from it.
Then mask in some areas to either lighten or darken where appropriate.
Keep it up, it can be addicting though.

[wunaladreamin]

Jason, as I've said before, google Dynamic Photo HDR. It's simpler to use, offers more options than Photomatix, and is about half the price.

[steve1840]

Jason, as I've said before, google Dynamic Photo HDR. It's simpler to use, offers more options than Photomatix, and is about half the price.

I actually googled it a couple weeks ago and found Dynamic for free... :smile:

[DWaviation]

First try with my new D300
http://www.dwaviation.de/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_6852And7more_tonemapped.jpg

[DWaviation]

I was trying today again to make some HDR with Photomatix but i have a problem..


After i imported the pictures (6) i get a nice and good HDR shot..
http://www.dwaviation.de/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bildschirmfoto-2012-06-18-um-17.49.341.png
After hit the Process button without changing anything i get this image.. Its blurry and unsharp but the picture before is perfect..
http://www.dwaviation.de/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bildschirmfoto-2012-06-18-um-17.50.191.png

What am i doing wrong?

(copy the picture url to watch it on my site there can you see it better.. the massage board croped it down)

[yankees368]

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac1/yankees368/HDR/DSC_1049_50_51_tonemapped-1.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac1/yankees368/HDR/DSC_1000_1_2_tonemapped-1.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac1/yankees368/HDR/DSC_1055_6_7_tonemapped-1.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac1/yankees368/HDR/DSC_1085_6_7_tonemapped-1.jpg

Not HDR, but I still like it :-)
http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac1/yankees368/HDR/DSC_1096-1.jpg

[wunaladreamin]

Dennis, I think you have an alignment issue when stacking. I don't know how to correct that in Photomatix as I use a different program, but my money would be on that.

[gonzalu]

Nah, Kenny, his problem is he is using a Mac :tongue:

...kidding...kidding...

Dennis, listen to uncle Kenny. However, I bet you have aligned the images in Photomatix before you process (on import dialog, there are a few boxes that let you align and remove ghosting etc.)

I almost NEVER use the align feature as I am sure I have a rock solid platform when I shoot the brackets and I am anal abotu making sure the rig does NOT move between frames.

If that is not the problem, then check to make sure your strength is not too high or micro-contrast is too low. Those can cause ghosting (see Jason's examples) and make it look like it is blurry.

Do this:

Take each slider and move it to each extreme and go back and forth back and forth between extremes. Then go to the center of each slider and see the results. Keep doing this over and over until you find a good result you like.

Finally, if you're really desperate, I have Photomatix Pro for Mac and Windows and I can try it on your images to see if I notice any problems with the originals or your workflow. My e-mail is in my profile or you can PM me or contact me via my websites... or whatever :-)

[wunaladreamin]

Well, the ghosting in Jason's sunset cruise ship frame really isn't due to sliders as much as it's due to the ship moving and him shooting braketed shots rather than one RAW. Photomatix has a ghosting fix as well I hope? Because it really is a nice frame.

[gonzalu]

I know... my tips were for Dennis anyhow... I see Jason's ghost ship and of course you're right... but I should have said halos and not ghosts when referring to the sliders.

[wunaladreamin]

Next time you get the iron maiden.

[gonzalu]

Yeah... yeah, whatever, always promising cool stuff and never delivering... You A380 lovah! :tongue:

[wunaladreamin]

THAT'S IT!!! Next time out spotting, I will bring anti-frizz spray and you will have hair like Rapunzel!!!

[yankees368]

Lolol

[gonzalu]

Jason, ever been caught between a Kenny Full Moon and a Mike "I Am With Stupid" T-Shirt? It is PRICELESS!!! Especially if everyone already [there] gets a picture of it :tongue:

[yankees368]

I can't say that I've had that pleasure :redface:

[lijk604]

You don't know what you are missing. I always have a good time spotting with members of this group, but when Kenny & Mike are there...lets just say my sides hurt from all the laughing.

[wunaladreamin]

Manny, let's get the facts right here lol. The shirt said "He likes it in the @$$" and it was pointing at you. I have photographic proof lol!

Jason, I am about 20 mins east of you so if you ever want to go shooting for HDR or anything shoot me a pm or unblock me on twitter lol ;) and hit me up! I can perhaps share some tips and all with you man.