The Duck Pond

[adam*]

Hi,

Here are two shots I took today whilst trying out my new tripod and to a lesser extent my new battery grip. As I guess you can tell these images are 'tone-mapped' using photomatix, a program I have only just started using tonight so please be as critical as you like in regards to the photo- if it's over-processed tell me. I'm still unsure about this whole process (I really do need to learn about using layers, layer masks etc to do it properly) but it can produce some pleasing results.

Hope some of you will like.

Adam

[Tsmith]

Looks pretty good for first attempt adam* _ I prefer the second one best as in the first the tress are slightly over processed with the mapping. Also I'd bump up the color saturation in Photomatix plus add a tad more sharpening but not much for the reduced web size.

[adam*]

Cheers bluedog_xt.

On the first I played with the black point I think it is and I wasn't sure whether it improved or took away from the photo, at least I know now for the future. Thanks alot for the tips, i'll have a second go at processing these tommorow.

[KYBOB]

I like the composition of the first one better. It is simpler with fewer distractions. However, I would get rid of tha little stick that sticking up out of the water. It really catches my eye. Picky, picky, picky :-)

[JMAS]

I çike the second one speacily, though they have the problem I always find in my temptatives with HDR with or without tone mapping: lack of local contrast.

But I think you might be able to add it in PS for instance by doing a USM 20;60;9 (to the original) .

[adam*]

Cheers guys, i'll go and have another go now taking into consideration all those things you've suggested.

[Dimitri_V]

I wish i could help you here Adam,this is all new area to me also.
Old style myself you see.

[adam*]

Yeah I wish you could dimitri :p

Wish I could afford some ND grads too!

[calicokat]

Beautiful shots, I like the second one alot, nice work

[adam*]

Right, here are my reworked edits. Let me all know what you think about these.

edit: one thing i've already noticed on this monitor is the haloing around the trees on the right in the 2nd, is this possible to remove or just a byproduct of techniques like tonemapping.

[Elisabeth-Ann]

Wow, I like the re-done ones - colour is much improved. The first one I like best for composition, glad you got rid of the little stick!

[adam*]

Thanks elisabeth, I was merely trying to improve them taking into account all the critique offered here. I also much prefer these versions, i'm just unsure about whether people will think that they are over-processed.

[adam*]

No more critique for the re-posted shots? I'm just trying to get a feel for what is about 'right' with these HDR/tone-mapped photos.

edit: Does anybody have some links to good tutorials on using layer masks to blend differently exposed images. (So that I can try learning to do this the normal way!?)

[JMAS]

The re-dones are great. I don't know how you can avoid the hallowing, besides carefuly cloning, which would be very difficult.

[adam*]

Cheers Jaime. I considered cloning too but I think it would be way too difficult for me.

[tlc]

so i feel the obvious question here is: where are the ducks?

[adam*]

Hehe, yeah I thought that too. I couldn't see any that day and I was desperately searching for a title :p

[adam*]

Here is my effort at removing the halo's on #4.