City Hall - HDR

[<AkulA>]

I've been trying out HDR lately, but handholding makes it pretty hard - I was pretty satisfied with this one though. This kind of technique is pretty interesting! I know some people don't like the halo effect around buildings, but this one was kinda neat - in the first, it makes it seem glowing and pretty, and on the black and white version, its kind of dreary and ominous!

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/3406/cityhallhdr2800pixcs0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8877/cityhallhdrbw800pixvl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[azpix]

of the 2, the bw is better.

You said it was handheld so I am using you didn't use multiple exposures?

[sugarzebra]

Another vote for the B&W.

[<AkulA>]

It was pretty bright out, so I was able to do a bracketed shot in high speed shooting mode. They lined up pretty well I'd say for not using a tripod. I lean towards the B&W one myself also - thanks for the comments guys!

[kato1]

Love the B+W

[Jonny]

Love it

[chainz]

I also think the B + W version is better, Good job.

[JDubya]

if you don't mind me asking, which HDR technique did you use, just the standard Photomatix conversion?

That B&W version is really cool.

[DJCRAZYACE]

i like the second one, its really nice looking.

[<AkulA>]

Yea Jdubya, just the regular Photomatix - then curves, and channel mixer in Photoshop.

[grphx]

I'm one of those people who doesn't like the halo effect, but it might have helped the B&W one.

[nburwell]

You have to watch out for the halos around the top of the building. It stands out way too much. I definitely would vote for the b&w.

[calicokat]

I like #2 best as well, nice work

[Miyagi-san]

#2 is awesome...I really wish the vehicles weren't there though :)

[<AkulA>]

#2 is awesome...I really wish the vehicles weren't there though :)

yea, my girlfriend says the same thing - I'll have to head back there sometime when theres nobody working - probably a Sunday...

[ZJChaser]

I love that b&w shot. I've got to try some HDR like that. loots great.

[imadethis]

I too like the B&W shot over the color. The b&w is very dramatic and has a ghostly feel to it--it reminds me of a lone haunted house on the top of a hill. On the other hand, I believe the color photo might look better if you desaturated it.

I am impressed that you actually hand held these HDR shots. Steady hand you got there!

[Lonnie]

I like them both, but the b&w slightly better. Agree that you should do this again when there are no cars parked there. Really cool effect of a neat building. Great work.

[<AkulA>]

Thanks to everybody for the great comments and CC - I've done a rework of the color image, making it less saturated and less "artsy" for lack of a better word. I do still agree tho, the b&w one just has something that these color ones don't!

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3143/generatedhdrtonemappedbxw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ZJChaser]

That looks a lot better to me than the first color one. While I like the over saturated look in a sureal kinda way it just seemed abit much. This one is a nice solid shot.

[ZJChaser]

was the b&w shot in b&w white on the camera, converted before the HDR, or converted after?

[<AkulA>]

It was converted in CS2 after the HDR conversion. I really like HDR black and whites - I'm thinking of trying it a lot more often, as I suck at converting regular photos to black and white, LoL!

[NukeGM]

#2 for me also. good shot.

[ALMARZOUQI]

2 is veery nice >>

[<AkulA>]

Hehe, thanks! I thought this thread was dead and gone! LoL