2nd attempt at HDR

[philmony]

This is my second attempt with HDR - I like the feel that blue blue skies give a pic - so been waiting patiently here in Vancouver for any sign of a blue sky ... happened yesterday (briefly) ... this is down at on the Fraser river quite close to New West Quay - there is a small (funny) little road that allows one access to the waterfront (across a rail track) - I took a bunch of shots - but I like this one the best (3 exposures) ... what do you think??

Camera is Canon 40D, lens is my (new) 24-70 f2.8L (geez I love this baby), f2.8 at 70 mm

thanks
Phil

ps - I'm pretty new at this stuff - initially bought the camera to shoot quality pics of my kids playing hockey - but (through message boards like this one) have found a host of cool things to play with ... (and good advice on what equipment to add to the mix)

[LeuceDeuce]

There's quite a few Vancouver folks here.

As for your image it has potential, but you're not using enough of the tonal range available to you. There are no pixels with a luminance higher than 221. This limited tonal range is flattening your image, and not allowing for a nice contrast.

You don't have Image Editing OK on so I'll send you a version I did for you in a PM.

[Robert_Lay]

I will agree with LeuceDeuce about the tonal range, but I will acknowledge that the somewhat darker tonal range does set a mood.

Forgetting about the HDR origins and just considering the scene, I like it. Very nice image and deserves a well done.

I would prefer to have the too bright cloud at the left cropped out, because it brings too much unwanted attention to the left margin.

[joedlh]

I like it. I think the tonal range gives it a Currier & Ives look. It gives me a comfy feeling looking at it. The tree branches do look a little soft. Is this an artifact of the HDR or the lens?

[philmony]

Leuce Deuce ... thanks for sending your fixes ... I did have the tonal ranges way up at one point but reduced them to get a more surrealistic feel ... the reflection of the trees did not do too much for me - but I must say it does alter the mood of the pic ...

Robert_Lay ... the mood is what I was going for ... you nailed it ... and on looking at the pic again I agree that the cloud draws ones attention away ... here's it with it cropped out (good call)

Joedlh ... without knowing it (me, that is) it seems like I was going for the Currier & Ives look ... the softening on the trees is a result of the image compression to post it ... although the lens was wide open at f2.8 so it does look a bit soft even on the uncompressed.

Thank you all for your constructive and informative comments - it's what I need to learn more :)

phil

[Meaty0]

I love the image as such. Nice colours and composition.

Any reason for choosing f/2.8. I think that lens is a bit soft wide-open?

As you have found out, HDR tends to produce a decreased tonal range (a flat image). Levels adjustment should fix that.

Also, I'm assuming this is three separate exposures of the same image rather than three separate images. Reason: No movement in the water. If so...that was a good move. The blur in the water would have detracted from the image.

And just an observation: Notice the increased noise and haloing around the trees? That's an effect I commonly get when I try HDR. Anyone know how to prevent it?

[chauncey]

FYI

Using the "merge to HDR" function does not have to be limited to merging exposures.

Because my Photoshop abilities are rather limited, I have found that you can make a variety of alterations to your RAW images and use them in the "merge to HDR" process.

My image http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=455209 was done by altering exposures and black points and recoveries within the ACR image and "blending" them via "merge to HDR" to get the basis for my B&W conversion.

It seemed to have turned out OK.

PS-I'm finding that the haloing can be dealt with by judicious altering of each RAW image before merging, but it's trial and error with me.

[philmony]

I used Photomatix ... my PS capabilities are very limited ... one day I will probably get more learning of it done :)

I am pretty new to photography (and the equipment/tools) - I got my new 24-70L on the day that I took this shot - and I guess I get 'shootilitis' and try and take as many shots with varying settings as I can before the rest of my family says ... 'c'mon dad lets go' .... :evil: - but this particular one was the only one of this scene and I had the lens wide open :rolleyes: - and wouldn't you know it, it was the one I liked the most.

thanks for all your helpful comments -

phil