New processing (for me)

[JMHPhotography]

I've been trying to achieve a certain look to my photos and I think I've finally hit my target. I don't plan to make this my everyday look, but it's a technique I was working on to add to my arsenal. I've also been working on HDRI. Here are two samples. The first is a fun picture of my daughter and this is NOT HDR... it's a single exposure. The second IS an HDRI and was created with 3 captures and at ISO 50.

Tell me what your thoughts are on these images:

Ashlee vs. static... static wins.
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4904/ashleesmallqz3.jpg

Old Blue
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2283/oldbluebqv7.jpg

[crn3371]

I love the pic of your daughter. The HDR image looks a little too over processed for my tastes.

[JMHPhotography]

:)I love the pic of your daughter. The HDR image looks a little too over processed for my tastes.


ok... by overprocessed, do you mean too fake? Or too much saturation? I'd love to know specifically so I can try doing something else to see if it helps. I'm really trying to perfect this HDR thing. Thanks for your feedback.

Now... the picture of my daughter. How would you describe the overall look and feel of the photo? Example... I think the color is vibrant and the overall feel to me is very 3D'ish or hyper-realistic. You say you like it... thank you for that. But what do you like about it? Can you also tell me anything that you do not like about it?


I think it's very dis-heartening that 75 people have viewed this thread and only one person commented. Please comment good or bad. I'm not fragile and you won't hurt my feelings. I want to sincerely find out where I'm hitting and where I'm missing and if nobody says anything, I learn nothing. It's been something that has been bothering me about this forum for quite some time. I know there are those who post up thinking they're the next Ansel Adams, and get offended by negative comments. But really... this is not me. I don't feel like I'm even the next Samual Adams.... ;) I've been here a while and I've never gotten offended by comments. Sure I like hearing that my pictures are good... but I know for a fact that even my best photos have SOMETHING wrong with it. Don't get me wrong... posting comments like "it sucks", "I don't like it", "not for me", or vague comments like this are equally non-helpful. Please comment and tell me what's right... tell me what's wrong.

[jesselee]

forkball, care to explain your technique for the first?

i can achieve this look but the lighting has to be right on. and i can't get it always. care to discuss your way?

[poloman]

I think the HDR image is oversaturated and just a little bit dark.
I was tempted to just say it sucked! :) :) :)

[prime80]

The image of your daughter looks very nice, but I don't see anything special about the processing. It looks a little over-saturated if anything, but not to the point of making it look bad. If that's what you're going for, I think you did a good job. The truck doesn't work for me. The HDR is a bit over-done for a photorealistic HDR look, but underdone for that overboard, cartoonish HDR look. I think it's more the subject matter than anything else. For that subject, I'd go farther into the cartoonish look and then pull back the saturation a bit. I just don't think it's a good candidate for a photo-realistic HDR. I think you're probably on to something technique-wise, I'd just like to see it applied to a more suitable image.

[crn3371]

I like how prime80 phrased it. For me,a good HDR shouldn't look fake. The brightwork on the truck and the foliage behind the truck are just starting to achieve that fake look to my eyes.

[JMHPhotography]

The image of your daughter looks very nice, but I don't see anything special about the processing. It looks a little over-saturated if anything, but not to the point of making it look bad. If that's what you're going for, I think you did a good job. The truck doesn't work for me. The HDR is a bit over-done for a photorealistic HDR look, but underdone for that overboard, cartoonish HDR look. I think it's more the subject matter than anything else. For that subject, I'd go farther into the cartoonish look and then pull back the saturation a bit. I just don't think it's a good candidate for a photo-realistic HDR. I think you're probably on to something technique-wise, I'd just like to see it applied to a more suitable image.


Perfect... just what I was looking for. I will have to try going into cartoonish with this one. I'm still getting used to Photomatix... I would just increase the effect intensity right? I find reducing the smoothing causes really bad halos and it just looks awful. As for the picture of my daughter... I should post up the un-processed version. Your opinions of it may not change, but you will definately see the results of the effects I used. I will post the side by side comparisons shortly.


I think the HDR image is oversaturated and just a little bit dark.

I was tempted to just say it sucked!

HAHA... you should have. I would have laughed. Would you agree with prime's thoughts?

[prime80]

Unfortunately, I haven't used Photomatix, so I'm not sure how you would do it. Keep trying different stuff...I like seeing experiments. :)

[JMHPhotography]

Here is the before and after pictures side by side for comparison. The look I guess I was going for was a hyper-realistic look. I wanted the image to have a great sense of depth... and the colors to jump out. Would you say success or fail, after seeing the two side by side now? Oh... and I forgot to fix the bra in the un-tweaked version... don't look there.

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8530/beforeafterkm9.jpg

forkball, care to explain your technique for the first?



i can achieve this look but the lighting has to be right on. and i can't get it always. care to discuss your way?

Ok.. as you can see now by the side by side... you have to start with an image that has good lighting off the bat. In terms of lighting, there isn't a lot of difference here. I used the late evening sun as my main light and I filled the shadow areas with my 580ex flash. To get the exposure right, and the color right, I used my expodisc in Av mode, aimed back from her to my shooting position to get the exposure reading. I snapped a frame for white balance, and set a custom whtie balance. The rest is processing. I converted with ACR into Photoshop, and then I used some filters, layers, and actions. Some of which I recorded myself. I have one that basically converts to LAB mode from RGB and I do some tweaks there to contrasts in the L channel, and I sharpen in the L channel. then I tweak the tones in the A and B channels. There's a lot more to it... and it would require a tutorial. When I have a few spare cycles, I'll try to do one if there is an interest.

[prime80]

For your chosen purpose, I'd say you succeeded nicely. Now get it printed on a metallic paper to really see it pop! :)

[DougHerrick]

I think you're on to something. I for one would love to see you're workflow!!!

[Zazoh]

I like the truck better than the other image. I like the original daughter pic, softer. Which does she like?

The truck is cool, I like the effect, but as you pointed out, not for every shot. I don't like the crop, I find I keep looking at the contraption in the front of the truck. I know you were just doing to test. I think you are on to something for those that like this effect.

[René Damkot]

Ok.. as you can see now by the side by side... you have to start with an image that has good lighting off the bat.

Edited image looks way better, mainly because you took care of (most) of the clipping on both ends of the red channel. Opens up the details in shirt and face better.
Color and contrast also better.

Always interested in other peoples workflow, so if you'll write a tutorial, I'll read it ;)

[chestercopperpot]

I'm going to be a voice of differentiation here - i actually like what you did with the truck picture. I don't think it looks overly ridiculous and i do think it has a very contrasty look to it. i dig it.

[JMHPhotography]

I like the truck better than the other image. I like the original daughter pic, softer. Which does she like?

The truck is cool, I like the effect, but as you pointed out, not for every shot. I don't like the crop, I find I keep looking at the contraption in the front of the truck. I know you were just doing to test. I think you are on to something for those that like this effect.

Thanks for the comments...

My daughter actually likes the after shot as does her mother. She likes the freckles being brought out. I can see liking the softer original though.

The truck is cool looking to me too, but I think the other opinions given here are absolutely valid and I see exactly what they mean. I'm still tweaking and refining the processes on both techniques. Oh.. .and the contraption is a snow plow... haha. ;)