Subtle HDR for Real Estate

[mattograph]

3 shot blend at 1 1/2 stop increments. Goal was to bring the front door out of the shadows. Pulled thru latest version of Photomatix to CS4, where I still dodged the door a bit.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/3763610035_f5cb8ba302_b.jpg

I know, the mailbox has to go. :)

[MikeFairbanks]

The mailbox would be fine except that it's cut off. I'd leave it. That's too many areas to cut and paste.

[mattograph]

The customer is gonna make me lose the mailbox -- its for a newspaper ad. Cloning the box is part of the assignment.

I asked if they'd let me pull it out of the ground, but they said no. :)

[MikeFairbanks]

I think the mailbox is going to be hard to remove because you'll have to replace the background somehow.

[kirkt]

Very nice work, under very challenging sunlight. I thought I'd give it just a tiny boost, hope you don;t mind.

Kirk

[canonnoob]

see i dont like ^^^ too processed... he wanted it to be subtle.. there is no way that is subtle.. it doesnt look real at this point..

[mattograph]

Actually, I kind of like what kirkt did. I think mine is a little flat. My challenge is that, when they use this in newsprint, the process tends to saturate some of the midtones a bit. If this were just for the web, I would go with something more along the lines of kirks look, I think. But newsprint -- I feel sorry for photojournalists. It must suck to have your perfectly good pictures ruined every day!!! :)

[mattograph]

I think the mailbox is going to be hard to remove because you'll have to replace the background somehow.

It's not a five minute job, for sure. But they're paying for it! :)

[René Damkot]

Neither are "subtle" IMO.

As for removing the mailbox: The smart thing to do in a case like that is:
Shoot the image
Take a step (or two) to the left
Shoot another image

That way you at least have the "information" that is behind the mailbox. Lot easier to transform that second shot to get it to (sort of) fit, then to "hand draw" a new background by cloning and such. ;)

In that case it is a five minute job (but the customer doesn't need to know that ;))

[mattograph]

Neither are "subtle" IMO.

Expound?

As for removing the mailbox: The smart thing to do in a case like that is:
Shoot the image
Take a step (or two) to the left
Shoot another imageThat way you at least have the "information" that is behind the mailbox. Lot easier to transform that second shot to get it to (sort of) fit, then to "hand draw" a new background by cloning and such. ;)

In that case it is a five minute job (but the customer doesn't need to know that ;))

I have that shot..... I'm just slow! :)

[René Damkot]

Expound?

"A bit overdone", "Painterish", "too much" ;)

[digirebelva]

"A bit overdone", "Painterish", "too much" ;)

I just think it looks a bit flat...but as the OP said in newsprint..this might not even matter much

[kirkt]

I'm just stirring the pot a little.... :)

I have no concept of the effect of printing on newsprint, so take the edits for what they are worth - the observation about the final output for the intended medium is a great one though. On this forum, I find making too subtle adjustments is of limited use, typically, as one may not be able to appreciate what was done without a long boring explanation- if subtlety is the end goal, then this doesn't work. However, I tend to go a bit exaggerated on this forum so that the differences are more noticeable. The original appears slightly flat, with a "grayish" film, for lack of a better term, across the image. It could use a little more pop. Mattograph got the gist, which was my point. I don;t think the original looks overcooked at all, especially considering the light in which the shot was taken. However, what the client thinks takes precedence over what I think.

This is another experiment worth doing for anyone interested in HDR and exposure blending. I have had to shoot images in harsh bright sunlight with no flash or reflectors and have purposely planned the shots with blending in mind because of the heavy shadows and blown out highlights that invariably crop up under these conditions. I think Mattograph did a nice job of methodically addressing these issues, particularly with the door, which is a nice element on the front of the house.

kirk

[mattograph]

"A bit overdone", "Painterish", "too much" ;)

I love the quotes!

I am beginning to feel that way about the sky.

[pennypue]

I keep wanting to see more of the front door. But then you'd end up with the mailbox.
If they won't let you pull it out, can you back over it? :D

Seriously, the front door is so important for selling a "home". They need to pull out the box and have more of the door in the pic.

The blinds in the far right window should be set the same. One side is tilted open the other closed.

From the standpoint of a former agent, those are my two concerns.

[mattograph]

Backstory -- Apparently my client has permission to use the house for the ad, but the owner said he "wasn't going to go to any trouble to get it ready." I was under strict instructions not to bother the homeowner.

To make it more fun, just out of frame camera right was a backhoe!

I Love New Construction.

[pennypue]

Backstory -- Apparently my client has permission to use the house for the ad, but the owner said he "wasn't going to go to any trouble to get it ready." I was under strict instructions not to bother the homeowner.

To make it more fun, just out of frame camera right was a backhoe!

I Love New Construction.
Bummer. At least you're not shooting the house my ex and I lived in a few years back. We had a toilet in the backyard for nearly a year and an old washing machine in front of the garage for four months. It worked when it was put there.

Now you know why he's an ex. :)

For zero homeowner cooperation it looks pretty darn good!!

[mattograph]

For all I know..... the homeowner doesn't even know!

[EvanRocksTheCanon]

i have a suggestion for you. look up a magazine called Dream Magazine. its a real estate magazine that uses a lot of hdr. its an amazing magazine and i'm in love with it. i suggest you check it out. its a good starting point to figure out whats appropriate but also remember most of the homes are expensive so that might play into the use of hdr
http://www.dreamhomesmagazine.com/

[mattograph]

i have a suggestion for you. look up a magazine called Dream Magazine. its a real estate magazine that uses a lot of hdr. its an amazing magazine and i'm in love with it. i suggest you check it out. its a good starting point to figure out whats appropriate but also remember most of the homes are expensive so that might play into the use of hdr
http://www.dreamhomesmagazine.com/

That is an amazing link.... thank you!

And, here is the final that went to the client -- sans mailbox.....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/3868476029_2008689728_b.jpg

[I26]

I do like it but more front door in view would be better IMO.

[MikeFairbanks]

Looks great. I like it.

But how are they going to receive mail? You stole their mailbox. ;)

[mattograph]

Looks great. I like it.

But how are they going to receive mail? You stole their mailbox. ;)

Oh, geez..... that's a federal offense too!

[Michaelmjc]

Hurts my eyes, looks good though. The grass looks kinda funny where you cloned it.

[fly my pretties]

I think the main issue with this image is how flat it looks. The house has no depth.

[msclman99]

that's a cool looking house.

[mattograph]

I think the main issue with this image is how flat it looks. The house has no depth.

hmmm.......tell me more.

[KenVP]

Actually, I kind of like what kirkt did. I think mine is a little flat. My challenge is that, when they use this in newsprint, the process tends to saturate some of the midtones a bit. If this were just for the web, I would go with something more along the lines of kirks look, I think. But newsprint -- I feel sorry for photojournalists. It must suck to have your perfectly good pictures ruined every day!!! :)



I second that, sucks when they buy my shots only to print it b&w and loose what you worked so hard to capture. But moneys, money:D

[shutterbugcrazy]

How about a slight desaturation??
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6001/38684760292008689728b.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/i/38684760292008689728b.jpg/)

[mattograph]

The colors are a little oversaturated in mine -- but thats what the client wants for newsprint. Thats what the photo is destined for.