First try at HDR photo

10megapixel · 31st of December 2008 (Wed)

I wanted to give this a shot in CS3 and here is my first attempt at a HDR image...

Before...

After...

JuiceBox · 31st of December 2008 (Wed)

It's a bit soft; it needs some unsharp mask. I'm glad to see you didn't overdo the HDR as most people do their first time.

Robert_Lay · 31st of December 2008 (Wed)

The "before" shot is not an image with too much dynamic range - it's simply over-exposed - that's all.

The HDR processing (the "after" picture) has increased the contrast, changed the black point setting and also lowered the values of the highlights without recovering any detail in the burned out highlights.

In that sense, I would say that as an HDR process it was a failure. The same thing could have been done with simpler tools. Shooting RAW would have allowed you to be more effective with simpler processing in a RAW processor.

10megapixel · 31st of December 2008 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert_Lay

The "before" shot is not an image with too much dynamic range - it's simply over-exposed - that's all.

The HDR processing (the "after" picture) has increased the contrast, changed the black point setting and also lowered the values of the highlights without recovering any detail in the burned out highlights.

In that sense, I would say that as an HDR process it was a failure. The same thing could have been done with simpler tools. Shooting RAW would have allowed you to be more effective with simpler processing in a RAW processor.

The first image is actually the 3 combined RAW images after merge to HDR ( I know it was rather light, I have no idea why) as it looked in PS before I started tweaking on it. I'm not sure what you mean by shooting RAW...all the shots were shot in RAW. Any input is greatly appreciated!

Robert_Lay · 1st of January 2009 (Thu)

OK, I will take you at your word. So, in the "before" image one would expect that the black point and white point would be set properly. In fact, the image is severely overexposed (22646 pixels are at value 255 - pure white). Furthermore, there are no pixels lying in the range 0 - 26.

In other words, none of the major exposure defects have been corrected. The image is still overexposed in the highlights, and the shadows do not incorporate any values less than 26 (dark grey).

These are the very points that should be addressed and resolved in the HDR processing - to get the black point and the white point set as closely as possible to where you want them. To try to correct those in Photoshop instead of during HDR processing is exactly backwards. The only processing that should be left until after the HDR processing is completed is the final choices of bit depth and format (e.g., 8 bit jpeg).

10megapixel · 1st of January 2009 (Thu)

Thanks Bob. I'll give it another shot...

RbnDave · 1st of January 2009 (Thu)

I think it's a good HDR image. You got everything to look realistic and didn't give it the classic nuclear waste over saturated look. The clouds are going to look soft because I am sure they moved between exposures.

As for the overall composition -- I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish with this photo. Is this a golf course? You backyard? Or just a HRD practice shot?

Robert_Lay · 1st of January 2009 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10megapixel

Thanks Bob. I'll give it another shot...

*************HDR***************
Step-by-step Tutorial on "Merge to HDR"
Now available at the following Web site:
http://www.zaffora.com/W9DMK/UsingHDR.htm
or as a downloadable PDF:
http://www.zaffora.com/W9DMK/UsingHDR.pdf

Here's a link to an example of how a Merge to HDR should work:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...&highlight=HDR

10megapixel · 1st of January 2009 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by RbnDave

I think it's a good HDR image. You got everything to look realistic and didn't give it the classic nuclear waste over saturated look. The clouds are going to look soft because I am sure they moved between exposures.

As for the overall composition -- I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish with this photo. Is this a golf course? You backyard? Or just a HRD practice shot?

Just a practice shot

10megapixel · 1st of January 2009 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert_Lay

*************HDR***************
Step-by-step Tutorial on "Merge to HDR"
Now available at the following Web site:
http://www.zaffora.com/W9DMK/UsingHDR.htm
or as a downloadable PDF:
http://www.zaffora.com/W9DMK/UsingHDR.pdf

Here's a link to an example of how a Merge to HDR should work:http://photography-on-the.netforum/showthread.php?t=287931&ghlight=HDR

Thanks again Bob. Your right, I completely posted the wrong "before pic". Your detailed information on HDR you linked me to above is fantastic....thanks.

31st of December 2008 (Wed)	#1
10megapixel "I'm a little slow" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ……Surrounded by Corn and Rednecks in Indiana Posts: 3,864 IMAGE EDITING OK	First try at HDR photo I wanted to give this a shot in CS3 and here is my first attempt at a HDR image... Before... After... __________________ Gear List & Feedback

31st of December 2008 (Wed)	#2
JuiceBox Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 495 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: First try at HDR photo It's a bit soft; it needs some unsharp mask. I'm glad to see you didn't overdo the HDR as most people do their first time. __________________ Nikon D50 -- Nikkor 24mm F/2.8 -- Nikkor 28-80mm F/3.3-5.6 -- Nikkor 135mm F/2.8 -- Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Flickr If I come off as rude, don't take it personally. I strongly believe in harsh criticism; sugar coating things does not help one improve. Darker Qorners

31st of December 2008 (Wed)	#3
Robert_Lay Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spotsylvania Co., VA Posts: 7,546	Re: First try at HDR photo The "before" shot is not an image with too much dynamic range - it's simply over-exposed - that's all. The HDR processing (the "after" picture) has increased the contrast, changed the black point setting and also lowered the values of the highlights without recovering any detail in the burned out highlights. In that sense, I would say that as an HDR process it was a failure. The same thing could have been done with simpler tools. Shooting RAW would have allowed you to be more effective with simpler processing in a RAW processor. __________________ Bob Quality of Light, Photo Tool ver 2.0 Canon Rebel XTi; EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-f/5.6 USM; EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-f/5.6; EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM; EF 50mm f/1.4 USM; Canon Powershot G5; Canon AE1(2); Leica R4s; Battery Grip BG-E3; Pentax Digital Spotmeter with Zone VI Mod & Calibration.

1st of January 2009 (Thu)	#5
Robert_Lay Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spotsylvania Co., VA Posts: 7,546	Re: First try at HDR photo OK, I will take you at your word. So, in the "before" image one would expect that the black point and white point would be set properly. In fact, the image is severely overexposed (22646 pixels are at value 255 - pure white). Furthermore, there are no pixels lying in the range 0 - 26. In other words, none of the major exposure defects have been corrected. The image is still overexposed in the highlights, and the shadows do not incorporate any values less than 26 (dark grey). These are the very points that should be addressed and resolved in the HDR processing - to get the black point and the white point set as closely as possible to where you want them. To try to correct those in Photoshop instead of during HDR processing is exactly backwards. The only processing that should be left until after the HDR processing is completed is the final choices of bit depth and format (e.g., 8 bit jpeg). __________________ Bob Quality of Light, Photo Tool ver 2.0 Canon Rebel XTi; EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-f/5.6 USM; EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-f/5.6; EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM; EF 50mm f/1.4 USM; Canon Powershot G5; Canon AE1(2); Leica R4s; Battery Grip BG-E3; Pentax Digital Spotmeter with Zone VI Mod & Calibration. Last edited by Robert_Lay : 1st of January 2009 (Thu) at 10:32.

1st of January 2009 (Thu)	#6
10megapixel "I'm a little slow" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ……Surrounded by Corn and Rednecks in Indiana Posts: 3,864 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: First try at HDR photo Thanks Bob. I'll give it another shot... __________________ Gear List & Feedback

1st of January 2009 (Thu)	#7
RbnDave Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 1,067	Re: First try at HDR photo I think it's a good HDR image. You got everything to look realistic and didn't give it the classic nuclear waste over saturated look. The clouds are going to look soft because I am sure they moved between exposures. As for the overall composition -- I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish with this photo. Is this a golf course? You backyard? Or just a HRD practice shot? __________________ San Francisco Bay Area Photographer -- My Photo Blog -- Free Photography Lessons -- Twitter

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