A thread for real estate, architectural, and interior design photography

The color shifts happen because HDR programs don't process images based on a definitive reference but rather based on the readings of the the batch of images. Since the data from batch to batch will always be different you get varied results. The more you push the HDR program the great the variations. How you shoot plays a big part too. I've shot countless HDRs, not only real estate, that my shooting is very consistent and helps reduce the amount of variation from HDR to HDR. This allows me to batch process and use many presets to drastically reduce image processing time.

If you get consistent you can make many types of action scripts in photoshop. For instance, the HDR + Flash and dup flash layer technique is one click for me once I have the HDR and flash exposure opened in PS. Then a few tweaks and save.

The power of action scripts and presets are unlimited. Don't over look them!

Here's something fun and different that I shot today.

Commercial shot for the Julia Dean Photo Workshops. This is the studio in the middle of the building where they teach studio lighting workshops. I shot the whole thing but this is my favorite shot from it.

Six Dynalite heads triggered via Pocketwizard. Two bounced behind me off 10-foot bounce cards, four acting as pseudo-studio lights for the pretend teaching/modeling sessions we had going on.

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That's cool Mike. Love the dog!

TheReal7 wrote in post #13781623
The color shifts happen because HDR programs don't process images based on a definitive reference but rather based on the readings of the the batch of images. Since the data from batch to batch will always be different you get varied results. The more you push the HDR program the great the variations. How you shoot plays a big part too. I've shot countless HDRs, not only real estate, that my shooting is very consistent and helps reduce the amount of variation from HDR to HDR. This allows me to batch process and use many presets to drastically reduce image processing time.

If you get consistent you can make many types of action scripts in photoshop. For instance, the HDR + Flash and dup flash layer technique is one click for me once I have the HDR and flash exposure opened in PS. Then a few tweaks and save.

The power of action scripts and presets are unlimited. Don't over look them!

Action scripts keep me sane!!!

Until I learned how to create and use them I spend so much time in PS. Now, I can open dozens of photos from the day, and do a batch process that applies my standard edits, saves, and closes each one. I open the batch, click the Action, then work on something else. It makes life so much easier.

Just like Scott, I have different Actions for different things. I have one for interior shots, one for exterior shots, one for this and one for that. It really saves time once you get a consistent workflow in place.

Also, just like Scott, I have found that when I shoot my HDR in a consistent manner I get consistent results. I do not vary from my method very much. The results allow me to spend less time 'fixing' things.

The more you shoot HDR the more you will realize what the results will be before you even push the shutter button based on what you are shooting, the light, the DR, etc. It takes time to get there but it will happen with enough practice.

Question:

What are the best settings for architectural photography on the 5D MkII ?

I use the green box.

mikekelley wrote in post #13787133
I use the green box.

...you're kidding me right ?

I was asking about custom functions (C.Fn)

annietex wrote in post #13779955
Interested to know how you set this up. I have a smugmug acct, but just the power (not pro). I'm just getting started and would like to keep my costs down if possible.

You have to get into the customisation side, spend some time on the dgrinn forums and you will quickly learn.

Joe.Recon wrote in post #13787232
...you're kidding me right ?

I was asking about custom functions (C.Fn)

What C. Fn do you need to mess with?

bamatt wrote in post #13787716

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Good 1st effort. They seem a little overexposed on my monitor. You can bring in some light to help even out the florescent fixtures and sconces (others on this site know much more about that than I), or you can just turn the lights off 3/4 of the way through your exposure. That usually works for me. Maybe a little more contrast, and some black point adjustment will make these pop more.

mtimber wrote in post #13787926
You have to get into the customisation side, spend some time on the dgrinn forums and you will quickly learn.

Thanks for the reply...no off to learn

gnwatts wrote in post #13787982
Good 1st effort. They seem a little overexposed on my monitor. You can bring in some light to help even out the florescent fixtures and sconces (others on this site know much more about that than I), or you can just turn the lights off 3/4 of the way through your exposure. That usually works for me. Maybe a little more contrast, and some black point adjustment will make these pop more.

Thanks! I actually already desaturated them and re-cropped them as I had too much ceiling.

What is black point adjustment?

Here is the link to the updated versions

http://www.flickr.com …157629083329793​/lightbox/

bamatt wrote in post #13788110
What is black point adjustment?

In Aperture it is an adjustment that modifies the black pixels. It can make the image really read well.
Greg

bamatt wrote in post #13788110
Here is the link to the updated versions

http://www.flickr.com …157629083329793​/lightbox/

These look much better on my monitor.
Greg

Hello Everyone!

I'm a little late to the thread, but I've been around for a while. I'm a photographer based in SW Kansas. To stay busy out here, I shoot a little bit of everything.

I heard about Mike Kelly on Strobist, then stumbled across his posts here. Mike inspired me to do composite lighting. Previously, I only used available light + HDR. I'm still looking for the right 'marketable' blend of the two for my area.

Last week, I challenged myself to shoot something BIG and light it...