ND GRAD HDR PANORAMA

This is by far the most complex landscape shot I have ever taken.

Does anyone know how to get Photomatix to create consistent outputs for all of the HDR pano shots? I saved custom settings but they still turn out drastically different for each position in the panorama. Seems like it tries automating the process too much and is making it difficult to get consistent HDR from shot to shot. This panorama is much wider, but I can't get the other 50% to process the same as this section.

Lee 3 stop ND hard and soft grads
9 shot HDR in 3 segments

Shot with 60D 10-22 EFS
Photomatix Pro
PTGui

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I never had much luck with HDR software for some of the reasons you describe and more. Try making a manual exposure blend using layer masks - I always end up with a much more realistic result and with much less stress along the way with that method. PM me if you want help with this.

Looks like it has the potential for a great shot though.

Not sure why this is a 9 shot hdr. Its just a bit over-processed for my taste. as for making a panorama... why not stitch it together for each exposure then load the panoramas in and hdr it as a whole panorama.

The processing really killed this shot...

I like the processing - it looks almost surreal.

Have you tried stitching each exposure together first, then making the HDR file from the stitched images?

Or just use normal photo blending in Photoshop, rather than HDR software - I find you normally get better results that way anyway.

Shadowblade wrote in post #13314598
I like the processing - it looks almost surreal.

Have you tried stitching each exposure together first, then making the HDR file from the stitched images?

Or just use normal photo blending in Photoshop, rather than HDR software - I find you normally get better results that way anyway.

I might have to just blend by hand in PS then send it over to PTgui to get the whole scene balanced out.

Thanks for the input.

DLitton wrote in post #13313121
Not sure why this is a 9 shot hdr. Its just a bit over-processed for my taste. as for making a panorama... why not stitch it together for each exposure then load the panoramas in and hdr it as a whole panorama.

The shot totals 9 shots in 3 segments, each segment having 3 exposures. I wanted to bring out detail in the dark water of the foreground without reducing the contrast, so there is local contrast applied to certain areas.

This is by no means an attempt to make something authentic. Purely artistic.

argyle wrote in post #13313934
The processing really killed this shot...

I would be thrilled to know how.

Canon_Lover wrote in post #13315827
I would be thrilled to know how.

Severely blown highlights, black sky, blocked shadows...I could go on, but if you're thrilled with it so be it.