HDR ATTEMPT GRIST MILL IN WEST VIRGINIA

Here is my 1st HDR attempt.It is a picture of Babcock State Park not far from my home in West Virginia. This is a very photographed grist mill, I literally had to stand in line to take this picture. I hope you like it!

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Looks really nice, although I think the dirty rocks in the foreground actually take something away from the beauty of the rest of the scene. I'd be tempted to crop just above the plants and rock on the left, leaving the rapids as your lead in. What program did you use for to create the HDR?

I'm not an HDR expert so cant comment on the technical details but its a very nice shot that certainly could be printed. I would perhaps remove the branch in the top left corner.

very nice picture indeed!!! but the branch in upper left seemed to grab my eye away from everything at first.....just being honest

Yes, I should have cropped the branch out before I posted, but I just forgot! Thanks for the comments! JT I used the free version of Photomatrix here is the web site: http://www.hdrsoft.com​/. This picture is compiled of 3 seperate pics each 1/3 stop apart. The compression needed for posting here causes alot of detail loss, the picture looks much better before compression!

KWELI1 wrote in post #2164117
The compression needed for posting here causes alot of detail loss, the picture looks much better before compression!

Looks nice _ you need to use a photo hosting site so you don't loose any detail. There are several free ones available that will allow you to direct link the image.

as a note in the future: 1/3 stop doesn't give you enough exposure latitude over just taking one shot and working it up in RAW. You need to shoot at +/- 2 stops for the dynamic range.

KWELI1 wrote in post #2164117
Yes, I should have cropped the branch out before I posted, but I just forgot! Thanks for the comments! JT I used the free version of Photomatrix here is the web site: http://www.hdrsoft.com​/.

Yeah, I used it for one day...then bought the program because I was so pleased with the results. So you cloned out the "PHOTOMATIX" watermarks??

J T wrote in post #2164231
Yeah, I used it for one day...then bought the program because I was so pleased with the results. So you cloned out the "PHOTOMATIX" watermarks??

No, JT my version Photomatix Basic 1.1 has no watermark, and it is free for as long as you want to use it (no trial). It is not as advanced as the pay version but its not to bad.

Thanks Bluedog_XT for the info!

Great shot. I am pretty sure that is the same mill I have had hanging on my wall for years. I bought it at a craft show way before I ever got into photography. It is also featured on this year's AAA mid-Atlantic guidebook. Quite popular. If you check out my photo album, I have a section with gristmills.

Stefan

Bluedog_XT wrote in post #2164206
Looks nice _ you need to use a photo hosting site so you don't loose any detail. There are several free ones available that will allow you to direct link the image.

as a note in the future: 1/3 stop doesn't give you enough exposure latitude over just taking one shot and working it up in RAW. You need to shoot at +/- 2 stops for the dynamic range.

Bluedog, do you recommend shooting each frame +-2 stops or a total of 2 stops +- at 1/3rd stop increments?

I'm no expert by any means but for most high dynamic range scenes you want to use the Cameras Auto Bracket feature set @ 2 stops. That way it'll take 3 exposures: one photo -2 stops, one 0 stop (middle) and one +2 stops. And of course a tripod is highly recommended.

Nice photo!

J T wrote in post #2164231
...So you cloned out the "PHOTOMATIX" watermarks??

Thats what I do! I'm too cheap to buy it. I have to get a litle better at it yet, though I think I'm really getting the hang of HDR.

ON TOPIC: The picture looks pretty good. Not an obvious HDR, which is a good thing. The sky still looks a bit to bright, but I'm willing to bet without HDR it'd have been mega blown out.

Maybe some day when, bills, gas, food, car parts and camera equpment is so important :P

I'll buy it eventually, I just... I dunno. I don't mind cloning. I've devloped a VERY good cloning technique But yeah, I'll buy it eventually