HDR cityscape? help me out.

everytime i try to do something with HDR i can never seem to get the image pop i want. is there something im doing wrong here? im on manual exposure and just setting aperture constant while adjust shutter speed for different, rather random exposures. adobe bridge, select picture and photoshop HDR them? something im missing here? heres my result. this was the combo of 4 pics. do i need to be taking more? is that the problem?

nothing like gageyoung's
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=357559
awad's
https://photography-on-the.net …0078&highlight=​hdr&page=2

etc

theres nothing "surreal" about mine, no "out of reality feeling"...suggestions and tips guys n gals?

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kaitanium wrote in post #3671118
rather random exposures.

this may be a big part of the issue. i would start with a properly exposed picture for the whole scene then shoot at +/-2 stops.

I use -4,-2,0,2,4 (5 images minimum from almost black to almost white)

~mike~

mkuriger wrote in post #3671166
I use -4,-2,0,2,4 (5 images minimum from almost black to almost white)

~mike~

You are using stops to far apart. I do most of mine at one stop, sometimes maybe 1.5.

What you want in a great HDR image is lots of detail that can be brought out.

I'd say the choice of image you have made does not have enough detail that benefits from HDR work.

Here are a few examples;

so ok, what im pulling apart here is that i should be using aperture to control the exposures right, not the shutter ive been using? wont depth of field start playing into the game if i do use aperture?

kaitanium wrote in post #3674893
so ok, what im pulling apart here is that i should be using aperture to control the exposures right, not the shutter ive been using? wont depth of field start playing into the game if i do use aperture?

I'm not saying that at all.

What I'm saying is to use images that are only one stop apart. When they are two stops apart you may be missing to much info.

I alway shoot manual mode, custom white balance and use shutter speed to adjust the exposure in camera (by watching the light meter) to get a stop or stop and a half of exposure.

ah i see. will give it another shot next time im at a cool location

What software do you use?

how can i learn how to do this?

kaitanium wrote in post #3677837
ah i see. will give it another shot next time im at a cool location

That great thing about this technique is it does not always have to be a great location.

Try an alley shot or anything.

I'm not sure if the question about what software is used is for me but I use photomatix pro and CS2 combined with Kubota Action Tools.

I have always used +/- 1 stop, apeture priority, manual focus, fixed WB ( anything other than Auto if using RAW ) and then shot a perfectly exposed shot then used the in camera bracketing feature to fire off the set.

And then in CS3 I used the File -> Merge to HDR

Does the business no problems.

HTH

taygull wrote in post #3674657
You are using stops to far apart. I do most of mine at one stop, sometimes maybe 1.5.

What you want in a great HDR image is lots of detail that can be brought out.

I'd say the choice of image you have made does not have enough detail that benefits from HDR work.

Here are a few examples;

I've

Excuse me, I'm just amazed with this set of pictures. if you don't mind me asking. How did you came with up this?

I answered this in a post above.

Do a google on HDR and it will also give you some good readings.

Keep a watch out for another post after September 1st, I'd say my next cover shot is the best use of this look and feel yet.

do u need specific software to do hdr images? or i could use photoshop! and links on how to learn this?

Yes you do need specific software.

Read some of the post above and you can see what we are using. I'm not a fan of how photoshop does the HDR. I use Photomatix Pro. I don't remember the link but "google" is your friend to learning how to do HDR.