Waterscapes with Tonemapping

I've taken a few water shots lately. Tonemapping seems to work pretty well on some of them.

What do you think?

Turbulence at Boiler Bay, Oregon - Dec 16, 2007

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I don't know what tone mapping is, but if this is it, I want to learn!!!. Nice pics.

I like the colours in the second, but it would be interesting to see the original to see what the tone mapping did.

Thanks for the comments.

I'll load up the originals in a bit.

Here are the originals.

Certainly looks to add to the vibrancy of the image, IMHO. That said, I think the fourth image (my favourite) is rather nice to begin with, although the tonemapping does enhance the scene.

Can I ask how you tone map from a single image please?

Thanks.

TobyR wrote in post #4534762
Certainly looks to add to the vibrancy of the image, IMHO. That said, I think the fourth image (my favourite) is rather nice to begin with, although the tonemapping does enhance the scene.

Can I ask how you tone map from a single image please?

Thanks.

Thanks. I try to make my tonemapped images more subtle and less-obviously tonemapped.

Here's my process (I've just picked this up here and there, so it may not be the best process). For stationary subjects I do multiple exposures in the camera.

When the subject is not static, such as water, I start with one image (I use LR). I then adjust the exposure varying degrees. I usually either do several images at half stop increments or at 1/3 (When doing half stop, I start at -2, -1.5, -1.0 -.5, 0, +.5, +1, +1.5, +2. I don't have a science for determining which process to use. Usually, I think the 1/3 stop increment images turn out nicer, but not always.

I then export these to JPEG. I then use PhotoMatixto create an HDR image. From there I generate the tonemapped image within PhotoMatix. I adjust the controls until I find the image pleasing.

In addition, on the above shots, I adjusted the green and aqua channels up in LR quite a bit before creating the various exposures.

Again, I am no expert. But this process seems to work for me most of the time. I have had several "failures" as well. Sometimes the images look like crap after tonemapping. I haven't figured out why. I don't know if I'm just selecting poor images or if I'm goofing them up in the process. I'd be interested to hear thoughts on this.

Many thanks for your explanation. For some reason, I assumed you were tone-mapping from a single image. Something I am trying to work out how to do.

I've been dabbling with HDR for a while now myself (using Photomatix) and as yourself, prefer to make images as natural as possible.

TobyR wrote in post #4534948
Many thanks for your explanation. For some reason, I assumed you were tone-mapping from a single image. Something I am trying to work out how to do.

I've been dabbling with HDR for a while now myself (using Photomatix) and as yourself, prefer to make images as natural as possible.

There are some downloadable HDR pre-sets in LR that do okay. They're a little limited, but nice on certain images.

I read these instruction on a Flickr Forum regarding tonemapping from a single Jpeg.

You can see a sample of what I could get from a boring single jpeg file.

http://farm3.static.fl​ickr.com …18804413_9311b4​72a3_b.jpg

Open the Jpeg in PS
Duplicate the layer.
Image / adjustments / curves
Click on the mid point.
There are two values at the bottom of the tab
Keep the top one at 128
Change the bottom to 0
Save the jpeg as file1
Repeat steps, increasing bottom value by 64 - 0, 64, 128, 192. 255.
You will end up with 5 files.
Takes the files into Photoshop or Photomatrix and HDR process them.
I'm quite pleased with the results.

Thanks for posting the originals. I'm wondering if you could have achieved a better effect by just increasing contrast, saturation and bumping up the green/aqua channels.

The highlights in the modified version are more blown out than in the original, which I wouldn't expect if you've merged several exposures.

sanwin25 wrote in post #4535469
I read these instruction on a Flickr Forum regarding tonemapping from a single Jpeg.

You can see a sample of what I could get from a boring single jpeg file.

http://farm3.static.fl​ickr.com …18804413_9311b4​72a3_b.jpg

Open the Jpeg in PS
Duplicate the layer.
Image / adjustments / curves
Click on the mid point.
There are two values at the bottom of the tab
Keep the top one at 128
Change the bottom to 0
Save the jpeg as file1
Repeat steps, increasing bottom value by 64 - 0, 64, 128, 192. 255.
You will end up with 5 files.
Takes the files into Photoshop or Photomatrix and HDR process them.
I'm quite pleased with the results.

I tried this in Photoshop and got the message 'There is insufficient dynamic range in these files to create a satisfactory HDR image' (or words to that effect).

TD, I like the look you've achieved but for me the third image doesn't work. The rest of them are good.

curiousgeorge wrote in post #4535772
Thanks for posting the originals. I'm wondering if you could have achieved a better effect by just increasing contrast, saturation and bumping up the green/aqua channels.

The highlights in the modified version are more blown out than in the original, which I wouldn't expect if you've merged several exposures.

That's certainly 1 option. In fact, I did that in the originals. It didn't quite get the images to where I wanted them.

Roy Mathers wrote in post #4535883
I tried this in Photoshop and got the message 'There is insufficient dynamic range in these files to create a satisfactory HDR image' (or words to that effect).

I've never seen that.

theague wrote in post #4536878
TD, I like the look you've achieved but for me the third image doesn't work. The rest of them are good.

Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it.

Roy Mathers wrote in post #4535883
I tried this in Photoshop and got the message 'There is insufficient dynamic range in these files to create a satisfactory HDR image' (or words to that effect).

You need to remove the exif info from the images.