HDR - done natural for the dynamic range

This is where an IS lens comes in handy. It was lightly raining this morning from the Many Glacier Lodge at 5:57am so I was a little hesitant to to get out from under the porch awning for a lake side opportunity with the tripod so I braced myself on a door casing and shot a series of 3 images 2 stops apart in the 40D auto bracket mode.

RAW files processed and converted in Photomatix - noise removal with Noiseware Pro plug-in and final processing in CS3.

Nice job with hand holding for HDR ... and nice processing. That's quite a view from the Lodge.

From the User's Guide of the 40D I cannot tell how the Auto Bracketing is implemented - whether it changes shutter speed, aperture or both.

For HDR it is important that shutter speed only be used - otherwise the depth of field changes from frame to frame.

Considering that it was a rainy day, there is no way that the image could have anything but minimal contrast. Under those conditions there is no point to HDR processing since the dynamic range of the scene fits comfortably within the intrinsic capability of the camera with room to spare.

Therefore, the question is, "why HDR?', and did it really provide anything not available under normal shooting and processing?

Bob its easy with the 40D to set up Custom Profile for this. Simply set the camera to Aperture Priority (in this case f/8 ) High Speed Continuous Drive Mode and set the Auto Bracket Function for 3 exposures (in this case +/- 2 stops).

It'll change the Shutter Speed but not the Aperture.

In this composition the shadows loose too much detail while retaining the highlights for the background. So the noise level in the shadows ruins the single exposure in my opinion.

HDR has its places and this one was done beautifully...also why didnt you set the tripod up on the deck instead of handholding

the autobracket would depend on what mode your in I believe...when I AB usually im in M and set my aperture...I then roll the bracket to where I deem ness on the meter.

thats a beautiful HDR...with no artifacts...

what a view from the lodge...
Do you have a landscape view ??

Thanks for sharing

Avi

wallybud wrote in post #5965445
HDR has its places and this one was done beautifully...also why didnt you set the tripod up on the deck instead of handholding

Thanks, actually the awning overhang from the door isn't that wide and the rain was blowing from across the Lake so I took my chances with the IS and stepped back inside.

Avin wrote in post #5966590
thats a beautiful HDR...with no artifacts...

what a view from the lodge...
Do you have a landscape view ??

Thanks for sharing

Avi

Thanks too and there are several in my PBase web gallery if you click on the url in my sig below.

Tsmith wrote in post #5965441
Bob its easy with the 40D to set up Custom Profile for this. Simply set the camera to Aperture Priority (in this case f/8 ) High Speed Continuous Drive Mode and set the Auto Bracket Function for 3 exposures (in this case +/- 2 stops).

It'll change the Shutter Speed but not the Aperture.

In this composition the shadows loose too much detail while retaining the highlights for the background. So the noise level in the shadows ruins the single exposure in my opinion.

Tnx for the explanation of how the 40D sets up for auto-bracket. The manual does not seem to explicitly say all of that, but maybe I just didn't look in the right place.

I accept your answer regarding noise in the shadows. However, the EXIF data says the ISO was set at 100, and I would never expect to see any noise, even in the shadows, at that setting. Only you can know how the noise actually looks unless we see a full detail 100% crop from somewhere in the shadow areas.

Well done, this is more like HDR should be used.

hey...you have some amazing images on your website...

Avu

Tsmith wrote in post #5967279
Thanks, actually the awning overhang from the door isn't that wide and the rain was blowing from across the Lake so I took my chances with the IS and stepped back inside.

Thanks too and there are several in my PBase web gallery if you click on the url in my sig below.

I see. Just my opinion but dont be afraid of the rain, Ive shot in light rain with the 40D many time, i just wipe the buttons off every couple minutes, everything stays fine. however not sure if you where shooting with the 10-22 or 17-40 so maybe you didnt want to get the 10-22 wet

nice gallery!

Thanks much for the additional comments.

Bob unfortunately even in the darkest areas at ISO 100 when trying to bring out any details you experience noise to some degree. Even with the HDR conversion those areas depict noise that has to be dealt with using a selection tool and a noise removal application.

One day they'll come up with the perfect sensor for an expanded dynamic range.

Yes - in theory, it works that way. Even the quantization noise itself ( +/- 1 pixel) is a significant noise level when applied to image data at the next to solid black level of 001 out of 255 levels. The point that floors me is that anyone can see it

Lovely shot

Sorry, but the whys and wherefores are pretty irrelevant......It's a beautiful image regardless of any PP that was or wasn't implemented. Well done!