My first try at HDR Imaging

Please give me some pointers and tips at what I can do better. Thank you.

As it is now, your HDR processing looks like an effect. Usually HDR is used for expanding dynamic range and getting out shadow and highlight detail, and still aim for "unprocessed" and natural look. That is not easy, and I'm sure we have lots of HDR experts here who can give some good info how to achieve that.

If you aimed for the neon-like effect look, in my opinion it is too strong and could benefit from some toning down. Works better with upper image.

There are some good links in this post that might be helpful:

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=6250177&p​ostcount=7

This post shows the use of HDR that Pekka was referring to.
https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=6202766&p​ostcount=5

Here is a nice tutorial that you may find handy.
http://www.naturescape​s.net/072006/rh0706_1.​htm
http://www.vanilladays​.com/hdr-guide/

I'll also shoot T.D. a pm. He is good at tone mapping. He may be of some assistance as well.

thanks for the advice guys. I'm gonna look into those sites w/ the tutorials

I also added a few new ones

Did you use Photmatix on these? Several exposures or starting from one? I do like the more extreme HDR effects, but I don't like the halo's. Not that I have learned enough to get both out of the program yet. Either I can get some of the effect with no halo's, or I can get more extreme visuals and halos.

I have experimented a little, a lot depends on the software and method you use.

I have only tried with photoshop, and of the four Local Adaptation I have found the best, but I found it best to keep Threshold to its minimum of 0.1 and use the tone curve. Care is needed to not get a 'plastic' look to things.

Some comments on using photoshop HDR http://www.zen20934.ze​n.co.uk …Workflow.htm#HD​R%20Images

I have seen much better HDRs than I have produced, I expect using specialist software.

I have tried mostly with interiors where dynamic range is an issue like this example http://www.ware.myzen.​co.uk …%20HDR%20240907​%20D1.html

Thanks Lester

I'll check those out.