My Home at Sunset - should I go HDR?

Roy Mathers wrote in post #11097199
I've heard, though, that the people from Edinburgh are a cut above the rest!

This is true Ron, but we don't let on about it to the peasants.

DetlevCM wrote in post #11097189
Photoshop CS has a nice HDR plug-in - one that gives very realistic images and doesn't try to direct you into excessive tonemapping.

And DPP - it's very good for high ISO images - I can't decide whether CS4 or DPP is actually better for high ISO shots...

I use CS2, does it have the plug in?

Darn, and I was just going to ask you to marry me, Jim. Us MacNaughtons/ MacBraynes don't own such a castle as Eilean Donan.

And your grandad proves what Gerard Butler has said - in Scotland men are MEN!

So - could someone recommending an HDR treatment on this lovely, moody image give it a try? Perhaps the Photomatix? Jim says editing is welcome...

JimMcrae wrote in post #11097300
I use CS2, does it have the plug in?

I did a quick google - looks like yours was the first to support it.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorial​s/hdr.shtml

CS5 has a revamped version with more options - maybe it's time to upgrade?
Noise reduction is better than in CS4 too - on RAW files - I guess it will be ahead of CS2 too.
I won't upgrade - too expensive (even with a student discount) - but it might be worth it for you?

PLSV, why the past tense ("was going to")? As I said, I don't live in our Eilean Donan pad - too cramped - the one in Edinburgh is much more spacious!

DetlevCM, thanks again for the info and link, (I wasn't even aware that CS5 was out). Don't think I'll be upgrading just yet though...

I'm heading off to Bavaria/Tyrol in a few hours for a wee walk so won't be around for the next week or so, but many thanks to all for the cracking info and advice on the thread. Much appreciated!

If any of you are ever looking for a roof over your head in the West Highlands, just knock on the door of Eilean Donan and tell them that Chieftain Jimbo sent you!

Cheers!!

JimMcrae wrote in post #11100619
PLSV, why the past tense ("was going to")? As I said, I don't live in our Eilean Donan pad - too cramped - the one in Edinburgh is much more spacious!

DetlevCM, thanks again for the info and link, (I wasn't even aware that CS5 was out). Don't think I'll be upgrading just yet though...

I'm heading off to Bavaria/Tyrol in a few hours for a wee walk so won't be around for the next week or so, but many thanks to all for the cracking info and advice on the thread. Much appreciated!

If any of you are ever looking for a roof over your head in the West Highlands, just knock on the door of Eilean Donan and tell them that Chieftain Jimbo sent you!

Cheers!!

CD2 to CS5 should be quite a nice improvement - if you have a new PC I think I should add.
Bavaria - not a place I have been to - people outside of Bavaria may joke that Bavaria isn't Germany (just some history and legislative privileges there).
I hope you'll enjoy it! Have fun!

^^ I can tell you that people born in Bavaria also regard it as not part of Germany

That's right, you'd think they'd make it the People's Republic of Bavaria by mutual consent! Lederhosen, alpenhorns, wee pointy hats with feathers in them and big, beefy, blond barmaids that can carry 8 steins of beer without spilling a drop... great! Love the place!

Now, I'm off to watch the Sound of Music to put me in the mood. I'll see if I can shoot a few HDR'able scenes for my return! All the best!!

Jim

...the hills are alive... with the sound....

You've got the wrong country Jim - The Sound of Music was Austria!

PLSV wrote in post #11099770
Darn, and I was just going to ask you to marry me, Jim. Us MacNaughtons/ MacBraynes don't own such a castle as Eilean Donan.

And your grandad proves what Gerard Butler has said - in Scotland men are MEN!

So - could someone recommending an HDR treatment on this lovely, moody image give it a try? Perhaps the Photomatix? Jim says editing is welcome...

Why? There's nothing inherently wrong with the original image, save for adding a little 'pop' to the image. And there's still enough room in the shadows to pull out a bit more detail.

Don't know why everyone is jumping on the HDR bandwagon lately. By looking at many of the posts, most are just very bad renditions (to put it mildly). Again, you can't create an HDR image from a single exposure...you just can't increase the dynamic range beyond what had been captured in the original file, no matter how many +/- exposures one creates from the RAW file.

Roy Mathers wrote in post #11101098
You've got the wrong country Jim - The Sound of Music was Austria!

That's where I'm heading Roy, flight to Munich, down to Bavaria and then off to the Austrian Tyrol. In fact, that's me off now...

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good by-ye

argyle wrote in post #11101122
Why? There's nothing inherently wrong with the original image, save for adding a little 'pop' to the image. And there's still enough room in the shadows to pull out a bit more detail.

Don't know why everyone is jumping on the HDR bandwagon lately. By looking at many of the posts, most are just very bad renditions (to put it mildly). Again, you can't create an HDR image from a single exposure...you just can't increase the dynamic range beyond what had been captured in the original file, no matter how many +/- exposures one creates from the RAW file.

I agree with you there argyle.

Personally, Ive done a few HDRs and the best thing about them is that you can control how realistic it is. If youre just using it to bring out the shadows a bit, I cant see how that would take away so much from the photo to cause it to look unrealistic. I say do it! Nice shot, nonetheless....

I like this shot the way it is but you'll never know if you like HDR unless you try it and practice it. I alway shoot one bracketed set just incase I want to play around with the images as an HDR. For interesting subjects I'll also take multiple shots on a tripod and see if I like the image focus stacked. Stacking can produce shots that you couldn't dream of with a single shot. Have fun, play around and see what suites you. You can download the HDR and Foucus Stacking software for free to play around with them. If you like them there usually not more than $100 to buy them.