Grain Elevator HDR

[Browncoat]

EXIF:
Nikon D300s
1/6 sec @ f/32
ISO 200
Focal length: 28mm

POST:
HDR from 5 bracketed images in Photomatix
Color and other adjustments in Lightroom

Photo taken around 8:30pm during the blue hour w/ long exposure. This is the most heavily edited image I've ever done. Spent a lot of time tweaking the sky the way I wanted it.

I'm interested in your thoughts. Did I go too far?

 

[Eye-level]

To me it is a great challenge to capture great detail and softness at the same time. In this particular case I think you have been able to pull that off perhaps because of the parameters involved. I can't really say for sure because I haven't seen the original. The lawn if you will has some very nice leading lines...the 28 has distorted the verticals a bit but that helps to lead the eye to the sky which is pretty cool very 3D ish real looking...

My favorite part of the pic is the details in the grain elevator...I just like that sort of look...for instance is that a man in that little cublicle there on the side of the structure? Looks like it to me...

Lastly it reminds me of a Pink Floyd album cover for some reason sir...

 

[KWJams]

Looks good. Great detail.
The only thing that seems out of sorts to me is the clouds. They look like a negative image. The parts that would be white and fluffy are missing with only the darker areas standing out which doesn't seem normal.
The left side above the grain bin has no graduation / contrast between the cloud and sky like the right side has.
But then that could be exactly what the sky / clouds there looked like when you took the images. It is difficult to say without an original to compare it with.

 

[Browncoat]

Here is one of the originals:

 

[KWJams]

Well never mind what I said about the clouds -- they are what they are.
They do add drama to the picture but it may be better in my opinion to re-visit the site on a clear evening so the focus is on the structure.

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

Good shot. I like the sky but I don't think HDR works well on the rest of the shot because of the lack of contrast. It looks like you have actually lost some of the detail in the darker areas. I would, as Ken, recommends revisit the site on a clear evening when you can get more contrast and make the details of the structure jump out.

 

[Marcel]

Nice shot Anthony. The only part I could see improved would be the top of the elevator. Maybe lighten and add contrast with the brush in lightroom. The rest is fine by me.

 

[KWJams]

You guys have to understand my position. No disrespect meant, but living here in Montana I may be too spoiled from the clouds around here to appreciate the clouds in your picture.

 

[KWJams]

The bright sunny area in the clouds on the right keeps drawing my eyes to that side of the picture and then down the right side to a clutter of power lines. I would crop the right side off at the "a" in your first name. That would comply more closely with the rule of 3rds and keep the structure as the main focal point. Currently it is hard to determine if the sky is meant to be the prominent focal point or the structure is because they are both so strong.

 

[ohkphoto]

Well, I love the HDR version. I think you did a super job . . . definitely better as HDR, especially the sky. I think the issue is not that there wasn't enough of a tonal range, but that the picture seems a little soft and the HDR doesn't bring out the detail enough.
I wonder why you shot at F/32? and such a slow shutter speed? Do you think maybe the slight softness is due to the slow speed? . . . maybe slight movement. Also, I think the f/32 is kind of a useless aperature. You don't get any more depth of field than at f/22 --there's a way to calculate the optimum aperature and it varies for every lens. Sometimes you get softness at either extreme.

Also, the sky is close to being blown out, although you processed it really well. I've learned to go at least 7-9 brackets if there is any bright parts of the sky as in this pic. Then I usually throw out a few in the middle.

Very dramatic photo, Anthony. Reminds me of a cathedral.

 

[Browncoat]

The goal with this shot was to capitalize on the blue hour lighting. I have shot this grain elevator before from 20 different angles, and while there is something about this structure that has always drawn my attention, I've never been able to express it. Helene hit the nail on the head. It reminds me of a cathedral, too. Or an old castle. The sheer size of this thing is impressive. It's at least 10 stories tall, and I wanted to distort that with an exaggerated perspective. Mission accomplished on those points.

As for the softness, well...that's a problem. Misread my camera and thought I was @ f/22. Turns out I was @ f/32. The brackets were all shot tripod-mounted, but there is just enough shake to be noticeable. I tried to correct that with a crapload of sharpening, but it's still a problem. I wanted to do long exposures to bring out as much detail and color in the sky as I could, but overcooked it a bit.

This elevator is less than a mile away from me, and I think next time I'll wait until the sun is a little lower in the sky and try a bit of a different angle.

 

[ohkphoto]

for instance is that a man in that little cublicle there on the side of the structure? Looks like it to me...

Are you pulling my leg? I've looked everywhere with a magnifying glass even, and do not see a man in any cubicle.

 

[Browncoat]

There was no man in a cubicle here. Although there was a man on the grassy knoll.