My first crack at HDR.

Carolina Photo Guy

Senior Member
Kodak Moment HDR.jpg

I am not a big fan of HDR. I have always preferred the inherent reality of taking a shot and tweaking it just a little. HDR seems to turn everything upside down.
But it seems to me that to more completely round out my experience, I have no real choice but to delve into HDR.
This is my shot. I took an old favorite of mine and applied the HDR magic to it.

I hope you enjoy.

Pete
 

AxeMan - Rick S.

Senior Member
To do an HDR you don't have to take everything and turn it upside down to come up with a good HDR photo. I have quite a few HDR photo's in my 365 that are not 'upside down" You can take a photo and "tweak" it with HDR and still have it look somewhat normal.

As your photo, your first mistake is you said you used an old photo, (just one image). So I'm not going to comment more than that for now. You're going to get better results if you bracket three photos. In your case this is going to be a little harder for you because the D3100 does not have an auto bracket feature.

Your going to have to get out your tripod, make sure it's good and tight when you get your shot lined up. Take at least three photos. One at normal exposure, one two stops under exposed (-2.0) and one over exposed two stops (+2.0). Your going to have to change your exposure by hand, this is where the tripod is important, you don't want to move your shot, HDR software WILL pick up on this if the shot is not line up close. Some software has an auto alignment feature. All my HDR shots have been hand held, but I have an auto bracket feature on the D90 and get three shots off in under a second, and my software has the auto alignment feature. So I can get away with it (sometimes).

Don't know what software your using for HDR, I would suggest Photomatix Pro. It can be downloaded with a 30day free trial.

I have found HDR loves broken skies with dark and white clouds, rust, and some shades and shapes of red or brown brick. HDR Black and White is neat too but I have not mastered that one yet. Not every photo is a candidate for HDR, it's either going to work or it's not.

Taken my advice and start over. You'll be much happier with the resulsts.

Welcome to HDR
Rick
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Rick, that is a very good explanation of HDR and what to do and what not to do. Pete, don't worry about it. I'm not crazy about it either. :) And yes, we DO have a choice! I choose not to do HDR. I'm more comfortable with the way I take pictures than following the crowd just because it's popular and the in thing. I've never been a sheep, and I don't intend to start now.
 

Carolina Photo Guy

Senior Member
Thank you Axe. I figure that I can only improve.

Jack, now I truly have no choice. I have to prove to myself that I can do this at a very high level. After that, then I can quit HDR without looking back.

But I have to KNOW I can do it.

Pete
 

AxeMan - Rick S.

Senior Member
I don't remember where I read it, HDR or a form of it is the way of the future for digital photography. (Wish I could find it to link it was a great write up on HDR)

Now there is focus stacking, same thing as HDR but with focusing.

You have to change with the times to keep up, and remember the only person who likes change is a wet baby.

Rick
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
Pete, I like you picture, very pleasant to the eye indeed. I like HDR but there is a place for it and lots of places it shouldn't be used. The software you use is important for good resluts. Minimum of three different exposures, i've done as many as 11 but there is a point it doesn't make that much difference. I think around 6 exposures on a good tripod is perfect. I love what it can do to a sky and even like it when pushed to the sureal appearance but the subject makes a big difference for me. Keep it up my friend, try different exposures and play with it. I like being one of the old dogs learning new techniques.
 

Carolina Photo Guy

Senior Member
Thanks Bill. There is just one problem with being an old dog. You ever just sit and watch an old dog?

He has to water EVERY dang bush and tree he gets close to. Pretty soon, he is just wandering around wondering what he got

out here for in the first place!

Y'all keep pointing me in the right direction. I'll try to keep the watering to a minimum.

Pete
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
You'll always do great as long as that sense of humor keeps going! I watch my old dog, the same one that ignores me for the most part but open a bag a chips or other snack and we're best friends, lol.
 

AxeMan - Rick S.

Senior Member
Pete, I apologize for being so plain about your photo. For your first attempt at HDR it's a great job. I also agree will Bill it's very pleasant to the eye.

When I first started playing with HDR I did the same thing. Took one photo and tried to flip it to HDR. Then one day I got brave and took a bracket photo and worked with it and kicked myself for not doing it sooner. I guess I was more focused on trying to send you down the right road instead of giving you the credit of a job well done. Just trying to save you some frustration and time. In time you will learn more and things will start to flow for you when you work with a photo.

If this was my photo I would put it into Photoshop and try to burn or dodge (I always forget which on does what) the black halo around the lighthouse, unless you want it there. This is a very common thing I run into when doing HDR that I personally don't care for, but that's my taste.

Hey, if your hooking up with Bill & Helene, pick me up on the way, I'll bring extra chips and beer.

Keep up the good work
Rick
 

Carolina Photo Guy

Senior Member
Axeman. DUDE! You ain't got a dang thing to apologize for. The only guy that got away with his very first project was...

Ugg the caveman that did the first cave painting. When he finished he got patted on the back and then was eaten by a Sabertooth Tiger.

Fame can be so fleeting!!!

Pete
 

jcottone45

Senior Member
Axeman, I am intrigued by what you defined in the above paragraph, I will try to research more & try to do it, not because I like HDR, I never heard of it until I read the posts here on this site, but because its a challenge I'd like to try. It also will score one for humanity over the digital sensors man created if this old film guy could pull it off. I don't see it happening soon, but eventually I'll get around to try my hand at it. Thanks for the insight to HDR though I'll use your suggestions listed & give it a go.

Joe Cottone

"I am not a good photographer & I am not a bad photographer, I am a half fast photographer"
 

Vermontster

New member
Pete, your first attempt is 100 times better than my first time; and I used bracketing. I love HDR in its place. One of the reasons I picked up a D700 recently was for additional bracketing that my D90 was lacking.

I have found that people are very passionate about loving HDR while others absolutely hate it. When the clouds are out, I love to shoot HDR. When its sunny, I don't use it. Good luck with your experimenting!!!

Chris Crothers
 

theregsy

Senior Member
I love HDR and will happily bracket away whenever given an opportunity, even worse now that the D2x will do a 9 shot bracket, the old Fuji did 3! But I think HDR is just as bad as any other technique that we have available to enhance (or ruin) a good digital photo. I have been guilty of the taking it too far option, and changing things until they are hard to recognise, but some of the best just add that layer of extra detail where it would normally be dark or bright. As always beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I like your shot Pete, it isn't obviously HDR and looks like a well exposed photo to me.

As I said HDR can be good or terrible, this is one of my better attempts, but as always it depends on what you wanted when you started HDRing your images.
Coastguard tonemapped_DCE.jpg
 

AxeMan - Rick S.

Senior Member
Pete when you find out the answer to this one let me know too please. I looked up HDR Imaging at the National Institute of Testing and Standards web site, and came up with nothing, so I have to say your hitting the mark.

I like to think there is no wrong or right way of doing HDR. I like to think HDR is more of a tool to bring out the image you have in your mind than anything else. I've seen HDR that in my opinion is over done, and I have done HDR's that just enhanced the photo a little, it's all up to you.

It would be like me posting a photo and asking "Is this what a Photoshop photo is supposed to look like?"

Your doing good, keep playing with it and you'll find your comfort zone with it.

Rick
 

theregsy

Senior Member
Pete,
Like so many other photography things there is no standard for HDR its all down to your choice, some like that full on overblown look others prefer to use HDR to compose a more balanced better lit composition. Its all in the eye of the beholder. Can I ask what software you are using to generate your HDR images? from experience Photomatix is probably the most popular (but its not free) the HDT option in Photoshop is not very well regarded, I prefer Photomatix myself.
I can only suggest that you have a look around at places like Flickr at HDR stuff, find something you like and try to do it yourself :) BOL
 

Carolina Photo Guy

Senior Member
Actually, I am using Aperture 3. I found a nifty HDR Plugin that was free and is probably worth what it costs.

How-ever, I have just been fiddling with the adjustment settings until I get the look I want. That is why I have been asking if the look is right for HDR.

I am not fond enough of HDR to invest in specialized software unless it is needed.

I am just a cheap Bast**d. It is genetic. It runs in the family.

Pete
 

jengajoh

Senior Member
I don't think there is a "right" way for HDR to look, as long as you're happy with it, then it's right. I see it as an art form. Some pictures I take in HDR just never look good no matter how much I adjust it, so I scrap it and realize that shot just wasn't meant for HDR. I think you're doing well, keep it up. :) I agree with Rick that rust and wood and things with textures look neat in HDR.
 
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