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UER Forum > Archived UE Photo Critiques > Do you find HDR radioactive? (Viewed 787 times)
old_eng 


Location: Boise
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Do you find HDR radioactive?
< on 7/5/2012 8:59 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
These are the first two HDRs I've done (I used Luminance to create them), and I'd be happy to get some constructive criticism as I get into the technique. Tips specific to Luminance would be great, or directions to a opensource, non-watermarking alternative.

Regrowth


Pinnacle


Both taken with Canon 30D/Promaster 17-50mm on a tripod on an exceptionally rainy day in the pacific northwest. IIRC I was shooting at f2.8 and bracketing the meter average exposure by a full stop.
[last edit 7/5/2012 9:06 PM by old_eng - edited 2 times]

Weirdlig 


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Re: Do you find HDR radioactive?
<Reply # 1 on 7/5/2012 10:04 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
They're actually really not that bad, I like them.

But honestly I'd suggest doing like I did a few months back...ditch HDR for raw editing and bracket and blending. I only suggest this because it's clear you're going for a realistic look, you don't want clown vomit. Then why use a method that makes it so challenging?

B&B may take longer, but the results are worth it. The lighting on the first one, although good, could be better with shots that genuinely reflect it, not a stew that hopefully has some semi-original flavors.

http://www.flickr....irdlingphotography
Derelict Compositions 


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Re: Do you find HDR radioactive?
<Reply # 2 on 7/5/2012 11:00 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Weirdling
...ditch HDR for raw editing and bracket and blending.


That is what High Dynamic Range is... simply taking a bracket of exposures (hopefully RAW if you know what you're doing) and blending them together just that old_eng used a program to do this for him (like most do) instead of blending manually in photoshop.

Watch your histograms. If all of the data is in the range then there is no point of HDR. You want your overexposed shot to not have any shadows clipped and your underexposed shot to not have any highlights clipped.

"bracketing the meter average exposure by a full stop." - I am a little confused by this. Were you shooting in manual mode? Does your camera have AEB (auto exposure bracketing)? If so, a good spot to start is 0EV, -2EV, +2EV. That will make sure you catch the entire exposure range in most situations.

As for your post work, it looks good. Just keep shooting and practicing. Once you get the software down pat, it's a piece of cake.

Derelict Compositions, Nikon
http://www.flickr.com/dcc_028
old_eng 


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Re: Do you find HDR radioactive?
<Reply # 3 on 7/5/2012 11:27 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Derelict Compositions

"bracketing the meter average exposure by a full stop." - I am a little confused by this. Were you shooting in manual mode? Does your camera have AEB (auto exposure bracketing)? If so, a good spot to start is 0EV, -2EV, +2EV. That will make sure you catch the entire exposure range in most situations.


I was shooting in aperture priority at f2.8 with AEB set to 0EV, +1EV, -1EV. 1 stop to either side is as far as this model of Canon will go. I guess I could have done it manually to get 2, but I was more worried about keeping the raindrops off my lens.



Derelict Compositions 


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Re: Do you find HDR radioactive?
<Reply # 4 on 7/6/2012 12:07 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by old_eng


I was shooting in aperture priority at f2.8 with AEB set to 0EV, +1EV, -1EV. 1 stop to either side is as far as this model of Canon will go. I guess I could have done it manually to get 2, but I was more worried about keeping the raindrops off my lens.




Ah, I see. Well, -1,+1 isn't very much. I say when it's not raining, try manually adjusting the exposure. Note to always use the shutter speed to change the exposure for HDR, not the aperture or ISO.

Derelict Compositions, Nikon
http://www.flickr.com/dcc_028
DJ Craig 

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Re: Do you find HDR radioactive?
<Reply # 5 on 7/6/2012 3:25 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
This is the good kind of HDR. I like it!

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." -Dr. Suess
ahhntzville 


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Re: Do you find HDR radioactive?
<Reply # 6 on 7/6/2012 3:23 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
f2.8 seems like an awfully big aperture to use for shots like these; I'm surprised they look as good as they do. Were you just trying to minimize the exposure time because of the rain you mentioned? I really like the second one.

old_eng 


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Re: Do you find HDR radioactive?
<Reply # 7 on 7/14/2012 8:58 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Thanks for the comments, all. Glad to hear that I seem to be on the right track- I'm going to keep playing around with this program and see what I can do with it.


Posted by arntzville
f2.8 seems like an awfully big aperture to use for shots like these; I'm surprised they look as good as they do. Were you just trying to minimize the exposure time because of the rain you mentioned? I really like the second one.


Yeah, I was shooting full open to minimize raindrops. Think I took 7 or 8 sets and got 2 that didn't have a big smear in the middle.




UER Forum > Archived UE Photo Critiques > Do you find HDR radioactive? (Viewed 787 times)



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