HDR Tips

Derek W · 24 Jan 2009 at 14:22

I've just been out with my camera taking a few pics to have a go at HDRing some images. now I just took them with my camera without a tripod so I've noticed there are some slight movement in the image (must stop drinking!) is this going to pose a problem when I create the HDR images or should I have used a tripod despite the short shutter speed? Any advice welcomed.

Will post my results later on as I'm off the football the now.

Derek W · 24 Jan 2009 at 15:57

take a look on google for hdr after the sponsored link the first result has a good guide on whats involved.

Derek W · 24 Jan 2009 at 18:24

heres my first attempt, just really merged the images and not fiddled about with the settings at all. I've noticed there is a 'wobble' in the picture when i zoom in, ignore the composition etc as I'm just testing it out and I will be getting closer to this building later on but since its 'keep out' thought I'd just stand on the road rather than going in. Anyway heres the pic :

and heres the original normal exposure image

Derek W · 25 Jan 2009 at 10:19

alexisonfire said:
http://www.vanilladays.com/hdr-guide/

That was the link I was meaning for James07 to look at. nice site with clear explanation on it. :cool:

Derek W · 25 Jan 2009 at 15:32

James07 said:
Thats what im after

EDIT: IIRC

HDR is a was of enhancing a photo? Making highlights and shadows stand out more, making better exposure for a pictue?

Am i right?

Essentially thats what it does. since the camera is limited to one exposure per picture it is sometimes difficult to pick out the detail in the sky as well as the ground. doing an HDR image benefits from gaining both highlights and shadow along with your main focused image, combining the best bits from all three. :cool:

Derek W · 25 Jan 2009 at 16:23

either that or you can photoshop in another sky but obviously with that amount of branches and crap in the way it could post difficult. HDR is, in my opinion, an easier way of doing things

Derek W · 17 Feb 2009 at 18:17

Had another go at HDR this evening. I'm quite happy with the result considering how dull it was today up here. I was a little disappointed cos I was looking for a sunset picture tonight. I gave up and walked home only to discover a lovely orange sunset happening behind me :mad:

Anyway heres what I took this evening. I know theres a lot of wobble on the right of the picture but all in all I like the image produced. C & C welcome

Derek W · 17 Feb 2009 at 21:33

Thanks for the comments, guys.

The first HDR I attempted was on a good day while the second was particularly cloudy. The first one was giving a meter reading in the centre for the 'normal exposure' but the sky was still blown out. But I intentionally made the second HDR slightly underexposed for the 'normal exposure' image with the underexposed and overexposed shots 2 stops up or down from this.

When i put the image into photomatix I didn't alter the default settings at all but I guess fiddling with the second one could improve it slightly (with the exception of the camera shake).

I'm sure the second image was taken at f3.5 with 1/60th or 1/80th exposure with the underexposed / overexposed + - 2 of this.

Its the first time I've been out with the camera for 2 or 3 weeks now so just glad to get snapping again. I'm still waiting for my lomo inspiration to kick in to enter this months competition though

EDIT : I've been using the bracketed exposure for HDR hence the wobble in the pics and to be honest I prefer the natural look of HDR rather than the completely blown appearance of some HSR I've seen. Improving the definition is one thing, but making it look like a cartoon is something else