My 1st HDR Picture

albert · 31 Aug 2010 at 10:30

Well this is my 1st attempt at HDR taken with my Panasonic FZ38 and i think it looks great .... and there's an extra 10 points if anyone can guess where in the UK this is .....

blastman · 31 Aug 2010 at 10:32

nice image, haven't done any HDR myself. I'm guessing sunderland??

martinturner · 31 Aug 2010 at 11:02

I'd crop an inch off the right hand side to get rid of that awkward tree in the foreground. Its a pleasing composition and nice scene though. Sadly, the tonemapping is way too heavy for me; less is more I think.

Yarde · 31 Aug 2010 at 11:14

Well, if this is your first HDR, its pretty dam good! As Martin said, the tonemapping is a little too strong for my liking. But its much better than most '1st HDRs'.

JBuk · 31 Aug 2010 at 11:23

There was really no need to use HDR in that shot as the dynamic range should be easily achievable on many cameras, as it is it looks very overdone.

Skillmister · 31 Aug 2010 at 11:27

I think it looks awesome.

Craig R · 31 Aug 2010 at 11:36

Skillmister said:
I think it looks awesome.

This.

Perhaps a little strong on the HDR, but I reckon it is a more striking image than could have been achieved through a single-shot.

I'd like to see the original for comparison.

albert · 31 Aug 2010 at 11:55

Craig R said:
This.

Perhaps a little strong on the HDR, but I reckon it is a more striking image than could have been achieved through a single-shot.

I'd like to see the original for comparison.

..as requested here's the uncropped original .. BTW the photo was taken at Ilam in the Peak District ...

Craig R · 31 Aug 2010 at 12:21

albert said:
..as requested here's the uncropped original .. BTW the photo was taken at Ilam in the Peak District ...

The HDR definitely improves on the original IMO.

However I would take the HDR version into photoshop, stick it on a layer above that original, and then drop the transparancy level to about 65% to give it a bit more of a natural look, like this:

Skillmister · 31 Aug 2010 at 12:24

Wow compared to the original thats great. In a way i agree with what craig just put but in the other hand i love the almost over exaggerated feel to it.

tr1cky · 31 Aug 2010 at 13:32

Looks great for a first attempt, although it doesnt look natural still a powerful image.

A.N.Other · 31 Aug 2010 at 15:01

Nice composition of the photo and although striking, I think the tone mapping has gone a bit far. CraigR's version there is better in that regard.

I do like to use HDR as a technique (photoshop HDR, so no tone mapping a la photomatix), but I generally only use them to feed into B&W, as it gives great contrast and a really punchy feel.

Big-Mac-Please · 31 Aug 2010 at 19:23

I think yours is great and Craig R's is also very impressive. Going to give this a try soon. Did you set the exposures 1ev apart?

RIZZEE · 31 Aug 2010 at 19:27

Never really been a fan of HDR's, but I like both of them. CraigRs seems a bit more natural to me

koolpc · 1 Sep 2010 at 00:07

Brilliant first attempt. Not tried HDR myself yet.

A.N.Other · 1 Sep 2010 at 00:39

Further to my comment about B&W. I'd turn it into something like this ... not ideal, as it was already tone mapped, but it gives an idea.

If you don't want it up, just say and I'll delete it

mrk · 1 Sep 2010 at 00:43

BW definitely suits scenes like this - I like both HDR and BW though, probably BW more!

HDR is a great thing to use, don't know why some people dislike it so much!

koolpc · 1 Sep 2010 at 01:00

Khaaan! said:
BW definitely suits scenes like this - I like both HDR and BW though, probably BW more!

HDR is a great thing to use, don't know why some people dislike it so much!

Probably as some people go over the top with the effects

mrk · 1 Sep 2010 at 01:06

Oh I know some people go ott but I've seen comments before where someone has used HDR to good effect yet someone always says "I'm not a fan of the HDR" or words to that tone.

A.N.Other · 1 Sep 2010 at 01:12

Well they are allowed not to like the style of the image, no? I could say that I don't like images that have been cross-processed to the same effect. It's only an opinion at the end of the day. If you like the effect, then use it and to hell with the rest of us. Just don't expect praise when you post it up for critique.