My first HDR - Comments, Crit and improvements please...

[Westyfield2]

This is my very first attempt at HDR so please be gentle with me

Below is the original non-HDR image (was shot in raw):

and here is a link to the raw file as it came off the camera (8.3mb).

For the HDR, I used the single raw image and created multiple versions of it (-2, -1.5, -1, -0.5, 0, +0.5, +1, +1.5, +2) - yes 9 tif images, but other than adjusting the exposures these were left to photoshops auto settings.
These were then generated to HDR in Photomatix & then tone-mapped.

Below is the HDR image:

and here is a link to the full resolution HDR 16bit tiff image (36mb )


So, any tips for improving it? The bottom of the nosecone & tub seem to merge with the shadows too much for my liking, but I don't know how to stop that Here's the original single raw image if anyone feels like giving HDR a better attempt than I did!

TY
Ed

 

[alexisonfire]

Do you even know why HDR is used?

 

[divine`]

You've kinda 'missed the point' of HDR there.

The main idea is to retain detail in shadows by brightening them slightly, and highlights by darkening them...

In the original shot your sky is blown out. In the HDR it's virtually the same.

In the original the shadows are fairly well exposed. In the HDR you've lost definition and they're darker...

Try it with just 3 images first and make sure the exposures are defined correctly.

 

[Scam]

Honest answer? Pointless.

 

[Russinating]

What the other guys said. Could get the same result from the original by just playing with brightness\contrast and curves

You've also got too much room on the right (not equal to left) so could do with a little crop.

 

[Westyfield2]

You've kinda 'missed the point' of HDR there.

The main idea is to retain detail in shadows by brightening them slightly, and highlights by darkening them...

In the original shot your sky is blown out. In the HDR it's virtually the same.

In the original the shadows are fairly well exposed. In the HDR you've lost definition and they're darker...

Try it with just 3 images first and make sure the exposures are defined correctly.

TY for the constructive crit, will try your suggestions...

 

[divine`]

TY for the constructive crit, will try your suggestions...

I would have fiddled around and made one for you but my editing PC doesn't have a net connection anymore, so I can't convert RAW or make HDRs

For a *very rough* idea of what the HDR should probably look a bit like, use the shadow/highlight tool in PS...

ie.

shadow/highlight at 50/50, curves, saturation+10

 

[NorthstaNder]

prefer the original to be honest.

isn't the car dark green? it looks like it's too dark in the hdr version.