It was a cool, crisp, night...

It was a cool, crisp, night... · Posted by Alvin, 09-13-2007, 09:55 PM

...last night when I took the 8 or 9 shots to make this HDR image. This is my second attempt to make a HDR. I used Photoshop CS3 about an hour or so ago to merge the my exposures.

Lens/Settings? My M50/1.7 at f8. Various shutter speeds all at ISO 200.

Please give me comments and feedback on this because this HDR stuff is still new to me. Thanks!

*daacon* · 09-13-2007, 10:24 PM

Alvin - this is something I want to do - and if these are the result I can look forward to WOW - nice job.

**Peter Zack** · 09-13-2007, 10:53 PM

We've seen many HDR posts and IMHO this is one of the best. It might be the subject but most of the time they come out looking surreal. This shot just looks Awesome in all respects. I've yet to try it myself but I'd like to learn as well. Pardon the idiot question but you are using an HDR (if so, what?) program and then merging the results in PS? Or is it all done in PS?

Excellent work!

little laker · 09-13-2007, 11:05 PM

Alvin, I love it.

I agree with Peter

I've only done 3 HDR's, and only 2 turned out.
I posted 1 without mentioning what I did, and I got a few positive comments, so it must have been subtle enough

Petthefish · 09-14-2007, 12:14 AM

Very Awesome I love how you kept it real. some HDR's people over do and they just look fake like a painting yours you can tell it is a picture very nice rp

Mandi · 09-14-2007, 01:14 AM

Pardon my ignorance, but could you explain the term "HDR?" What does is stand for and what does it involve? Whatever, it's a great image...!

**J.Scott** · 09-14-2007, 02:02 AM

Originally Posted by Mandi

Pardon my ignorance, but could you explain the term "HDR?" What does is stand for and what does it involve? Whatever, it's a great image...!

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range in photography.
Here is an article on the subject. Basically it is tone mapping. Done through programs like Photoshop CS2 or CS3 the merging of layers can give a 3 dimensional appearance to otherwise normal pictures.

Oh, by the way, nice picture Alvin!

vinzer · 09-14-2007, 05:10 AM

Hey, kudos! That's a picture one would want to print and hang on the wall. Nicely done!

scott-devon · 09-14-2007, 05:14 AM

Beautiful job Alvin! This is one HDR that doesn't remind me of a black velvet painting...

Now I'm tempted to learn it...hmmmm.

Alvin · 09-14-2007, 10:53 AM

Wow! Thanks to all for the positive replies!

daacon and scott-devon - Take a minimum of 3 bracketted exposures. 3 stops over, 3 stops under and one at 0. Make sure to use a tripod. When you have it, you'll find the feature in Photoshop: File > Automate > Merge to HDR. PM me if you need more info, but like I said I'm still extremely new to this.

Peter Zack - yes, all work was done within Photoshop CS3.

Stu - I messed around with the top and bottom of the histogram/levels (?) curve a bit so that my shadows and highlights were coming out properly. If you are using photoshop, I used local adaptation when changing from 32 bit to 16 bit, then finally changing to 8-bit for jpeg conversion. Simply slide the top of the curve leftward, and the bottom of the curve right, nothing else. To get as much pop as possible though, I think I tried to go as far as 3.5 stops over and under exposed.

Petthefish - ya I hear you! My first one came out totally cartoonish looking and I said blah. I'll be visiting that place once more tomorrow to try a redo.

JScott - thanks for answering Mandi's question for me

Mandi - here's another link but after reading it, I like JScott's link better. High dynamic range imaging - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

vinzer - I couldn't reply to you fast enough because I was getting back to work. I can send you a copy of a high res. file if you'd like. I'm thinking of printing off an 8x10 and framing it for my office. PM me if you'd like.

Mandi · 09-16-2007, 12:41 AM

Thank you to both JScott and Alvin for your help - I have learned a lot through just this one thread!

*borno* · 09-16-2007, 07:04 AM

That's a beautiful scene alvin, I'll bet a poster size print would look great on your wall

You could make some money with that one

*PeterAM* · 09-16-2007, 09:55 AM

Beautiful work! Now you need a big print to really do it justice. As someone else said, this is one of the few of these types of pictures that doesn't look phony/overdone. Right combination of picture and technique.

Alvin · 09-17-2007, 04:49 AM

Mandi - anytime

Borno and PeterAM - I'm having trouble enlarging this one past an 8x10 size. I really want to hang this one on my wall.

The Pentax Hammer · 09-17-2007, 11:01 PM

Oh man, what beautiful results you have here! While it is obviously an HDR shot, it isn't over saturated, or anything else that sometimes makes a photo look bad. Beautiful composition, lighting, and detail! This is one of the best HDR shots I have seen in a long time!