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HDRs · 05:43 PM

Since I got my K10D and now the K20D, I have begun to appreciate the value of the HDR (High Dynamic Range) photos. I've seen them where they have been overdone and a bit artsy, but done right, they can look completely natural and give additional oomph to an otherwise flat pic.

Here are some that I did on an outing to the Claremont Train Station in Claremont, CA. These are all 5 bracketed shots, with each of the 5 shots ranging from -4EV to +4EV in 2EV steps. These were all processed using Photomatix Pro by HDRSoft and/or Dynamic Photo HDR by Mediachance.

Hope you enjoy them!

Alex

mwcfire · 03-24-2008, 05:45 PM

Great shots. I really like the first one best! That awning looks 3-D like.

PentaxPoke · 03-24-2008, 05:59 PM

Beautiful shots, but i think the HDR takes away from thier beauty. They really don't look natural, but more like really good video game graphics. I have yet to see an HDR that does not look artificial.

vievetrick · 03-24-2008, 06:32 PM

BLOWN AWAY!!! Great work. I have yet to get anything close when trying HDR

barbosas · 03-24-2008, 06:34 PM

They all look awesome!!!

You really mastered the HDR

xs400 · 03-24-2008, 06:47 PM

Excellent HDR's. Nicely done.

Crescent City · 03-24-2008, 07:02 PM

Sorry but I wouldn't call any of these completely natural looking. I think I actually like the overtop approach. Check out some of Ben Wilmore's stuff. ch

blwnhr · 03-24-2008, 07:38 PM

Subtle and well executed. Well done.

NYpHoToGraphEr · 03-24-2008, 08:04 PM

I Love Them

**SCGushue** · 03-24-2008, 09:18 PM

Alex,

I think you did a nice job here without being heavy handed on the technique. Good work.

Stephen

www,pbase.com/scgushue

**AlexM** · 03-24-2008, 10:53 PM

It is obvious that HDRs are not going to please everyone but they do have their place in bringing out hidden detail in photos.... See these examples....

Normal Shot...

HDR of the same shot...

I believe that there are definitely uses for all types of HDR whether it be to bring out details or to be artsy....

In the example above, I think the HDR brings out more detail than the normal shot...

Alex

PentaxPoke · 03-24-2008, 11:23 PM

You are right that HDR does not please everyone. I really don't think that the HDR processing in the last example brings out any more detail that I can't see in the original. The original has wamth, depth, lots of color, and detail (nice job!) It feels like you have taken me there to that beautiful place. For me the HDR processing of the second shot made it lose its depth and warmth. Something doesn't "feel" right. It is "harsh."

You really take such nice shots of interesting places, stop screwing them up with HDR!

I hope I am making it clear that I really like your photography, I just don't like what HDR has done to it, but that has nothing to do with you.

Pentaxtic · 03-25-2008, 12:11 AM

Superb pics on the first series!

**daacon** · 03-25-2008, 06:21 AM

A nice series ALex I think you have a fine balance between the original and HDR - I like them. Have you tried printing any ? I was always curious how a HDR would look printed (maybe too much range for some printers).

Mechan1k · 03-25-2008, 06:30 AM

I think you have done well here ... although in a couple of images I can see where the lighting is a little strange though (top corner of the sign in the 2nd picture ... and the face of the building in the 3rd picture).

But .. in say that ... I haven't tried this technique yet ... and I am willing to give it a real go at some time.

Your series though gives the images a real depth to them where just a single exposure would just be a normal fairly flat image.

Good work ... i am with Dave ... would be interesting to see one of these printed.

AlexM
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03-24-2008, 10:53 PM	#11
AlexM Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prescott Valley, AZ Photos: Gallery Posts: 167 Original Poster	The Subtle Approach It is obvious that HDRs are not going to please everyone but they do have their place in bringing out hidden detail in photos.... See these examples.... Normal Shot... HDR of the same shot... I believe that there are definitely uses for all types of HDR whether it be to bring out details or to be artsy.... In the example above, I think the HDR brings out more detail than the normal shot... Alex

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03-24-2008, 05:45 PM	#2
mwcfire Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: OKC Photos: Gallery Posts: 186	Great shots. I really like the first one best! That awning looks 3-D like.

03-24-2008, 05:59 PM	#3
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Beautiful shots, but i think the HDR takes away from thier beauty. They really don't look natural, but more like really good video game graphics. I have yet to see an HDR that does not look artificial.

03-24-2008, 06:32 PM	#4
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	BLOWN AWAY!!! Great work. I have yet to get anything close when trying HDR

03-24-2008, 06:34 PM	#5
barbosas Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lisbon Photos: Gallery Posts: 683	They all look awesome!!! You really mastered the HDR

03-24-2008, 06:47 PM	#6
xs400 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,709	Excellent HDR's. Nicely done.

03-24-2008, 07:02 PM	#7
Crescent City Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 55	Sorry but I wouldn't call any of these completely natural looking. I think I actually like the overtop approach. Check out some of Ben Wilmore's stuff. ch

03-24-2008, 07:38 PM	#8
blwnhr Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 663	Subtle and well executed. Well done.

03-24-2008, 08:04 PM	#9
NYpHoToGraphEr Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brooklyn,NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 329	I Love Them

03-24-2008, 09:18 PM	#10
SCGushue Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,434	Alex, I think you did a nice job here without being heavy handed on the technique. Good work. Stephen www,pbase.com/scgushue

03-24-2008, 11:23 PM	#12
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	You are right that HDR does not please everyone. I really don't think that the HDR processing in the last example brings out any more detail that I can't see in the original. The original has wamth, depth, lots of color, and detail (nice job!) It feels like you have taken me there to that beautiful place. For me the HDR processing of the second shot made it lose its depth and warmth. Something doesn't "feel" right. It is "harsh." You really take such nice shots of interesting places, stop screwing them up with HDR! I hope I am making it clear that I really like your photography, I just don't like what HDR has done to it, but that has nothing to do with you.

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03-25-2008, 12:11 AM	#13
Pentaxtic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	Superb pics on the first series!

03-25-2008, 06:21 AM	#14
daacon Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,915	A nice series ALex I think you have a fine balance between the original and HDR - I like them. Have you tried printing any ? I was always curious how a HDR would look printed (maybe too much range for some printers).

03-25-2008, 06:30 AM	#15
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	I think you have done well here ... although in a couple of images I can see where the lighting is a little strange though (top corner of the sign in the 2nd picture ... and the face of the building in the 3rd picture). But .. in say that ... I haven't tried this technique yet ... and I am willing to give it a real go at some time. Your series though gives the images a real depth to them where just a single exposure would just be a normal fairly flat image. Good work ... i am with Dave ... would be interesting to see one of these printed.