High Dynamic Range (HDR) - beginner

[iqgnos]

Hey people, a beginner here using 400d + kid lens trying to do some HDR pictures using photomatix.

As you can see, im still using the trial version, heh.

Do give some comments =)


First attempt - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34338910@N02/3332906569/
Second attempt - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34338910@N02/3333766464/in/photostream/

Third and favourite =) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34338910@N02/3332921465/in/photostream/

 

[giantcanopy]

Cannot see the first shot, i think u set to private or something.
The skies are abit too dramatic for me, but others might like the treatment.
The last one has too much halo around the trees and the skies are not natural.

U might wanna work composition before embarking on perfecting HDR..

Meanwhile go easy on the strength setting

Happy shooting
Ryan

 

[iqgnos]

haha o thanks, i've made the first photo public now =)

what can be done to reduce the halos?

haha i feel that more strength = bring out more of the sky. seems that it's too much =0

hahaha thanks for giving tips =)

 

[navlem]

Your shots turned out to be quite good for HDR beginner. Keep it up!

I myself also prefer a more dramatic sky. It brings out a mysterious feeling.

 

[drkiller]

what camera you using and lens?

 

[navlem]

what camera you using and lens?

he said it in the first post..

 

[David Kwok]

If you are just showing that u have did a couple of HDR. I will say yap... there you got it.. They are called HDR

If you are trying to sell that your HDR got "feel", I will say you might wanna consider working on the composition. Don't really feel much about them.

HDR don't sell on it's own. It's just another technique to bring out more feeling into a picture that already has composition

That's my 2 cents worth.

 

[iqgnos]

haha omg, i dont know the 'feel', any examples? thanks for advising!

 

[David Kwok]

haha omg, i dont know the 'feel', any examples? thanks for advising!

Well by "feel" I'm referring to what you as a photographer is trying to tell in the photograph ? What do you want to show about the picture itself ? The subject in the picture ? The theme ? so forth.. Like I have mentioned, HDR is just a technique, it's not a selling point. Sell your picture to us with a theme or a subject in the first place, then sell us how you use HDR to bring out the picture more.

I have some works on HDR, not masterpieces, but when I do it, I think more about composition rather than just HDR on its own.

You may refer to my HDR set below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidktw/sets/72157606752793613/

Thanks for reviewing.

 

[aspenx]

haha omg, i dont know the 'feel', any examples? thanks for advising!

Maybe something like this?

or maybe this:

 

[serametin]

sometime when one try out hdr, and got excited, they may tend to forget the basic of a gd photos.

composition is important, straighten the tilted buildings etc.

 

[David Kwok]

Maybe something like this?

or maybe this:

Right, these are good examples Though I prefer the 2nd one. Skies with no ground normally doesn't appeal much to me personally

 

[aspenx]

Right, these are good examples Though I prefer the 2nd one. Skies with no ground normally doesn't appeal much to me personally

Oh oh, the second one was from ages ago with my D40. I guess I've never improved. Haha.

TS: Please tell me if you want the pics removed.

 

[Draken413o]

Pretty good for a first try..

Let me just tell you something you may or may not know.. you need to use photoshop to touch up the hdr image from photomatix.. or you'll just have another hdr photo rather than a hdr photo that is woah..

Tools you need to learn how to use are selective colour, pen tool, dodge and burn tool, and layer blending. Normally soft light and screen is good especially when your photo is too dark you can use screen and adjust opacity.

=)

Maybe this has some "feel" in it hehehe..

 

[iqgnos]

oh i dont have photoshop currently. haha. but thanks, will take note on the tools i need to use =)
seems like theres alot more to learn =)