Getting better at HDR

[daniel]

those look pretty good! wish i was able to do that!

very nice pix. im trying to learn to do HDR myself.

cool. What levels do you set it to? I tried this with photomatix but my editing I guess it terrible.

Any tips on how to edit it to look like your photos above?

great shots, I need to learn how to shoot like that and/or edit like that

dont bother guys, 87e30 will just come into your thread and set you straight. hdr is completely stupid and pointless, and he wishes people would stop using that technique. it would only be right to respect the wishes of the photography god.

[downforce22]

dont bother guys, 87e30 will just come into your thread and set you straight. hdr is completely stupid and pointless, and he wishes people would stop using that technique. it would only be right to respect the wishes of the photography god.

thanks but I didnt ask you ;)

[daniel]

thanks but I didnt ask you ;)

i don't think you understood what i said, but ok.

[87e30]

dont bother guys, 87e30 will just come into your thread and set you straight. hdr is completely stupid and pointless, and he wishes people would stop using that technique. it would only be right to respect the wishes of the photography god.

You really that butthurt over what I said?

There are some good HDRs, but it's usually because you can't tell that they are HDR. I'm a terrible photographer... but I've given up trying to make bad pictures interesting by simply throwing them into photomatix.

[Fusion]

Here'a a couple of mine. I was just interested in the technique so I tried playing aroung with it.

[daniel]

You really that butthurt over what I said?

There are some good HDRs, but it's usually because you can't tell that they are HDR. I'm a terrible photographer... but I've given up trying to make bad pictures interesting by simply throwing them into photomatix.

no i'm not butthurt. i just thought it was funny that you took time out of your r3v experience to tell me to stop trying hdr, as if i would heed your advice.

i've been trying hdr recently because i'm interested in the process, not because it is a solution to bad photos.

i post them here because i know there are many photography enthusiasts on the site that might appreciate my efforts or might give me constructive criticism.

it is hard for me to take you seriously when you say "stop doing hdr altogether". You've posted some good photos of your own here on the site so I know you're into photography. iirc you even posted a photo of a gift you received - i think it was the nikkor 12-24 or the 14-24 - also indicating to me that you are an enthusiast.

in contrast, farbin, who as far as i know might snap some photos every now and again, but does not consider himself to be an "enthusiast", offered me pretty useful suggestions - "Maybe use subject matter with some other color palates in it. Like city streets stuff, I think your greens are being too green."

[Beastolizer]

incredible shots. I love the first and last photo!

[87e30]

no i'm not butthurt. i just thought it was funny that you took time out of your r3v experience to tell me to stop trying hdr, as if i would heed your advice.

i've been trying hdr recently because i'm interested in the process, not because it is a solution to bad photos.

i post them here because i know there are many photography enthusiasts on the site that might appreciate my efforts or might give me constructive criticism.

it is hard for me to take you seriously when you say "stop doing hdr altogether". You've posted some good photos of your own here on the site so I know you're into photography. iirc you even posted a photo of a gift you received - i think it was the nikkor 12-24 or the 14-24 - also indicating to me that you are an enthusiast.

in contrast, farbin, who as far as i know might snap some photos every now and again, but does not consider himself to be an "enthusiast", offered me pretty useful suggestions - "Maybe use subject matter with some other color palates in it. Like city streets stuff, I think your greens are being too green."

I was just annoyed with HDR at the moment and following in the typical r3v fashion posted in that manor. Yeah, I'm into photography but I don't by any means think that I'm good or that you should take my seriously. It was a passing comment dude.

[Stephen]

87e30 is only saying that because HDR is the big aluminum wing of photography

[T Verdier]

its not allowed to be "played" or what ever all the kids call it! its a art!, not some fashion trend.

[87e30]

its not allowed to be "played" or what ever all the kids call it! its a art!, not some fashion trend.

Right, because art never moves in trends...

[Stephen]

[mintscorpion]

cool. What levels do you set it to? I tried this with photomatix but my editing I guess it terrible.

Any tips on how to edit it to look like your photos above?

I sucked at HDR not too long ago but I did some research and tinkering and managed to figure it out.

The first thing is taking the photos, obviously. I was using the Auto Exposure Bracketing(AEB) feature on my Canon, but I didn't really like the results. Now I use full manual mode to get my exposures by setting the fstop and adjusting the shutter speed. Everyone always says to use 3 exposures but I like to use 5. -2, -1, 0. +1, +2. I also use iso 100.

To get the basic HDR image I like to use photoshop over photomatrix because I think it does a better job of merging the images but thats just my preference. Then I take that .TIFF image and open it in photomatrix to do the tone mapping.

I have found now that I have my settings the way I like them, it takes very little time and a bit tweaking to get the desired HDR image.

My basic settings in photomatrix are as follows:

Strength at or near 100
Color Saturation at or near 100
Luminosity at or near 10.0
Microcontrast at or near 10.0

Smoothing usually at high or max

White point between 3% and 5%
Black point Less than 1%

Temperature varies depending on the image
Saturation Highlights at or near 10
Saturation Shadows at or near 10

Micro-smoothing at or near 0.0
Hightlights Smoothness at or near 0.0
Shodows Smoothness at or near 0.0
Shodows Clipping at or near 0.0

I hope this helps.

[mintscorpion]

I just read all the other posters sipping on haterade, just kidding. This is an open forum and all are entitled to their opinions. Here's mine:

I personally like all forms of photography except that scene kid bathroom mirror photography, ugh. Anyway, I don't think it's a band-aid for bad photography, it does actually take some skill to accomplish. And I don't think it's fair to compare it with ricer accessories. Personally, I really like the overly dramatic effects that can be accomplished over regular single exposure photography. I think HDR has its place and I think it's here to stay.

[StereoInstaller1]

I has new desktop.

Thanks!

Will be on new monitor soon!

Luke