Plethora of Material (bookshelf)

[crazzy88ss]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/2219904708_2ccf3368f9.jpg

http://flickr.com/photos/stephenkirsh/2219904708/

Five RAW exposures taken with my tokina 12-24m @ 12mm. This is a crop from the original image. Used photomatix to merge the HDR and ran an USM in CS2.

What do you guys think of the crop/composition?

[Japaslavian]

I think HDR was a good choice for this. There's a lot of texture that you managed to get from the different exposures, mostly in the wood grain.
I seem to keep glancing over to The Love of Horses because it is so much taller and is kind of the peak of the ascending books on the left side. It kind of distracts me from the rest of the image.
Maybe, if you were to place a book in the middle and on top of the other books, or at a slant, it would pose as more of a subject because I'm a little lost in the image. I don't really know exactly where I'm supposed to be looking.
Otherwise, I think I quite like it.

[ELAY]

I think HDR was a good choice for this. There's a lot of texture that you managed to get from the different exposures, mostly in the wood grain.

It's funny, because I had almost the opposite reaction. I like the sharpness and exposure, but while I am a fan of the grain, I think your post-processing brought the grain out to such an extent that it really overshadows the books. I am not sure that this is the right choice -- seems to me that you want the colour and patterns in the book spines to be the subject here.

I think I must be becoming a cranky old guy, because I just don't get the choice of HDR for a shot like this (and I am not picking on you -- I know that lots of people make the same choice). I get that you use HDR to expand dynamic range in a shot where a conventional exposure couldn't handle it, but clearly that was not the situation with your bookcase shot. Sorry to put you on the spot and make you the spokesperson for the HDR forces, but what are looking for HDR to do for this shot (and I am asking out of genuine curiosity, not rhetorically)?

EL

[CallMeKat]

It's funny, because I had almost the opposite reaction. I like the sharpness and exposure, but while I am a fan of the grain, I think your post-processing brought the grain out to such an extent that it really overshadows the books. I am not sure that this is the right choice -- seems to me that you want the colour and patterns in the book spines to be the subject here.

I think I must be becoming a cranky old guy, because I just don't get the choice of HDR for a shot like this (and I am not picking on you -- I know that lots of people make the same choice). I get that you use HDR to expand dynamic range in a shot where a conventional exposure couldn't handle it, but clearly that was not the situation with your bookcase shot. Sorry to put you on the spot and make you the spokesperson for the HDR forces, but what are looking for HDR to do for this shot (and I am asking out of genuine curiosity, not rhetorically)?

EL

i have to disagree! maybe because i'm a gullible young girl but i really like this shot and think HDR was perfect for it. i think the detail in the wood goes together with tatty covers of the books highlighting a theme of agedness. i also like how the photo is framed by the shelves above and below. i just like this shot :)

[ELAY]

i have to disagree! maybe because i'm a gullible young girl but i really like this shot and think HDR was perfect for it.

Don't get me wrong -- I don't think there is anything wrong with the shot technically, or dislike the shot.

I just want to be educated on the choice of HDR. I think of HDR as being something you use to circumvent the dynamic range limitations of your sensor. So for a shot like this, where those limitations don't come into play...it just seems to me like you are fixing something that ain't broke. For me it is not unlike selective colourization -- fine technique, but you need to pick your spots. I wouldn't thought to pick this spot, and would like to get insight into what about this photo makes it a candidate for HDR.

[clockdoc]

I favor the application of the HRD process in situations that require its use when lighting is beyond the photographer's control such as in architectural shots. Perhaps your bookcase shot was as a learning tool to help you master Photomatix. In this particular shot I feel you could have achieved the same (or a more dramatic) effect by concentrating on your use of lighting (off-camera flash, bounce light, incandescent lamps, reflectors, etc.). Composition is a little flat, meaning a bit too straight on, with no real subject to capture the eye of the viewer.

[peeperita]

when i think of the use of hdr, my mind immediately goes to the landscape image.....where contrasts are beyond the control of your equipment....when skies, buildings, and the lost details of shadow are revealed....

but!....using it in this situation works for me as well.....because i feel that the basic concept applies......revealing all detail and that mindbending even-ing of exposures.......without the use and good placement of lights.....i think you did an admirable job of choosing the exposures of all the separate elements.....

i'd like to see a crop, though.....one that shaves off the edges of your horizontal shelves....their vertical edges seem to close in on the image and the orange is a bit distracting.....

if you choose to recrop, i would be interested in seeing the results.....

thanks

peeper

[FocalFrenzy]

My only suggestion would be to pull one book out part way to give the viewer something specific to focus on. This is a nice shot, with or without HDR.

[CallMeKat]

hey crazzy88ss! how about answering the question about choosing HDR for this shot? :)

if it were me i think i would use it because the shelf would cast a shadow over the books and cover the grain detail of the wood. maybe he used HDR to get all the detail. i think it looks good :)