Glenfinnan, Scotland in HDR - is really too dark?

[semcio]

Hi!

I've done this HDR and although I personaly think it's ok, I can't get rid of a feeling somethings not right with it. Is there something you would change about the picture? Is it too dark, as someone suggested it to me?

The image itself was shot last year, and it's HDR made from just one RAW file. I used Photomatix Pro to create HDR and Tone Map the result. Then some minor tweaks (levels, curves and sharpness) in PS.

[Sterling]

I would say that the mid ground of the photo is too dark. As a consequence, I don't bother looking at it and just see the rocks in the foreground which are nicely lit. I think some selective lightening of the two mid-ground banks would improve this sjot.

[StephenJay]

Hi, just a little advice from me. I would say it is not really that its too dark, its just that the scene is unevenly lit and my eyes are drawn to the rocks in the foreground where the light is brightest- very nice foreground interest. There is no strong mid-ground or background interest that is well lit or placed in a rule of thirds to draw your eyes too. So my eyes keep on watching the rocks. I would suggest either burning in the area with the rocks to create a more uniform lighting to help the eyes travel through the image. But overall shooting this image at a different time with better light cast into the scene will really make the big difference. Hope you can make a return visit and take this one out - it will be amazing with the right combination of light.

cheers, and hope my thoughts were helpful.
SJ

[SwissJon]

I thought the whole point of HDR in this case was to improve exposure on the darker and brighter areas.. I'd suggest you go back to the HDR software and try again with a higher exposure range.. The detail's certainly there, it just needs to be drawn out.

I'd agree about the burning, except that you've already gone to the trouble of doing the HDR, which should have done the same thing as an exposure burn, except more evenly on the darker areas.. I'm not a big fan of HDR, but I reckon you could probably tweak it to look right in this case.