Tried the HDR effect without using HDR

[avishek24]

I wanted to try the HDR effect without actually using HDR. I think this method was elaborated on by someone on DPS earlier through an article. I wanted some critique on the overall effect achieved. Did it even get close to an HDR effect? I did this by using the fill-light and recovery sliders. Then increased the blacks and tweaked the exposure.



Sorry, forgot the EXIF info. Here it is

Exif data

Camera Canon EOS Kiss X2
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/18.0
Focal Length 18 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

[klam]

it does look HDR'ish

[anniehun]

I`m just learning HDR (actually would like to find a "short cut" myself as long as I don`t have a camera that has AEB), but in my view you got a pretty good result here. I like it

[derekspacelewis]

Great lookin shot! I'd say that you got everything out of it that you would in an HDR. Keep it up.

[avishek24]

Originally Posted by anniehun

I`m just learning HDR (actually would like to find a "short cut" myself as long as I don`t have a camera that has AEB), but in my view you got a pretty good result here. I like it

Thank you so much annie. I tried this out with only a single shot. Not much in terms of the composition of the picture but when I looked at the sky in the original I thought I would play around with it a bit and see how it turned out. My only problem is that the monument is actually off white in color. Using this method has made it more brown. I am not sure how to fix that.

Originally Posted by derekspacelewis

Great lookin shot! I'd say that you got everything out of it that you would in an HDR. Keep it up.

Thanks derek

[BK553]

It definitely looks "HDRish". Not sure if that's good or bad though. Unfortunately doing it this way you don't get the benefits of "real" HDR, like having detail under the arches and in the window frames. That's the only downside I can see.

[avishek24]

Originally Posted by BK553

It definitely looks "HDRish". Not sure if that's good or bad though. Unfortunately doing it this way you don't get the benefits of "real" HDR, like having detail under the arches and in the window frames. That's the only downside I can see.

I agree BK553. What I was trying to do was to get a correct exposure for both the sky and the subject, in this case, the monument without using HDR and by using a single shot. You are right about the window frames bit. I think some more hard work on those areas particularly may be able to solve the issue. HDR itself would have given a much better overall look but I was too lazy to go through the entire process Thanks for your comment.

[anniehun]

[QUOTE=avishek24;1076157]Thank you so much annie. I tried this out with only a single shot. Not much in terms of the composition of the picture but when I looked at the sky in the original I thought I would play around with it a bit and see how it turned out. My only problem is that the monument is actually off white in color. Using this method has made it more brown. I am not sure how to fix that.

Did you shoot in RAW? Guess white balance would be an easy fix then. But I am sure I did not say anything new now ... anyhow, to me, the building looks just fine with this color... (only you know it is not the "real" one ... and who said art has to reflect reality 1 to 1?...LOL)

[avishek24]

Originally Posted by anniehun

Did you shoot in RAW? Guess white balance would be an easy fix then. But I am sure I did not say anything new now ... anyhow, to me, the building looks just fine with this color... (only you know it is not the "real" one ... and who said art has to reflect reality 1 to 1?...LOL)

Yeah, I did shoot in RAW but I am still very new to post processing and I have still got a bunch of things that I need to figure out including how to fix the white balance in pics. I also have to find out how to leverage the advantages of the RAW format.

[Krusty79]

You could try taking one image for the highlights and one for the darker areas and blend them together in PS. I have never done this, but I've seen it recommended on this site. It's probably asking too much for your camera to capture the dark shadows of the building and the bright clouds in one image.

If you tried it your way closer to sunset when the sky is not so bright, you might have better results.