My first ever HDR shot

[MARKY,R]

Hey guys/girls I have been comming and going to this site/forums for the last year or so in the shadows just browsing realy,,, Earlier in the week i decided to buy myself my very first entry level DSLR, The Canon 1000d. Im very interested in HDR at the moment so I decided to Go take some pics today In a wooded area close to my home.

Thankfully one of the lads at work gave me his tripod,,,, I realy wanted to try this affect of blurring the moving water and so on, then i remembered some of the HDR images i seen and also the Tutorials on here, so i looked for a spot setup my camera and went for the shot.

[johnske]

Very nyce, well done!

[MARKY,R]

Thanks john i was realy excited when i seen the final result,,, although for sure i need some guidance here,,, so please guys point out where i could change some things,, Im willing to take it on board for sure

[MARKY,R]

Hey sorry to add in my post

Canon EOS 1000d
Lens EFs 18-55mm f 3.5 - 5.6

AEB 3 shots

1st shot iso 1600 f/36 1.0s 0ev 52mm

2nd shot iso 1600 f36 1/4s -2ev

3rd shot iso 1600 f36 4.0s +2ev

Tone mapped in photomatix pro

[tomdinning]

You got the water right. Well done.
As far as the HDR I have a feeling that you have cncentrated on the processing and not on the reason for you choosing this place to photograph (unless yu where just experimenting on any old place).
This is a place of variying contrasts and tones. There would be a consderable difference in light intensity thoughout the scene. The grens would be anything from almost black to light shades with gradual changes.
All that has been lost with the HDR and saturation you have chosen. The effect to get a 'correct exposure' has over-riddent the mood you could have created.
HDR works brilliantly for some things. But its brutal to a scene like this.
Use your existing exposures to blend them using layer masking, then dodging and burning where needed.
Its a bit more time consuming but its more fun and most of the time, all that is needed for shots like this.
EIther that, or borrow your mtes tripod (no, better still, go buy your own) and go back to have another shot at it. That's even more fun.

[EOBeav]

Move that strength slider down to 20 or so, and increase your contrast.

[wbrook13]

I'm new to HDR, but I agree with this assessment . . .

"All that has been lost with the HDR and saturation you have chosen. The effect to get a 'correct exposure' has over-riddent the mood you could have created.
HDR works brilliantly for some things. But its brutal to a scene like this."

What a beautiful location. I could spend hours there.

(I don't know how to take a part of a previous reply. That's the reason I copy/pasted)