First attempt at HDR

[thatBilly]

Hi folks, I've just done a couple of HDR images looking out my windows and I'm quite (but not entirely) pleased with this one. I'd love to have some feedback.

This one was done with a 3 shot bracket ±1.7EV, converted to tifs using Pentax software (ACR takes more work for the same results) then processed with HDR Efex Pro. I suppose I'm least happy with the amount of blue in the foreground and I probably should have adjusted the WB first but instead I just batch exported the files.

What could I have changed to make it a better HDR image?

I posted this one because I think it's better than the other. The second one is a bit soft; no tripod! And the sky is a bit flat and dark.


HDR from my kitchen window by thatBilly, on Flickr

Camera			Pentax K-r
Aperture		f/5.6
Focal Length		55 mm
ISO Speed		200
Flash	On, 		Did not fire
Image Width		4285
Image Height		2840
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode		Multi-segment
Color Space		sRGB
Sensing Method		One-chip color area
Exposure Mode		Auto bracket
White Balance		Auto
Equiv focal Length	82 mm
Scene Capture Type	Standard
Contrast		High
Saturation		Normal
Sharpness		Hard
Subject Distance Range	Distant
Creator Tool		PENTAX Digital Camera Utility Ver. 4.30

[RichardHealy]

I agree this is better than the second photo - there you have the dreaded localised halo on the horizon. You can avoid that by careful control of the luminosity slider when you process the tonemap or always try remixing in one of the original exposures.

Back to this photo; compositionally I'm not entirely sure what you had hoped to achieve with this photo. I think the brilliant sky and the retreating hills are, for me, the most visually arresting part of the image but they occupy slightly less than half the image.

I realise you are shooting from the kitchen window so this may be constraining, but are you familiar with the rule of thirds, and how and when the break it?

I offer that up as something to look into if not, if you wanted to make more of the architecture in the foreground, or alternatively emphasise the sunset above it.

See this photo in the SYS forum for an example of what a slightly different angle could have done to the sky and maybe make that something you play around with in future photos you intend to give the full HDR treatment to.

[thatBilly]

Thank you for the feedback. I've been playing around with the sliders more since I did these two. The halo does look nasty on the second one.

Originally Posted by Richard Healy

Back to this photo; compositionally I'm not entirely sure what you had hoped to achieve with this photo. I think the brilliant sky and the retreating hills are, for me, the most visually arresting part of the image but they occupy slightly less than half the image.

I realise you are shooting from the kitchen window so this may be constraining, but are you familiar with the rule of thirds, and how and when the break it?

There was virtually no thought put into composition. I just looked out the window and saw a relatively small section of skyline that looked suited to HDR so I took the shots. I'm very much a novice and I've got a lot to learn. I am vaguely familiar with the rule of thirds but not when to break it and I'm still getting to grips with actually using my new camera.

Thanks again for the information, I do appreciate you taking the time.