Abandoned Cars...

[PhilD41]

The image below uses HDR to help bring out some of the detail. I didn't want it to look like HDR, just have a better balance in color and contrast. Especially in the dark areas such as in the cab. I realize the composition isn't going to win any awards. I am okay with that, there was limited access to take the picture to begin with. I am curious what you think of the PP. Did I get the detail in without the HDR effect or is it still glaringly obvious?

Old Car by phil41dean, on Flickr

[TheMoons678]

Very nice. I prefer the functional HDR shots that do not scream photoshop

[PhilD41]

Thanks TheMoons! I was hoping that I had not pushed this one too far. The goal really was to capture more of the detail, not distract from the subject.

[Hill Country Hack]

I feel you did well. Not overly done.

[autofocus]

Looks like you pulled it off...nice job

[nelar]

The one thing I would suggest is to back off the HDR effect on the tree trunks -- they are so vibrant that I find it draws my eye to them rather then to the cars. I think the cars would pop out more if the foreground trees weren't so bright and almost crunchy looking. I think the effect on the cars themselves works quite well.

[EOBeav]

Actually, I don't see much HDR here at all. Did you use 3 exposures, at -2, 0, and +2 EV? If not, what did you use? It just seems that your brights are too bright and your shadows too dark to really have taken advantage of HDR.

[PhilD41]

Originally Posted by autofocus

Looks like you pulled it off...nice job

Thanks!

Originally Posted by nelar

The one thing I would suggest is to back off the HDR effect on the tree trunks -- they are so vibrant that I find it draws my eye to them rather then to the cars. I think the cars would pop out more if the foreground trees weren't so bright and almost crunchy looking. I think the effect on the cars themselves works quite well.

When I have some time to go back and play with it I will give that a try. I don't tend to think about doing post blending but it does help sometimes. Thanks for the suggestion!!

Originally Posted by EOBeav

Actually, I don't see much HDR here at all. Did you use 3 exposures, at -2, 0, and +2 EV? If not, what did you use? It just seems that your brights are too bright and your shadows too dark to really have taken advantage of HDR.

I will take that you don't see much HDR here as a complement. I didn't really want you to. I wasn't using HDR to pull in major extremes in shadows and highlights, but to accentuation the details in the image. I have provided the original image below for reference. There is a lot of details in the cars and in the cabins especially that is missing in the original.

[wal]

The natural look of the scene is pretty much retained.. I like the originality of this picture. If you hadn't mentioned HDR.. I wouldn't have noticed. Great work.