HDR of Wat Arun, Bangkok

[Stryker]

As I mentioned elsewhere, just got back from Bangkok and have been going through my images. I thought this one would look good in HDR (pseudo exposures from RAW, 7 images from -1 to +1 in 0.3 steps):

From Bangkok

EXIF:
Shutter: 1/200 sec
Aperture: f / 7.0
ISO: 200
Focal length: 35 mm

It was a very cloudy day and rain was imminent when I took this. I know pseudo exposures are not the best way to do HDRs, but not having a tripod this is the best I can do at the moment. I didn't want to go over the top, just to bring out the beauty of the structures. Moreover, I don't like the halo effect of most HDR images or the pencil sketch effect of some. Do you think I have achieved what I wanted?

[trt]

I don't know much about HDR, but I think this shot looks really good. I'm not noticing much of a halo effect, so I think you did pretty good ..

Reminds me of my time back in BKK...

[Stryker]

Thanks, trt. I was trying to avoid the halo effect so I wan't very aggressive with the settings. I have a couple of others I did of the same shot which show the halo around the structures, I didn't like them so I thought this one was better. More muted, but still showing of the details.

[Murtasma]

Nicely done, I like the composition in your image. One thing that bothers me particularly in architecture photography is the lack of perspective correction. I would really like to see this image with the vertical convergence removed or at least reduced. Since the buildings take up almost all the frame you won't be able to correct the distortion in the image very much.

Try your hand at merging two or three HDR images into one so you have more image space to work with. This will allow you to use photoshop to correct the distortion while not cutting off any of the buildings. You may have limited success with this particular building since it's very tall unless you have a tilt shift lens. You should be able to reduce a lot of the vertical convergence but probably not all of it.

[Stryker]

Thanks for the suggestions, Murtasma, really appreciate it and sorry for the late reply. I actually tried a vertical perspective correction but it didn't turn out too well. I think the main reason the perspective appears converged is the fact that the two structures themselves are in the form of an elongated cone, aggravating the problem.

If you notice the one on the right (the taller one) is perfectly straight (I drew a line from the tip to the bottom and it lies on the center line all the way). The problem I am facing with the correction is that if I attempt it in Photoshop's "Lens correction" it is distorting the taller structure as well. Trying to do only the one on the left leads to a strange unnatural looking image, Is there any way I can do this without making the image look weird?

[Murtasma]

That makes some sense after looking more closely you are right I'm not sure your going to be able to correct both structures. Looks like you may just have to settle with one or the other.