Perfect Storm

[chipshill]

Just thought I'd share my first HDR attempt with you guys... I tried to give it a slight oil painting look to it without going too far, this was taken yesterday at about 4pm, sunny, almost clear skies, photomatrix and the hdr merge really brought out the details.

[powaking]

For me this is borderline of looking too fake (cartoony) but I still like it especially the clouds.

[palerider]

HDR is really cool if done right. Nice try, I have also been praticing, haven't shared any quit yet. Someone from DPS gave me this HDR Tutorial

http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial/

[Chewys Dad]

Good Technical work, could it have been better if you cloned out the light post and the buildings? The clouds are Great, but the trees on both sides seem to distract me from them, taking away from the DOF.
But hey, I'm just learning like everybody else here!!!!
Good Work on the HDR aspect.
Chewys Dad.

[chipshill]

Yeah I considered taking out the buildings and the lamp but i wanted to show some signs of life rather than just an empty landscape as i do live in the centre of liverpool (busy city for people who dont know). As for the fake/cartoony look, I see that too, I just hope its not too much, as i was taking it and editing it in my mind, i was only picturing it oil painted onto some sort of canvas so i tried to exaggerate the features a bit (you can see where the oil painting side comes in if you look closely at the white lamp),,, i hope that makes sense?

@palerider, thank alot for the tut, will give that a good read this week

thanks for the opinions its all a big learning curve

[AoxoA]

The buildings add to the ambiance of an old midwestern country setting, but the lamp jars you out of that. It also throws you out of the scene directionally by pointing up and out like that.

Other than that I think you've made a nice illustrative interpretation of the scene with the HDR.

AoxoA

[chipshill]

i understand exactly what you mean now i've looked at it again after reading your post... hmmm, the lamp is just too modern, doesnt fit in with the mood, i definately should have taken it from the other side of the house where we have an old iron lamp on the wall,,, gutted lol

the original is in my photobucket page below if anyone is interested