HDR Photography - First Attempt.

[harrypalmer044]

Hi All,
Its a while since i was on here last with any images to share, been spending my time looking for a job after been made redundant for the first time in my life. Anyway, I have wanted to try my hand at HDR Photography for some time but never really understood how it was done. Then last week a photo magazine here in the UK had an article on it so here is my first attempt. It was taken at Monsal Head, here in the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. Been stuck in the house for weeks and was going a bit stir crazy to had to get out and clear my head. Please let me know what you think... Your opinions matter right now.

[TAGfan]

I love the picture, but it doesn't look like an HDR. Alot of HDRs are a bit too surreal (including my own to this point), but this one could be just a normal capture.

Did you make it using three different exposures?

[harrypalmer044]

Hi there,
Yes I followed the magazines example to the letter, Mind you I am not sure if that is the whole point of HRD to make them a bit more surreal if you know what I mean? maybe I should adjust it a bit more?

[shutternut]

Looks good. I think the more "surreal" HDR's come about when you use HDR software to generate an image and do tone mapping, on top of blending it with your other original exposures. An image can still be considered HDR without that when you blend 3+ exposures of an image manually, and even these can look surreal. The look really just depends on how far you take your edits, and just how exposed you make each area of the photo. For example, if you lifted the shadows in the trees and on the hills so that you could see more detail in those, it would start to edge more toward surreal, although not a whole lot. I think you did a good job of keeping everything well exposed without taking it too far. In other words.. it's realistic, and if that's what you were going for in following the tutorial, then job well done!

[fstopMike]

Interesting subject matter and I like the perspective. I'd call this HDR Light and a well done first attempt. I think it might could stand a little more processing, but that would be hard for me to gauge without seeing something side-by-side. Good luck on the job search!

[harrypalmer044]

Thanks for the comments guys, seems to me HDR is a bit of an odd ball when it comes to how we interpret it. I like the idea of capturing all the different lighting thats going on but not over doing it so it detracts from the original feeling of the place. Does that make sense? I will have to have another try with my exposures and see how different I can make it.

[TAGfan]

David -

If you are interested I recommend this online HDR tutorial by stuckincustoms. Its what I used the first time, and though the results can look a bit stronger than reality, you can always tone it down.

Good luck!

i know we have already discussed your image, but i was looking through a few pages of postings today and came across this one, its a first time HDR as well, but this is more of what people think of when hearing HDR. thread title is washington-crossing by TAGfan

haha, thats so funny, i just realized i posted an image by TAGfan as an example and he has commented your photo just above me lol

[TAGfan]

Originally Posted by ntinlizi

i know we have already discussed your image, but i was looking through a few pages of postings today and came across this one, its a first time HDR as well, but this is more of what people think of when hearing HDR. thread title is washington-crossing by TAGfan

Yes, and it is one of the surreal images I was describing. I think I need to dial it down, and maybe you can dial it up, and we'll meet in the middle somewhere!