HDR attempt

[panthrcat]

I have never done this before, but have seen some beautiful work done in HDR, I am going to bracket some images while I am out this weekend and do another attempt at HDR when I get home next week. here's my efforts using photoshop CS3

Sue

before:

after:

[OutlawTorn]

Let me preface this with the fact that I think this is a beautiful spot and that Im about to get longwinded, so click your "Back" button now if youre not interested!

I dont think the scene itself really warrants an HDR treatment. HDR is usually applied when there is too much dynamic range (too much difference between the darkest darks and the lightest lights) to capture the image with one exposure. In this image, it doesnt look like there are any blown highlights or crushed shadows to begin with.

The end result isnt really HDR, its merely a regular scene with the contrast and saturation cranked up. I would try a scene with a truly wide dynamic range like a sunrise or sunset to test out the capabilities of HDR.

However, you mentioned you have CS3. My recommendation would be to skip the HDR thing because its tempting (and easy) to "over-cook" an HDR image and end up with un-realistic results.

Instead, the next time you have a scene with high dynamic range, just expose one image for the sky and one image for the ground and pull both into CS3. Paste your dark image (the one exposed for the sky) as a layer into your lighter image and use layer masks to paint in your foreground/middleground. This will result in a much more natural looking image, IMO.

If you do insist on using HDR, Ill sell you my license for Photomatix on the cheap - its great software but if you cant tell, Im not much for HDR.

Are you still there?

[Steve Foss]

just expose one image for the sky and one image for the ground and pull both into CS3. Paste your dark image (the one exposed for the sky) as a layer into your lighter image and use layer masks to paint in your foreground/middleground. This will result in a much more natural looking image, IMO.

That's what I do instead of HDR. Works quite well.