Feel free to rip me apart ...

itBurns · Sep 17, 2011

So I got my D3100 yesterday, which is the first DSLR camera I've ever used - in fact, it is the first camera I've ever tampered with manual settings unlike every other P&S camera I've had which I always did Auto everything.

With that being said, I therefore expect not many of you to like it, but, this is one of the first HDR pictures I've made. I am impressed with myself, though, I know I have loads to learn and improve on.

What you are looking at is a fully hand-made train set that my grandfather (who passed away this past July 3rd) made many years ago. (He made a total of 3 sets; 1 for each of his sons). I'm 99.99% sure he also made the wall mount it is on. The background is just my living room wall - which, I could've softened when I HDR'd it so it wouldn't look so rough, however, I liked the contrast it gave.

http://ambesi.me/images/hdrtrain.jpg

And, here is a picture of my whack set-up. Since it was dark outside, and the room is not lit, I used one of my lights I use for working on my cars as the light source, and had the camera next to it on the tripod.

pathoulihan1 · Sep 18, 2011

Nice picture bud. Obviously a fine piece of workmanship. In the daylight you probably wouldn't have had to HDR the image, but at night with that lighting it worked out very nicely. IMO it lends nicely to the texture of the wood.

From what I've gathered some people frown on the practice of using HDR when it isn't technically necessary. They may not state there opinions here, but there are people think that photographers that use HDR too much, use it as a crutch. I call that kind of generalization nonsense. I think it's okay to use HDR however you like along as you're happy with the results. As far as I'm concerned beauty is in the eye of the photographer

.

Majeed Badizadegan · Sep 18, 2011

It's pretty good!

Bynx · Sep 18, 2011

Good words from pathoulihan which I agree with 100%

pen · Sep 18, 2011

Really nice work, I just don't like the harsh shadow.

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edddial · Sep 18, 2011

Agreed with all above. Fine art works; the train & the shot!

Compaq · Sep 18, 2011

Nice shot indeed!

I'd like more shadow. If you had lowered the light a bit, the shadow would grow. I agree with the philosophical speech earlier!

SlickSalmon · Sep 18, 2011

pen said:
Really nice work, I just don't like the harsh shadow.

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Another way to handle the same shot and employ HDR in an interesting way is to take several shots with the light source at different positions and then combine them with HDR software. This technique brings out the detail in the object being photographed and eliminates the strong shadows.

itBurns · Sep 18, 2011

Thanks all for the comments and tips, and glad that you guys actually like it.

I'll be sure to show my future work

Bynx · Sep 18, 2011

To keep things natural looking the light source should be above the train. Your bulb is the sun so in the sun position it would be more natural looking. The glare spot on the wood and the odd shadow position are negative factors to me in appreciating the train itself.

itBurns · Sep 18, 2011

Bynx said:
To keep things natural looking the light source should be above the train. Your bulb is the sun so in the sun position it would be more natural looking. The glare spot on the wood and the odd shadow position are negative factors to me in appreciating the train itself.

Yeah I completely understand that. The light is actually on my chair because the light fixture is really low. It was an idea that just popped in my mind and I tried to work with it. I never thought about the sun positioning idea - I'll have to try to think of a way how I can mount the light higher.

Bynx · Sep 18, 2011

My main light source for a lot of my indoor shooting is a simple 60 watt bulb. Its interesting how creative you can get with that simple thing.

tevo · Sep 18, 2011

Investigate HDR halo(ing). Other than that, nice shot.

IMHO a small halo on this type of picture would look good, in fact even this photo as is does not look bad.

boon4376 · Sep 18, 2011

itBurns said:
So I got my D3100 yesterday, which is the first DSLR camera I've ever used - in fact, it is the first camera I've ever tampered with manual settings unlike every other P&S camera I've had which I always did Auto everything.

With that being said, I therefore expect not many of you to like it, but, this is one of the first HDR pictures I've made. I am impressed with myself, though, I know I have loads to learn and improve on.

What you are looking at is a fully hand-made train set that my grandfather (who passed away this past July 3rd) made many years ago. (He made a total of 3 sets; 1 for each of his sons). I'm 99.99% sure he also made the wall mount it is on. The background is just my living room wall - which, I could've softened when I HDR'd it so it wouldn't look so rough, however, I liked the contrast it gave.

http://ambesi.me/images/hdrtrain.jpg

The only thing that bugs me is the hotspot under "Surreal". The wall texture everywhere else is great, but right there its harsh and doesn't flow with the rest of the photo.

manaheim · Sep 18, 2011

I swear I feel like I'm in some sort of alternate reality on this site sometimes.

Unless the shadow was intentional, I don't get how this is a "nice shot". I also don't get what HDR added to this shot, really. Perhaps a bit more variety in the woodtones, but I'm not seeing much. It all seems pretty well within the range of what a single explosure can capture, particularly since the subject is being nuked by a shop light.

There's also a matter of composition... it's a fine "inventory shot", but there's nothing interesting about the shot compositionally. It's a pic of a wood train. Useful? Perhaps. Exciting? Not really.

Don't get me wrong, the train itself is very cool, I just think the picture itself isn't great.

From a purely technical perspective, if you want to do an HDR, just turn off that shop light and go through the range of exposures on your tripod and you should be fine. If you don't want to do an HDR, get a better light source, or at least try bouncing it somewhere so as to minimize those shadows.

From a more artistic perspective, try some interesting angles and perspectives, play with your DOF, etc.