first attempt at HDR!

[Gsurf1029]

and it was at night. i took this at the holocaust memorial last night. i know it probably isnt the best HDR image, but what do you think?

 

[TheSon]

Lights are too light (flared lamps) and darks are too dark (shadows). There are a lot of HDR halos throughout. I don't know if you chose a good scene or it is just processed poorly.

Are you using photomatrix?

 

[rfosness88]

That looks cool, did you use a tripod? all three photos lined up well. Did you use Photomatix or photoshop?

 

[Gsurf1029]

i used photomatix. any tips would be amazing. i want to get it to that still realistic, but very vivid state, and not overly/poorly done like mine but idk how to. anyone know anything that could help me out?

 

[AlexColeman]

It looks far too fake, unless that is the effect you are seeking, try toning it down.

 

[mosu84]

i used photomatix. any tips would be amazing. i want to get it to that still realistic, but very vivid state, and not overly/poorly done like mine but idk how to. anyone know anything that could help me out?

How many exposures did you use? Can you post your original photos?

 

[inTempus]

That's crazy, it almost looks like a cartoon.

 

[fiveoboy01]

Agreed, it looks like a painting.

I think it's a good example of overdone HDR... But I think that these types of photos DO have a place. Cartoony looks, to me, are cool even if some don't like them.

I see HDR as a way to take a picture with high contrast and lots of shadows/bright areas, and end up with an image in which you can easily view the shadows/bright areas. That lighthouse photo is an excellent example of it.

 

[Gsurf1029]

anyone know a good way to tone it down even. i was having a hard time with it in photomatix. ill post the originals and maybe someone can help out.

 

[Gsurf1029]

its hard for me to get a smooth edit. here are the originals
sorry for size

 

[sultan]

The HDR looks too cartoony and overdone. I don't think the effect suits a memorial. I like the looks of original #1. The sky looks kinda haunted and cool. If you had spiced up the composition on that photo and kept the exposure as is , I think it would have been a cool photo, without HDR or anything.

I'm personally not a fan of photoshopped images and HDRs much. An unusual but realistic looking picture is far more impressive to me.

 

[Gsurf1029]

maybe this image is a little better

 

[mosu84]

Looking at your originals, I don't think any HDR is needed here and it's going to be hard to make it look good

 

[Gsurf1029]

yes, the more i look at it the more i can see it was a bad image for hdr. ill have to keep and original and edit it as is.

 

[Gsurf1029]

yeah, so ive pretty much realized this picture is just no good, so i scrapped it.
here is a more subtle merge of some photos during the day.
any better?