First HDR....would appreciate critiques!!

pathoulihan1 · Aug 4, 2011

1/400
-2, -1, -.3, +2
24mm
custom tone mapping (detail) in Photomatix pro

ISO 125
1/500
-2. -1, , 0, +1, +2
5mm
custom tone mapping (detail) in Photomatix pro

both taken with a Sony DSC-HX1

Let me know what you think I could do differently to get better results (besides get a better camera, just not in the cards right now) I know a lot of people don't really take to the "overcooked look" which the first one may be, but either way I'm brand new at it so, fire away!

Bynx · Aug 5, 2011

The thing that grabs me the most is the yellow in both shots. The sky looks very unnatural. Play with the colors a bit and try to get them a little more natural and the shots will look a lot better.

Seelow · Aug 7, 2011

Thatcher Park ! I've been there many times good to see someone local on here. As for the photos not really my style of HDR. Did you use a tripod? seems a bit shaky in the clouds not much detail, might have been a hazy day too. Maybe try just three exposures -2,0,+2 works great for me in Photomatix. Its takes trial and error to get it right.

pathoulihan1 · Aug 7, 2011

I agree, it was hazy down toward albany and the wind was up moving the clouds pretty quickly so 3 exposures quickly may have had a difference. I did use a tripod with a timer so im going to guess that the movement is from the breeze. Thanks for the advice.

JG_Coleman · Aug 7, 2011

Let me know what you think I could do differently to get better results (besides get a better camera, just not in the cards right now) I know a lot of people don't really take to the "overcooked look" which the first one may be, but either way I'm brand new at it so, fire away!

The thing that grabs me the most is the yellow in both shots. The sky looks very unnatural. Play with the colors a bit and try to get them a little more natural and the shots will look a lot better.

Yeah, Bynx hit the nail on the head. "Over-cooked" is certainly an HDR style that I'm not crazy about. But even over-cooked HDRs still hold certain aspects important, like achieving some semblance of color-accuracy.

In the interest of being honest (but truly without meaning to be hurtful), the sky in the first shot has been mangled beyond all recognition. The clouds in the second shot aren't nearly so mutilated, but ... well... let's just say that I've never seen clouds quite that color in my entire life.

In general, try to get in the habit of tweaking settings until you can honestly say to yourself that the elements in the photograph faithfully reproduce the colors you saw in the scene (allowing reasonable room for enhancement). As I mentioned before, even over-cooked HDRs might call upon some rather unrealistic over-saturation... but I don't think that's what's going on here. The color temperature is just way off. Try cooling it down some... and by some, I mean alot.