In the Shadows

[Bynx]

Rather than using Photomatix I did this manually from 3 shots.

 

[Provo]

Great DOF I like this shot

 

[Robin Usagani]

What do you mean by manually? Also, how much better is photomatrix compared to HDR processing adobe CS4 has?

 

[Provo]

Photoshop CS4 Merge to hdr fuction is limited control compared to 3rd party software such as photomatix in which you have total control.

 

[Bynx]

Photomatix is way beyond CS4 for ease and quality of your finished HDR.
By manually I mean for some reason when I took the 5 pics without tripod they wouldnt line up no matter what I did. So instead of using Photomatix I cut and pasted areas from 3 photos to create the final. For example the house was blasted pure white in the middle shot. Also the rocks in front of the statue on the right were blasted white also but less so than the house. Also the statue itself was 3 pics to create.