My First HDR Please C&C

[NikonD40x@Denver]

Before


HDR or a good try

 

[Sw1tchFX]

The hdr's have too much contrast, there's more highlight and shadow detail in the originals. You can achieve better results with similar looks through standard post production.

 

[Kanikula]

From my amature HDR point of vei the contrast is to much on #1 and the higlights have been blown resulting in lost detail.

You need to achieve something much more "mellow"

Image #2 im not seeing an awful lot of difference.

 

[NikonD40x@Denver]

Maybe my Post processing is lacking..... I'll need to practice.... any suggestions on doing so

 

[Kanikula]

There is no hard or fast rules for HDR - its about personal preference and what you are tring to achieve for the final image

Im sure someone with more experience will be along to help you out soon

 

[ScottS]

First, I'm assuming that you are using 1 RAW image?
OK well with number one, you achieved the opposite of what HDR is supposed to do. See on the side of the ruin where is slightly shadowed? Well in the HDR you came up with that same area is blacked out. HDR should lighten that area up, and darken the areas that are brighter... Does that make sense? ( i kinda confused myself there for a second. ) If not i can draw up a little diagram that explains it perfectly.

 

[|)\/8]

True HDRs are made up of multiple exposures, this is what gives you a large range of values between light and dark areas. It looks like you used a single exposure, so these are really not HDRs but are more in line with tone mapping.