My first HDR shot

[Phil2k]

Hi guys,

So I've been attempting my first HDR shots. Let me know what you think of this picture. I'm personally quite happy with it but I see a lot of debate over what makes a good HDR shot so I'd be really interested to get your feedback.


"Blackbird"

Go easy on me guys! I hurt easily! Just kidding, light me up!

 

[vipgraphx]

Honestly - YOu have failed to get the DR in this image. Not sure if it is your processing or not enough exposures. You have halos going on.

Composition I feel lacks big time. I think the processing adds to this.

 

[Phil2k]

The halos I have no idea how to avoid and it is extremely annoying, advice on that would be great. As for the composition, could you explain a little further? I think the composition is good. One thing I will say is that I was extremely limited in how I could shoot the aircraft as the USS Intrepid confiscated my tripod on entry to the museum. This was one of only a few 100% stable shots I could take (I got this one by perching the camera on a fence (a 50ft drop and the Hudson River) was on the other side of that fence!).

 

[Bynx]

You can avoid the halos by moving the Highlight Smoother to the right. How many shots did you take for your final.

 

[Phil2k]

Thanks Bynx, I'll look into that. I use Oloneo HDR Engine for processing so I'll need to find the equivalent slider.

I took 3 shots. I would like to have taken 5 but it is a little bit tricky with the Canon t2i, there's no five shot setting, meaning you have to increase the steps manually, which can lead to the camera changing position.

 

[vipgraphx]

IF you know how to use photoshop you could also mask out the halos using your original exposures.

The composition does not work for me sorry. I would prefer to see more of the plane then that back portion of it. To add on top it is very dark so you can not see detail which does not help your composition. Perhaps if there was more detail in it would not look as bad to me. Remember its just my opinion.

 

[jowensphoto]

Thanks Bynx, I'll look into that. I use Oloneo HDR Engine for processing so I'll need to find the equivalent slider.

I took 3 shots. I would like to have taken 5 but it is a little bit tricky with the Canon t2i, there's no five shot setting, meaning you have to increase the steps manually, which can lead to the camera changing position.

I also use the T2i, try using a tripod.

 

[Phil2k]

Are you guys even reading my posts? My tripod was confiscated on entering the museum. This made shooting the aircraf in HDR very, very, very difficult. That was probably the best composition available to me.

 

[BlueMeanieTSi]

You can avoid the halos by moving the Highlight Smoother to the right. How many shots did you take for your final.

It might also help if people using Photomatix would stop using canned presets and "lighting effects mode"

 

[vipgraphx]

+2 ^^^^

I never use presets. I feel that limits your ability and you have no idea how the sliders work and how to correct issues like halos.

 

[SCraig]

... The composition does not work for me sorry. I would prefer to see more of the plane then that back portion of it....

There is one at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson (tail number 17951). Go shoot it and show the proper composition (just kidding)

The SR-71 / YF-12 is a large airplane so composition in a museum, or on a flight deck, is not always that easy. There are usually other aircraft parked right against them making it difficult to move very far. Surprisingly when I shot the SR-71 at Pima my composition is almost identical to the one above.

 

[Bynx]

Bluemeanie brings up a good point about the lighting effects mode. I keep forgetting about that because I generally leave it alone. Having that set wrong causes a lot of problems. As for not using presets, well thats impossible not to. When you open Photomatix your image is set to the last preset used or the Default preset. Id recommend using the presets because it gives you a place to start, a reference to where you started and can start again. Pick the preset that suits the image and somewhere that you want your image to look like. Just moving the sliders until you figure you got something will not necessarily result in a good image.

 

[vipgraphx]

I always set my sliders to defualt and make adjustments accordingly. If you know what sliders do what and how they effect the image , then you can make great images. Bynx I have heard you always mention removing Halos by moving the highlight smoothing to the right but that also causes banding and blown out whites. So if folks just do that without knowing how it effects the image, they can create a poorly done HDR as well. Another way to remove halos is keeping your strength slider more towards the middle and also the micro-smoothing more to the right. Micro-smoothing brings out more grunge to the photos the more to the left also in sky's it causes halos.

Sohave to know how the sliders effect your image!! If you then choose to house the photomatix presets and adjustfrom that point, at least you will know how what sliders to adjust to get what you want.

 

[Bynx]

When you work with a hammer you swing it the way it feels best. Same with Photomatix. I usually throw in about the Highlight Smoother when asked about halos since it usually works for me. But not all the time. It really depends on each image. There is no across the board fix to any situation. And to any newbies I recommend you use the presets and leave the sliders alone, using them when you have to and not just for something to do. There is quite a choice in presets. They are there for a reason besides making life easy. Use them. Otherwise you will be doing a lot of further unnecessary post work in Photoshop. Making a good HDR is really simple and you should keep it that way.

 

[manaheim]

Thanks Bynx, I'll look into that. I use Oloneo HDR Engine for processing so I'll need to find the equivalent slider.

I took 3 shots. I would like to have taken 5 but it is a little bit tricky with the Canon t2i, there's no five shot setting, meaning you have to increase the steps manually, which can lead to the camera changing position.

:banghead: