Old Lorena Sunset - Waco, TX

[jamesbjenkins]

Hey all,

I haven't posted in the HDR section in a while, mostly because I haven't shot any. Last weekend, I was visiting my wife's family, and while taking a back road I stumbled on this hill with a nice valley off the left of the road. The next evening, I returned there to take several pictures, and this is the best one.

Feel free to C&C if you'd like. There are some things I'm not too sure about, but I won't poison your C&C until people have had a chance to comment. I was going for a more realistic look here, but ended up having to go the fusion route in Photomatix since the sun was so harsh.



Enjoy!

 

[Bynx]

It looks like its right out of Photomatix and is kinda flat. Just a gamma bump in Photoshop would give the scene the snap it needs for the reality look. Its a nice shot.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

After Photomatix, I masked back in some of the road, and ran it through Topaz Adjust for some pop.

I've never in my life touched the gamma slider. I'll take a look at that. Thanks.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

And, I didn't realize that the levels midtone adjustment was the gamma. Guess I should do more homework in PS.

Here you go...

 

[CaboWabo]

Nice shot really like the pov of road trailing off

 

[vipgraphx]

there is a lot of banding in the sky, and that weird shaped yellow spot is more distracting than anything. The sky is kinda boring no clouds and there is lots of it. Perhaps you should have tried to get more land in and less sky.

It would have been cool if you were able get the road leading into the sun, maybe more down the road.

Thats my two cents..Over all processing is not bad other than that banding and big yellow blotch.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

What's a good way to deal with the banding? I noticed that as well and tried a couple of things, but to no avail.

 

[Bynx]

After playing with your image I find the banding really frustrating. Would you mind posting your hi res files and make it a challenge to come up with a good image band free?

 

[jamesbjenkins]

Sure. It'll be this afternoon when I can get back to my studio computer.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

OK. I went back to the drawing board, and grabbed another bracketed set. After playing with Photomatix for a while, I was able to get the look I wanted without having to tonemap the whole thing. I killed the banding with some adjustments in Photomatix. Sharpening and NR via Topaz. Let me know how this compares.

VIP, I picked a set with more road, just for you.

 

[vipgraphx]

I think the processing on your second one is way better. You can see the sun now and no banding. Next time try placing your camera really close to the ground in situations like this where there is no clouds so you get more land or make it a pano.

You had asked about the banding and if you are using photomatix the highlight smoother if it is to far to the right it can cause serious banding especially in sky like yours. Not sure why but it does.

Here is an idea

 

[Bynx]

Your second image is a nicer one. By the way, when you put your files through Photomatix you are tone mapping the image. One of the presets is automatically selected and if you move any sliders its that preset you are changing.

 

[manaheim]

Can't tell about the hdr details on my phone, but I love the image. Very simple, very pleasant.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

I think the processing on your second one is way better. You can see the sun now and no banding. Next time try placing your camera really close to the ground in situations like this where there is no clouds so you get more land or make it a pano.

You had asked about the banding and if you are using photomatix the highlight smoother if it is to far to the right it can cause serious banding especially in sky like yours. Not sure why but it does.

Bynx and VIP, thanks for the clarity on Photomatix. I'm still brand new to using it.

VIP, I love your crop. Thanks.