vipgraphx
No longer a newbie, moving up!
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2011
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- 2,415
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- Some Where In the Desert
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Just finished up with Trey Ratcliff's ( stuckincustoms.com) downloadable HDR course. I thought I would take the time to comment on what I thought about it. I was really hoping to learn more about tricks he has picked up over the years.
So I thought this was a really great course for someone who is starting out in HDR. It is 11 hours of video along with homework and sample images to use of his own work. I think I picked up a few new techniques especially with haloing and how to fix those tuffff images. As far as his tricks either he does not do a lot or he was holding back in his videos. I learned a little better workflow on how to organize my files so they are easier to access. I have never had any problems with that but I can see it helping me.
I already have been doing what he is doing as far as how he is processing his images. I have about 3 methods I use and one of them is very similar to his. He converts his images to jpegs before he hits photomatix and this is were I see some issues. I have had photos that imported jpegs into photomatix and created a banding in the sky where as the tiff. does not. He also outputs to jpeg and brings all his jpeg exposures into photoshop to process. Once again I have had great results using 16 bit TIFFs. Slower but more control over lights and colors.
All in all it was not a bad course and I learned some new things. I spent $100 and I think for the beginner HDR photographer it would be well worth the money. Plus you get to be part of an HDR forum for strictly HDR photos. This is worth it the money because you are in a forum where everyone loves HDR and if you are lucky you can find ways to get a special invite to HDR Spotting - Gallery of HDR Photos and Community of HDR Photographers
So just thought anyone who is browsing this forum would like to know about this if they do not already know and should check it out. I will say that with all the info on the internet and youtube you can defiantly find plenty of help to better yourself in HDR, but if you do not want to search and search this is a great way to get everything in one package.
One thing I liked is his philosophy about photography but, I wont discuss that you can find out for yourself.
check out this site. HDR Spotting - Gallery of HDR Photos and Community of HDR Photographers it is filled with many many great HDR images.
So I thought this was a really great course for someone who is starting out in HDR. It is 11 hours of video along with homework and sample images to use of his own work. I think I picked up a few new techniques especially with haloing and how to fix those tuffff images. As far as his tricks either he does not do a lot or he was holding back in his videos. I learned a little better workflow on how to organize my files so they are easier to access. I have never had any problems with that but I can see it helping me.
I already have been doing what he is doing as far as how he is processing his images. I have about 3 methods I use and one of them is very similar to his. He converts his images to jpegs before he hits photomatix and this is were I see some issues. I have had photos that imported jpegs into photomatix and created a banding in the sky where as the tiff. does not. He also outputs to jpeg and brings all his jpeg exposures into photoshop to process. Once again I have had great results using 16 bit TIFFs. Slower but more control over lights and colors.
All in all it was not a bad course and I learned some new things. I spent $100 and I think for the beginner HDR photographer it would be well worth the money. Plus you get to be part of an HDR forum for strictly HDR photos. This is worth it the money because you are in a forum where everyone loves HDR and if you are lucky you can find ways to get a special invite to HDR Spotting - Gallery of HDR Photos and Community of HDR Photographers
So just thought anyone who is browsing this forum would like to know about this if they do not already know and should check it out. I will say that with all the info on the internet and youtube you can defiantly find plenty of help to better yourself in HDR, but if you do not want to search and search this is a great way to get everything in one package.
One thing I liked is his philosophy about photography but, I wont discuss that you can find out for yourself.
check out this site. HDR Spotting - Gallery of HDR Photos and Community of HDR Photographers it is filled with many many great HDR images.