Well? How's this?

[mwz]

Got photomatix today and tried it out while walking dog.

Used 7 exposures... I kinda like it.

 

[Bynx]

You should have started with the highlights. When there were no blinkies start shooting and work down until you have some detail in the shadows. Your shot is pretty good but doesnt cover the highlights.

 

[Parker219]

Plus, it isnt level, can you fix the tilt?

 

[mwz]

Thanks gang... I leveled it out with a crop in cs5. Photomatix is a fun program, I look forward to learning more about it.

 

[vipgraphx]

interesting shot, you have lost some detail on both sides. For 7 exposures I would think you had enough info for your darker areas. Could be the processing, not sure.

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

Bump the exposure by 1 to 1 - 1/2 stops.

Level the horizon. I do like the low angle and the OOF / DOF it creates.

 

[Light Guru]

interesting shot, you have lost some detail on both sides. For 7 exposures I would think you had enough info for your darker areas. Could be the processing, not sure.

If there was lots of detail in both your hilts and shadows the image would just not look real. I think it would look cartoony and cheesy.

My opinion of HDR is that it should be used to increase your dynamic range not make all the areas equal.

Your photo is a nice example of using HDR to create a material looking photo. Leaving areas on the trees that are dark and some blown hi lights with the lights helps accomplish this.

 

[Bynx]

interesting shot, you have lost some detail on both sides. For 7 exposures I would think you had enough info for your darker areas. Could be the processing, not sure.

If there was lots of detail in both your hilts and shadows the image would just not look real. I think it would look cartoony and cheesy.

My opinion of HDR is that it should be used to increase your dynamic range not make all the areas equal.

Your photo is a nice example of using HDR to create a material looking photo. Leaving areas on the trees that are dark and some blown hi lights with the lights helps accomplish this.

Good observation. Photomatix gets you almost there, but it flattens the image if there is now details in both highlights and shadows. Thats why its necessary to take it into Photoshop and put back some of the black in the darker areas and give the image some punch. Finally a touch of unsharp mask and its done.

 

[The Barbarian]

It's a good image as it is, (once it's leveled) but a bit of work with curves could probably make it sing. Play around with it, and see what you get.