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Improving HDR's
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I've been doing HDR's for awhile now, but I want to improve them. I've seen the HDR's of Maurizio51 Rewinds and they blow me away, there just what I would like mine to look like, but I asked and read his tutorial, but theres a bit of a language barrior and I just can't seem to get his processing. I've emailed and contacted him, but sometimes its in english sometimes in italian.
He's a terrific guy and a great artist, but If anyone could help me with how he's doing his HDR's it would be a great help.
My latest HDR is here:
www.flickr.com/photos/40573246@N06/6910205157/sizes/l/in/...
Posted at 7:03AM, 22 February 2012 PDT
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....or you could develop your own style.
Posted 3 months ago.
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I like changing it up every now and then too. For instance my default tweak has been to pre sharpen and NR the underexposed frames before merging. So lately I've been doing other stuff, like taking one of the middle frames and tonemapping it single, then dumping it back into the merge. Maybe NOT NR'ing the underexposed frames. Maybe dumping one of them in in greyscale, or tweaked through Silver EFX and merging that. Maybe dropping one of the underexposed frames gamma setting, NR'ing it, and then merging with that.
Just as I did as a beginner; experimenting and having FUN with the craft, that's job 1, everything else is technical crap. It's all too easy to get into a rut and keep doing the same thing over and over. Variety is the spice of life!
Posted 3 months ago.
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Are they all only three exposures, or more? From a 'giving advice' sort of view, the tech specs might be useful.
Posted 3 months ago.
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I've never seen it but I'd suggest that he may not want you to completely understand how he does his stuff. He may have his own style and may not be keen on others riding his efforts. Or he may just be a bit confused as a non native English speaker.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Anyone who hasn't seen Maurizio's HDR's should have a look, there really very good.
I'm alwats trying new things myself, but never actually got down to a set pattern for doing HDR's. I'd like to have more exposures in my bracketing, but for now 3 will have to do.
But even those don't come out all the time , especially my 3 brackets. I do a lot of hand held and lately shooting with my trusty old 20D and 18-55 IS I alsways seem to get some exposures down in the 1/40 shutter speed range which is just too slow. I always try and use 7.1 or above for aperture, especially with that lens as the images seem a little better,
Then afterwards its all the processing and how its done. I'm looking for more consistency, and results are all over the place. Some come out good, some don't.
I was also going to get Machinery HDR effects 2 last night, but stopped myself and asked whether I need to work on what i have now instead of buying something else.
Posted 3 months ago.
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"but stopped myself and asked whether I need to work on what i have now instead of buying something else. "
Well there's that too.
What's the best HDR program?
The one you know how to use.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Currently my Best choice is Oloeno PhotoEngine.
2nd choice would be Machinery HDR Effects
Posted 3 months ago.
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Personally the most important step for a great image used through HDR it has to be a great image to begin with. HDR shouldnt be thought as a "Oh light isnt great so HDR will save me attitude". So always produce a great image use the best light and proper technique you can allow and use HDR to make it even better. WIth that said thats my style of HDR and what i prefer over others doesnt mean its the right or wrong way of doing HDR its just my personaly taste. So the key is understanding your tools your camrea and your software the fullest so you can manipulate it to get the results as close as you invisioned.
Looking at your photo looks like a nice image with good composition and nice reflection. On your post processing now as i said this is my opinion and only mine not the right or wrong way of doing things. So with that stated I personally would of been much milder with the luminance and kept the smoothing much higher. The biggest problem many people who try to achieve a more realistic form of HDR is that they think luminance and everything has to be clearly exposed which is a big mistake. Understanding how important shadows and highlights can be in an image is as important as gaining enough dynamic range in the photo through HDR. Leaving some mystery in your image is a good thing gives it more depth rather than looking as a painting.
Ill leave it as that and feel free to ask me personally if you would like to know more.
Ohh good glass makes a big difference as well!
Posted 3 months ago.
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I've found that adding exposures and spacing them out helped me in editing. It 'feels' better.
I feel better editing an image that is 9 brackets @ 0.5 EV spacing than I do with an image that is 3 brackets @ 2 or 1 EV spacing.
Of course, hardware might be a limitation. There are solutions around this; such as camera controllers (there is one for even the iPhone), Magic Lantern, CHDK, and so on. Depends on the camera, and I don't think the 20D is available for the 20D, but there are other solutions available for it that involve attaching to a computer. (Netbook even.)
I am biased in the favor of Magic Lantern on the 60D, honestly. Also, Oloneo Photoengine. (Well. And Panoramas.)
Posted 3 months ago.
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Another thing I've been doing lately is tossing out my 'rules'. Like shooting only at the blue hour, screw it, shoot mid day what the heck!
Posted 3 months ago.
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When we see new images here or If someone is looking at images on the HDR group, should we try and give honest critiquing, or are we just here to compliment each other.
On the few I have looked at and actually said something about them I try and be honest, not cruel, just honest, and If i can think of some way to try and help i will.
I know my images need work, sometimes I just don't quite know how or what.
If someone makes a suggestion, or a different way of doing something, I'll gladly try it, thats why I'm here to learn and improve.
I think the hardest part though is to figure out where I'm going with my images, what style I'm trying to achieve. So I can look at an image and say yep thats what i wanted to do. But I'm also finding different images seem to lend themselves to different styles as well.
I'm sort of at a crossroads. I used to strive to take good images, and I still do, but now its also, what do I want the finished image to look like.
Posted 3 months ago.
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I agree, this is or has been one of the few places on Flickr where we CAN be honest about people's work, it's quite refreshing.
Maybe take some time off?
I've done a few time and it worked wonders.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Critiquing is always an iffy subject if the person wants to be critiqued cool but being that photography is so subjective to what someone envisioned and likes its not always good to say someones vision sucks. We all can look in each others portfolios and see 100 different things we would of changed if we took that image but as a photographer they do have the right to portray what they wanted the way the wanted to. Now as i stated if they say hey id like to be critiqued and your honest opinion i think its all open from there and can help a lot of people getting better. I learned ton from tips other photographers gave on my work as a photographer you take it or you dont and you grow from it.
Posted 3 months ago.
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I only say that I do think we all need to ask. Theres so much HDR out there that just looks scary, maybe its someones idea of art, but in general its giving HDR a bad name.
I think a lot of Rob Hanson's photography and I asked him to critique my images, and he's been a great help, and a great person as well.
But its a lot more than that, hes been a great sounding board to ask questions and run ideas at. Its been something I've been looking for quite awhile, and its helped considerably.
I've always tried to help anyone I can as well, so eventually the knowledge that i gather here as well as other places will be passed on .
Maybe its a matter of confidence in your work, but If I put an image up and its not very good I would want someone to let me know, but at the same time I would hope someone would also let me know how to improve it as well.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Heres a perfect example, take a look at this image posted in the beginners group for HDR's:
www.flickr.com/photos/krisparatrop/6312439581/in/pool-myf...
Now can someone please tell me what is really good about this image?
Believe me I'm not trying to be nasty here, but tgheres so many things in this image that need improving, yet there are so many that think this is good.
Posted 3 months ago.
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it's not an hdr.
not everyone is as passionate as you.
they just dump photos wherever they can, and their friends fave them.
It has nothing to do with wanting to improve,(as you have shown that you do).
it's just a sensless 'instant gratification' moment.....
Posted 3 months ago.
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I'm a beginner and I'd much rather you guys tell me what you think, even if it isn't good, because that is how I will get better.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Location, Location, Location, Location. Find something interesting and unique. Then make sure its in focus! Id also say if you want to appeal to the masses don't overdo the HDR processing.
Originally posted 3 months ago.
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Basic Elements Photography edited this topic 3 months ago.
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We can't HANDLE the truth! Ok ok, I CAN'T HANDLE the truth!
Posted 3 months ago.
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