First HDR photos of the X5

[Last5oh]

We had some interesting clouds this afternoon (remnants of Dustav) so I got some HDR shots in. Here's the result:



This is not HDR but taken during the same shoot.


Thanks for looking.

[motordavid]

Last,
Titz pics! HDR is on my list...on the "OT Forum.com", Photo Thread,
HDR is ridiculed and dissed by the pompous gang there...I like it a lot
and, in the car/horizon shot it is very well done. I'm studying up on
shooting some HDR. The B&W is very fine, too.
BR,mD

[EKS PYB]

Nice shot! That first one can be used for a BMW brochure, flyer or something...looking very nice indeed!

[weasel56]

I love how it came out! I have yet to try this with my dslr setup for lack of a good PS program. The next HDR images should be at sunset/dusk, with some cloud overlay... That would look killa!

[Last5oh]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Last,
Titz pics! HDR is on my list...on the "OT Forum.com", Photo Thread,
HDR is ridiculed and dissed by the pompous gang there...I like it a lot
and, in the car/horizon shot it is very well done. I'm studying up on
shooting some HDR. The B&W is very fine, too.
BR,mD

In our day and age where the 'darkroom' exists in our PCs (in my case Mac) HDRs are simply just another darkroom bench tool like burning, dodging or solarization (am I giving away my age here?). HDRs work best if used as intended in situations where the lighting ratios are extreme.

This one was taken just outside our front door. I call it "Twilight's Last Gleaming"

Originally Posted by weasel56

I love how it came out! I have yet to try this with my dslr setup for lack of a good PS program. The next HDR images should be at sunset/dusk, with some cloud overlay... That would look killa!

When I noticed the interesting clouds this afternoon I grabbed my gear and drove out to the photo location hoping to wait for sunset. It was not to be, the clouds were gone in less than an hour.

Check out PHOTOMATIX at http://www.hdrsoft.com/ It is available in a stand-alone version that does not require Photoshop.

[weasel56]

Thanks! I just downloaded it for mac and should get to play with it in a couple weeks! I wonder what kind of shots I can play with in the swamps... can't wait!

[Major04]

I use HDR once in awhile and use the photomatix to process the picture. Question: How do I use and get rid of the watermark?

Some of the pictures that I take I do not process with photoshop because I want to learn how to take a picture without thinking "that's okay I will process it with photoshop."

I am not knocking against HDR - it's a great tool to play with! Some of the pictures that I have taken with HDR in mind came out great. I just do not like when it's overdone and the picture looks cartoonist.

Oh - before I forget! As Barny from "How I meet my mother" says "AWESOME!"

[Vincenzo Veyron]

Originally Posted by Last5oh

We had some interesting clouds this afternoon (remnants of Dustav) so I got some HDR shots in. Here's the result:



This is not HDR but taken during the same shoot.


Thanks for looking.

pics look awesome! what kind of camera did you use?

[Last5oh]

Thanks for all your comments: Here's how I see HDRs

1. Controversial, YES. The range of effects you can achieve are so wide-ranging that its easy to go from simple to outrageous and overdo things.

2. Choose your subject. HDR (High Dynamic Range) technique as the name implies was developed for scenes with a high ratio of lighting between the brightest and the darkest parts of the image. People who use HDRs on inappropriate subjects often get disappointed and their results give HDRs a bad rap.

3. CARS are one of the best subjects. This is because well-kept cars are usually clean and SHINY and the specular highlights (fancy way of referring to reflections) almost guarantee a high dynamic range.

Grey and Silver cars (hahaha just like mine) tend to come out nicely in HDRs. I tired the same technique in my green Mustang but I wasn't impressed.

Originally Posted by Vincenzo Veyron

pics look awesome! what kind of camera did you use?

Before I answer that, let me say that HDRs can be taken using any digital camera that allows you to set exposure manually and be tripod mounted.

These photos were taken with a Nikon D200 using a bracket program that allows it to shoot 5 exposures as the different settings required.

Originally Posted by Major04

I use HDR once in awhile and use the photomatix to process the picture. Question: How do I use and get rid of the watermark?

To get rid of the watermark they want you to purchase the program... I used Photoshop on the X5 HDR... saving my money for 20" rims
The street HDR was done with PS CS3's built-in HDR macro. Not as good as Photomatix but no watermark.

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by Last5oh

...HDRs are simply just another darkroom bench tool like burning, dodging or solarization (am I giving away my age here?).

...Check out PHOTOMATIX at http://www.hdrsoft.com/ It is available in a stand-alone version that does not require Photoshop.

...ah, the dark room daze back in the U, circa '68: pushing Tri-X to 1600+, artsyfartsy "drop outs" on litho film,
Agfa Bravira #6, "rocking" your first color prints, etc,

Last, thanks for the link...I had found it and never Bookmarked it. I'm gonna give it a go, when I get some time freed up from out busy retired gig, .
BR,mD