This is my first attempt at an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image. It is a composite of 5 photos taken at different exposures. I used the File > Automate > Merge to HDR feature in Photoshop CS3 to generate the composite. I then converted it to 16 bit and adjusted the curves to achieve the desired effect. After some tweaking of the saturation and sharpness, I finally converted to an 8 bit image and saved as a JPEG.
I was hoping for a more striking result, such as the ones you'll find on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging), but I didn't think it was bad for a first attempt.
All comments are welcomed and appreciated.
Enjoy.
This still looks very natural, so I think it looks as it should.
Some of the HDR pics I've seen seem oversaturated. To me, a good example of HDR is when all the details are visible, color is great, and it looks closer to what our own eyes can percieve
- Cut me off a pc of that!
- Nature Girl
- Parting the Waters
Josh,
I think it looks good, but I would like to offer some advice, having worked with HDR before. I hope you don't mind. First, the image looks a bit flat, lacking contrast. Granted, some of the HDR attempts out there overdo the contrast and color saturation to the point of being ridiculous, but I think this image could benefit from a little more of both.
Secondly, the overall consensus out there is that CS2, or CS3 for that matter, are inherrently inferior to dedicated HDR programs, such as Photomatix (www.hdrsoft.com). This is not to say that CS... whatever can't do an adequate job, but rather that it takes longer and more work to achieve the same results had you just used a dedicated program.
My perspective on HDR is that if an image looks like it was subjected to HDR processing, then I've failed. This image definitely does not look overprocessed, but rather strikes me as needed just a bit more. I think if you boost the blue sky a bit, then cut back on the greens, and give it just a tad more contrast, then it would be just perfect.
Please don't take this as criticism. Just trying to help. I highly recommend you give Photomatix a try. It is considered the best HDR app, for now anyway. If you do try it and decide to buy, they have a student discount of $60 off, which will leave it at $40. I bought it and definitely have not regretted it. The only thing I regret is not having any time to go out there and do more HDR work. One of the things I want to try is night time B/W HDR. I'll see if I can find some links to what I've seen.
Andy