...well, after taking about 50 different shots (inside and outside), I managed to get one that looks great and I was happy with. I know there are a few guys on the forum here that are wizards with a camera and HDR imaging software, so I am sure this is nowhere on par with their work, but I figure for using a Sony CyberShot, some freeware HDR software and an old version of Photoshop, I didn't do too bad.
I just got the chin spoiler on her yesterday and wanted to have a nice picture now that I finished with the appearance mods for now.
Anyhow, hope you like it!
UPDATED!!!
OK, after a little more playing around, here are a couple more shots and angles:
1. Same shot but toyed around with a crosshatch effect in Photoshop to give it more of a drawing/painting effect instead of a photo:
2. Here's a slightly lower angle from the same side. Not sure if I like this one better than the original, but still a nice shot regardless:
3. Finally, one of the exterior shots. I guess it was windier than I thought because many of the exterior shots didn't line up well in the HDR tool (must have shaken the tripod a bit during the shoots). This was one that wasn't too bad.
4. And this was another angle with the top up, but is actually just one image run through the tone mapping tool:
Well, that's it for now until I can manage to shine her up and get her around town again with the camera. Any and all feedback welcome!!
< Message edited by 07PonyVert -- 4/28/2008 7:23:33 PM >
Good use of HDR. Most folks just starting out tend to "over cook" the image. You did well. No blown out pixels. Not overly gritty. Very realistic, which is what HDR is supposed to be. Well done. I use HDR for most all of my photos. But my tone-mapping is similarly subtle, so most don't realize it's HDR. They just think, "wow, that looks good".
BTW, you can NOT replicate the looks of a true HDR image with curves. Using the HDR process allows you to capture more details in the shadows and highlights than you will be able to reveal in one properly exposed JPEG. If you shoot in RAW, you can fake it, but there's still not enough details there to be able to truly compose an HDR equivelent image.
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quote:
ORIGINAL: DarkFireGT
Good use of HDR. Most folks just starting out tend to "over cook" the image. You did well. No blown out pixels. Not overly gritty. Very realistic, which is what HDR is supposed to be. Well done. I use HDR for most all of my photos. But my tone-mapping is similarly subtle, so most don't realize it's HDR. They just think, "wow, that looks good".
BTW, you can NOT replicate the looks of a true HDR image with curves. Using the HDR process allows you to capture more details in the shadows and highlights than you will be able to reveal in one properly exposed JPEG. If you shoot in RAW, you can fake it, but there's still not enough details there to be able to truly compose an HDR equivelent image.
right.
HDR isnt about image saturation, its about grabbing all those spots like shadowed areas, and all those overly washed out areas, and bringing them to one exposure value. because you have shadows and extreme highlights, you dont get to see everything with one exposure. merging multiple exposures allows you to bring out the detail in those poorly (both not enough or too much) lit areas.
saturating an image just intensify's the color in the image, it doesnt bring out details in areas that are too dark or too bright.
While I’m not a photoshop expert (as mentioned in an earlier post), I've been shooting as a hobbiest (and occasional paid job) for a few years now and I have seen several shots that look very similar HDR which are accomplished through multiple layers and making adjustments to curves and saturation. I never said it was a replacement for HDR, just a way to get similar results.
Anyone who says that a lens doesn’t matter in regards to picture quality is a fool. Sure, composition makes up a HUGE part of the photo, but if you’re using a crappy lens then it’s definitely going to be apparent in many circumstances. There is a reason good lens (Canon L series for example) are pricey! Better glass!!
Lastly, if you’re shooting with a digital camera and NOT shooting RAW… you’re not getting the best results that you can be. Especially if you want to make some post processing/corrective changes in Photoshop (or something of the sorts).
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Good use of HDR. Most folks just starting out tend to "over cook" the image. You did well. No blown out pixels. Not overly gritty. Very realistic, which is what HDR is supposed to be. Well done. I use HDR for most all of my photos. But my tone-mapping is similarly subtle, so most don't realize it's HDR. They just think, "wow, that looks good".
BTW, you can NOT replicate the looks of a true HDR image with curves. Using the HDR process allows you to capture more details in the shadows and highlights than you will be able to reveal in one properly exposed JPEG. If you shoot in RAW, you can fake it, but there's still not enough details there to be able to truly compose an HDR equivelent image.
Many thanks for the feedback DarkFireGT - that means a lot coming from the guy who clued me into this HDR thing . I ran across a thread you had months back and was taken aback by the amazing images and the whole HDR process. While I don't have the fanciest of cameras and the latest software, I was able to tinker around with a freeware version of an HDR tool I found and have had a lot of fun with it. I'm slowly learning what works best, etc and enjoying the different possibilities. If I can put a break on all the modding, I may get around to finally buying a really nice camera and popping some $$ for the latest version of Photoshop/HDR software!
Printable Version
UPDATED! - A little HDR shot of the lady... - 
. I ran across a thread you had months back and was taken aback by the amazing images and the whole HDR process. While I don't have the fanciest of cameras and the latest software, I was able to tinker around with a freeware version of an HDR tool I found and have had a lot of fun with it. I'm slowly learning what works best, etc and enjoying the different possibilities. If I can put a break on all the modding, I may get around to finally buying a really nice camera and popping some $$ for the latest version of Photoshop/HDR software! 
