First Shot at HDR & Questions

[InfiniteGSX]

I don't! But I do have to say, it does look good for the crapy quality camera it came from. I guess it just takes some practice and will power not to go overboard with PhotoMatrix and PhotoShop. I'm gonna see if someone wants to trade me my new AFC NEO for a nice DSLR Camera or something to start me off with...

 

[InfiniteGSX]

Well here it is. Taken with a Canon PowerShot S3 IS. At -2, 0, +2 Exposure. Merged with Photomatrix. I modified the grunge preset so it didn't look TOOO over the top. But its for a photo contest so this is what I came up with.

What do you think...

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[xioca]

Try and bump up the saturation in the shadows, the trees look to gray IMO. Green is the complement of red so color theory FTW, it should make it slightly more dynamic, and your red car come forward.

 

[InfiniteGSX]

Well thats what they looked like in the actual area. Cause its foggy and just finished snowing and all of that. Dunno if I can get any green out of the trees. I was tryin to get the car to not look sooooooo fake in the bumper.

I'm thinkin of taking all 3 images and cleaning them up in photoshop, then merging them in PhotoMatrix....


Ok I can't seem to get the greens to pop without making the reds just fly off the charts soo bad that the car is becoming radioactive.... Anyone wanna take a whack at it?

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[xioca]

Shoot with a smaller aperture you have some mad chroma abrasion going on there.

 

[InfiniteGSX]

Could you be a little more specific... I'm still trying to learn the camera. However I know now that the AV Setting is the best one to use the Auto Bracketing setting. Because others require the flash.

I have the Camera right infront of me. So I'm still trying to learn settings but it doesn't help having a huge desktop. I'd like to have a laptop with me so the shots I take, I can instantly view and manipulate accordingly.

***EDIT*** I'm guessing your speaking of the F that is on the screen acompanied by a number? I just now found out how to change it... I can go to a minimum of F2.7, to a maximum of F8.0.

 

[ArticNemesis]

Could you be a little more specific... I'm still trying to learn the camera. However I know now that the AV Setting is the best one to use the Auto Bracketing setting. Because others require the flash.

I have the Camera right infront of me. So I'm still trying to learn settings but it doesn't help having a huge desktop. I'd like to have a laptop with me so the shots I take, I can instantly view and manipulate accordingly.

***EDIT*** I'm guessing your speaking of the F that is on the screen acompanied by a number? I just now found out how to change it... I can go to a minimum of F2.7, to a maximum of F8.0.

Read this on aperture.

Depth of Field

The smaller the f/ number, the larger the aperture. The larger the f/ number, the smaller the aperture.

Aperture controls the amount of light entering the lense to "develop" the image. The best way to understand it, is to actually go out and play with it.

Aperture affects how the focus between a foreground/background object is.

 

[xioca]

Wide open you lens will be softer too, you must stop down a few f/ stops to achieve the best IQ of your lens. also anything past f/11 will start to have refraction that will lower IQ.

 

[snowborder714]

IQ = image quality

 

[InfiniteGSX]

The best way to understand it, is to actually go out and play with it.

Oh I know... I just wish I had a laptop to bring with me so its easier to look at the photos right away so I don't have to drive to a spot, take a photo, drive back to view it... haha.

Thanks. Will add this into the equation.

Here are the other photos I worked with on that shoot. Nothing really special. I chose the front photo for my best one and these were just spares. Red pops just way too much for other colors to come out as well.

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Pretty much your saying, I want a higher f/ number to gain a better all around photograph, but I don't want to go too high... So since f/3.2 did an "ok" job, might wanna bump it up to f/4.0 and see how those come out and then the next step until I achieve the best quality image? Should I use an AutoISO since I have no honest way of figuring out what I need for a specific photo? I used AutoISO in those photos with a TriPod.

I am really upset with this photo. Why? Cause its soo blury. I found out why... I did a f/4.0, Auto ISO and messed with the tone map a little and it looks good, but I know it coulda looked better. I found a HUGE dark oily finger print on the lens. I shoulda looked before taking the photos.

Original:

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HDR:

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HDR W/Photoshop Clean Up Before Merging:

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Another Angle:

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[95talongirl]

I know this is a little late into the conversation, but I personally love my d40. And if you can pick one up for cheap (which you probably can since the d3000 and d5000 releases...) I say do it.

These were d40 shots
35mm 1.8f lens

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18-55mm "stocker lens"

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18-200mm lens

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I also shoot with a Nikon d2H; but I still really enjoy the d40. As mentioned earlier, you could get the most expensive camera body out there; but it's not gonna do much if you run a crappy lens.

 

[Dallas J]

The problem I have with your images is that theyre just over done. Most the pictures you've taken are in fairly even lighting situations and HDR is best used just to even out more difficult lighting scenes.

HDRs can be done pretty amazingly, but they should (IMO) never be cartoony and will never really be taken seriously if they are.

Side note: Nice shots TalonGirl!

 

[uni_gst]

Nice pictures! Can't agree on enjoying a d40 tho...

 

[InfiniteGSX]

Well my pictures that can't be taken seriously have now been causing my phone to be blown up from companies and little old ladies wanting to buy some of my shots. I am having a blast.

And talon girl, you suck! Those photos rock.

The reason I'm doing HDR is not because of the lighting, is because of the color it brings out. I love it. Some of my first were just not right.... but I'm getting better at it. I love photos that show detail and color. And those "cartoon" looking photos look insane on print.

 

[95talongirl]

Thank you!

And yes, keep at it.. practice makes perfect!

 

[SinEclipse]

I started to get into photography a month ago and here are a few shot of my current car. I am using a Nikon D40. The first two shot are HDR and the last two is unedited.

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What do you guys think? This is also my first attempt at HDR.

 

[mindset]

This is my favorite HDR site to visit... this guy has a lot of great pictures and a tutorial on how he does his HDR, very easy to follow

HDR Tutorial | High Dynamic Range Tutorial

That is some crazy shit.
I was just gonna ask what HDR is but I just read through some of his work and crap.

 

[spoolnAWDtsi]

Well my pictures that can't be taken seriously have now been causing my phone to be blown up from companies and little old ladies wanting to buy some of my shots. I am having a blast.

And talon girl, you suck! Those photos rock.

The reason I'm doing HDR is not because of the lighting, is because of the color it brings out. I love it. Some of my first were just not right.... but I'm getting better at it. I love photos that show detail and color. And those "cartoon" looking photos look insane on print.

How are little old ladies finding your pictures and "blowing you up" ?

 

[Dallas J]

SinEclipse: The first tip I ever read about car photography is leave your driveway

 

[SinEclipse]

SinEclipse: The first tip I ever read about car photography is leave your driveway

, Yea, it was taken like 3 days ago. I was just testing some stuff out for fun. I know a few spot that I will be heading up to after I get a tripod.