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Over the weekend on the spur of the moment we decided to head over to Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour where we spent a late afternoon, early evening wandering around until sunset.

Cockatoo Island is a very interesting location with lots of photographic potential. Unlike last time we stayed on the island this time the large industrial buildings were open to the public and I could go in at take the opportunity to shoot some images of the gritty buildings, decaying machinery and rusty beams with the intent to later post precess using HDR (High Dynamic Range) techniques.

Also on show on the island were many of the artworks and exhibits from Outpost (a street art festival held on the island in November).

Feedback, comments, critique, whatever welcomed

First up a monochrome conversion of an HDR of some heavy machinery in a room full of graffiti art



With the following I'm not sure which of the two I prefer the most for this setting - the over the top super surreal look or the more subdued realistic look




Outside the Boring shop - I didn't think it was uninteresting



and last up a more detailed view of the outside of one of the buildings up on the top of the island

I am not a big fan of the HDR look, personally, as I feel it flattens the image too much, removing too much of the shadow detail. However, that is a personal view and I know many people do like the more obvious HDR look.

I do like the last shot as it has some nice patterns in it.

Remorhaz wrote:the more subdued realistic look

I prefer that one.

Wink wrote:

Remorhaz wrote:the more subdued realistic look

I prefer that one.

Me too. I also like the last image.

I am definitely a fan of the "realistic" HDR, but it is the mono that does it for me!

my preference is the first, i think with a bit of dialling back of teh glowish effect and highlight recovery it would work fine and dandy.

Thanks for the feedback fellas - always useful getting the feeling from others (Cameron - the mono is my pick too )

For those who didn't really like the HDR's you're likely to be unhappy with some others I'm processing now (will post tomorrow probably)

I too favour the first image as it has more impact, the other colour images are fine and for me the last is my least favourite as it does not fit in with what you have done with the others in this series.

Some times the effects we put in pictures
and the image manipulation can work against
the picture. I prefer the last one.

I like the third best of the colour images, the other version doesn't have enough dark in it for my liking. I like the mono as well, although I can't help seeing a darker more brooding version in there.

A nice series.

#3 for me - I reckon it's got the right gritty feel/emotion without having the obvious HDR 'look' which sometimes tend to dominate.

Thanks everyone

Also note that the last image is not an HDR (it's a straight capture - not even a polariser although the sky kinda looks like it had it) - just in case anyone was mislead