Vivid Sydney - HDR Revisit

[aim54x]

I finally had a chance to play with a HDR from the image in my earlier post.

I started off by saving -2, -1, 0, +1, +2 exposures of the image from the 14-bit RAW file and then loaded it all into Photomatix, then I ran it and tweaked the tone mapping a bit, before outputting into 16-bit TIFF and doing a bit of burn in on the centre using CS2. After this I hit it with Noise Ninja 2x before outputting to JPG.



What do we all think?? Any tips? I am very new to this HDR business!!

This is the original:

[ozimax]

I wouldn't say it was a great subject to photograph, but your treatment highlights (pardon the pun) the fact that HDR can help overcome the dark/light areas in normal exposures. Keep 'em coming. HDR is fun, can be overdone but also can provide some amazing images.

Ozi.

[SuperJT]

I think you've done very well. You've captured all the major details available from the various exposures. Given that a sensor picks up 3 stops of light and the the eye picks up around 11 stops of variation, my first question is always going to be "is that close to what I would see if I was standing there ?". I would definitely say yes.

[aim54x]

Thanks Val....I was trying to recreate my memory of the scene, still feeling my way around HDR though.

[surenj]

Cameron, this is done in a subtle manner that appeals to me.

You would had some detail on the tunnel if you had bracketed. You can bracket 7 shots I assume.

[aim54x]

Cameron, this is done in a subtle manner that appeals to me.

You would had some detail on the tunnel if you had bracketed. You can bracket 7 shots I assume.

Thanks!

If I was to bracket on the night I can do a 9-frame bracket burst but would it be worth the trouble?? There is more detail in the tunnel but I cant get it to show without making the image as a whole look pretty horrible IMHO.

[surenj]

I can do a 9-frame bracket burst but would it be worth the trouble??

Perhaps not for this image but it may be for other images that you were thinking HDR at the time of shooting. You should count your blessings; I only have 3 shot burst on my camera

[aim54x]

I can do a 9-frame bracket burst but would it be worth the trouble??

Perhaps not for this image but it may be for other images that you were thinking HDR at the time of shooting. You should count your blessings; I only have 3 shot burst on my camera

I find that taking too many bracket burst frames just leads to more computing power needed to get the HDR. I have done some 9 frame bursts in the past and always ended up using 5 or so frames in CS2 to do the HDR. I may give 9 frame bursts another go, now that I am playing with Photomatix.