First Real Effort To make an HDR Image

[griffina6]

Okay, I see all these great HDR images and I want to do it also. So I decided to make another attempt and I actually used a tripod and took three images of a storage building.

Here is the middle exposure.



Then I processed it through PhotoMatix (as you can see the watermarks) using the free trial. Don't understand all the mapping stuff - I just slid the sliders back and forth until I saw some changes that looked okay.



Then I brought it into Photoshop and really over sharpened it a bunch which gave it a different look.



I assume experience is the best way to learn to get a nice image but am I missing any major steps here?

Thanks for looking and any comments.
Andy

[Bynx]

Id say you have a good handle on it. Your last shot is pretty darn good. In the future you might want to do a Selective color change and in the Green reduce the yellow so the grass is more green than yellow. Other than that everything is good. Nice job.

[griffina6]

Thanks for the comments Bynx.

Are you suggesting that I change the selective color in Photmatix or do I just do that in Photoshop?

Andy

[Bynx]

In Photoshop. I find it easier since I know how to do it that way. Photomatix is for putting the pics together, lining them up. Id use Photoshop for any fine tweaking. But thats me. If you find Photomatix more helpful go that route. But if you look at scenery shots with Photomatix you will often see the grass is fluorescent yellowish green. It ruins an otherwise good shot.

[griffina6]

Bynx,

Yes, I see what you mean there. Your edit does look much better in the grass and trees. I was wondering if I could remove those watermarks (after) if I paid for the program. I too will stick with Photoshop for editing whenever possible because I am more familiar with it. I tried to make HDRs all in Photoshop but I just can get anything I like. I think I may get the Photomatix program. I have been noticing some old barns around that I would like to experiment on further.

Thanks again for your help.

Andy

[mtngal]

Once you buy the program it won't put watermarks on it. To remove them from the pictures you've already processed would require you re-do the HDR portion again, not always a bad idea because by that time you'll have more experience with the program and a better idea of what you want to do. I've been very happy that I bought it, it's a fun program to play with.

[griffina6]

Thanks mtngal,

I am thinking hard about getting Photomatix - just trying to make sure I understand it and like the results first.