This is a trial HDR image which I would value feedback on – enjoy
The Bog 19 comments
Scott Marshall Photography (@skm1963) developing my photography in Moray & the Scottish Highlands
about.me
Scott Marshall
developing my photography in Moray & the Scottish Highlands
Based in Lossiemouth, Scotland. My main interest is in landscape, seascape and skyscape photography, equally I enjoy shape and texture imagery. UK Photo Sales & USA Photo Sales
my photoblog is Scott Marshall Photography (@skm1963)
Favourite Images of Scott’s
Wow, I like this….
Thanks Toni can I ask why – trying to get my head around – what it is people like about HDR images and of course hit that like button
It’s wonderful, Scott! I can almost feel the texture of the tree branches, they really stand out. I actually reached out and touched the screen because it seemed that I would be able to feel them with my fingers! (Sadly, I couldn’t, and it seemed a little surprising!).
thanks Lorna, sort of feedback I was hoping for – have been critical myself of HDR images in the past but if used selectively for certain subjects it does work, I feel this may be a bit overcooked myself but that will improve with experience, Thanks
Hi Scott,
Unusual composition for a foray into the world of HDR.
The grey between the trees just does not work from my perspective.
The textures are good but thats to be expected from HDR. There is a greyish sheen to the whole image which is not helping.
I used to to a LOT of HDR and the more i did it the more subtle it became as i was focusing on the tonal range rather than the pop. Its a great technique for balancing highly contrasting areas and also works brilliantly for mono.
It looks like it was processed in Niks HDR Efex. I could be wrong on that but it has that sort of feel.
I use Photomatix and that all now.
If using Photomatix then the Fusion/Adjust presets to get the range
Here’s an older image of mine from last year using the Fusion/Adjust on flickr. As its on Flickr you can see the exif data which gives you an idea of the settings i used in photomatix
http://www.flickr.com/photos/weetrees/6359564881/in/set-72157628041409505/lightbox/
It was a blended image using 5 shots -2,-1,0,+1+2 to get the full range. Shot using a Fader ND from lightcraft on my 28-105
Here’s one i had to process as HDR due to the massive tonal differences between the very bright sky and the deep shadows next to the cab and on the rat.
http://johnfarnan.smugmug.com/Art/NYC-Colour/23739200_FR2qhr#!i=1922975724&k=8rrGTdx&lb=1&s=A
Cheers
John
If you have any questions on HDR just give me a shout
thank you John for taking the time to offer this advice, I will review it and check the links, I agree with pretty much all you say – I was looking for an image that I felt would benefit from it. I’ll be back once I have investigated further, thanks Scott
I generally dislike obvious HDR treatments very much. They seem to jangle my view of the world (not in a good way). It takes a particular subject like this one to show the unique and quite wonderful artistic possibilities of it. I agree with tearoom that this one makes you want to reach out and touch it. The HDR emphasizes the tangled, twistedness of the branches. I’d say it’s one of the very few HDRs that were worth the doing. Of course I’m discounting the ones that are subtle enough to simply improve the contrast balance without screaming HDR at you.
Really wise commentary Gunta which I completely agree with, I also agree with John Farnham and his views especially the greys in the image, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts – normal service will be resumed ASAP
Personally (IMHO), I tend to think the grey adds to the feel of the picture. As for the rest of John’s comment, I’m afraid I can’t follow most of the technical jargon.
ha ha thanks Gunta – I am sad and do follow his critique though – in sales terms it is not about how people appreciate the technical aspects – it is about subjectivity and do u like the shot or not. I posted a Duffus Castle HDR image on Facebook and it got loads of love, the original was a poor image so what can we do? We keep snapping in the hope we find that iconic image which fuels our financial futures lol
Bottom line is that it’s all pretty subjective. I tend to be out of step with most, so don’t rest your financial future on the likes of me! I wonder how much of the love of HDR is based on novelty.
This is an interesting image Scott. I like it. The textures are amazing. This composition may not be the obvious choice for an HDR image but from an artistic point of view, it shows the possibilities that HDR can bring and I think it’s successful.
Although John discounts Nik’s HDR Efex favouring Photomatrix, I have used it I think quite successfully. It’s true that Photomatrix along with HDR Photostudio give a more sublte effect but sometimes that’s not necessarily what you want. By the way, my photo of the small boat in the sand, ‘Waiting for the Tide’ that you commented on recently was processed using Nik’s HDR Efex Pro.
cheers thanks for the comments particularly the Nik’s HDR and Photomatix comparison – I wanted to add depth and accept all the comments here on HDR as I am not areal fan I prefer more natural looking shots – that said it very much depends what the photographer is trying too say with the image. I like a variety of approaches and really only get irritated if someone uses the same processing/style on ever shot.
It looks like a setting from Lord of the Rings – it is full of detail but I would also be interested to see the original, because it would have mysterious dark areas. I love the texture of the branches.
Cheers Jo – the original was quiet uninspiring – it was the depth that attracted me but depth was lost on the 2d image
It’s interesting but I think it ultimately doesn’t work.
The trees on the right are quite three-dimensional, which is compelling but I think there is too much microcontrast and I don’t think it helps that there is a complete absence of negative space. I think you could improve it by blending it with the original non-HDR image to focus attention on the main elements of the composition. There might even have been some mist in the original image. If so, I think it would help to bring some of that back. In other words, use a mask in Photoshop to ease HDR detail out of some areas while retain it in others. (If you don’t understand masks and layers in Photoshop, hake a look round on Mark Johnson’s site: http://www.msjphotography.com/)
I think you could also crop in from the right a bit, just to the right of the vertical tree trunks. That part of the image isn’t doing anything and is just leading you out. Perhaps crop it down from the top a bit if you want to retain the aspect ratio.
I think the most difficult part of the image to deal with is the trees on the left hand side. The detail draws you in and you get stuck in there and you can’t get out. I think a good image should draw your eyes around it and then take them back where they started. I don’t think you can crop in there, the only thing to try is to de-emphasise the twigs in there. Not sure how well that would work.
The problem with HDR is to get a coherent image that comes from your imagination and not merely to accept what technology can give you just because it differs from normal reality. Subtlety can be a good thing. Personally, I make extensive use of HDR as part of my processing, to bring out the essence of the image rather than to achieve an HDR look. You saw my last post. All of those images and the vast majority of my Japan images incorporate HDR processing.
Murray what can I can I say thank you so much for taking the time to provide such balanced and informative feedback – extremely helpful. Particularly the micro contrast and suggestion to blend with the original – which I will certainly give a go to. I had not considered doing that. To be honest it was not an image I would have posted full stop through it’s lack of interest because it needed depth first and foremost and you probably had to be there to appreciate – but I will reread and play and see what happens in my next step – thanks again Murray
I love this POV..looks as if I could just walk inside the frame and lose myself within the ethereal serenity..very nice..thanks for sharing :~)
Thanks very interesting the different takes on this image – which in all honesty is not one I would have normally posted.