HDR Experiments - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/11/2006 11:20:02 PM · #1

I was playing around with creating HDR images with Photomatix today for the first time. Each of these was created from a single RAW file (Advanced Editing legal).
What do you all think? All comments/critiques/criticisms/adorations welcome!

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/12/2006 12:55:06 AM · #2

They all do look brighter and more colorful contrast .... but a little more on the digital art side instead of true high dynamic photographs. The last one with the rocky ledges is burnt too much around the rock leaving a very noticible hallo. The first has been changed more into artifical colors or a more digital grahics look. Run them through again and try to back off some of the post processing and see if they maintain a more photo appearance in a higher dynmaic range. They're good , just look like they went through a lot of processing.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/12/2006 12:57:12 AM · #3

First 2 look like cartoon backgrounds for Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote.

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/12/2006 01:10:54 AM · #4

Is it advanced editing legal? Doesn't it take two photos (albiet from the same RAW file) and merge them?
Not familiar with Photomatix. Better look it up.

jdannels

Nikon D300s

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

08/12/2006 01:14:58 AM · #5

Originally posted by dacrazyrn:

Is it advanced editing legal? Doesn't it take two photos (albiet from the same RAW file) and merge them?
Not familiar with Photomatix. Better look it up.

you can reprocess a single raw file many times in advanced editing and it is legal.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/12/2006 01:19:57 AM · #6

Thanks for the input, all. I liked the cartoonish look of the first one, the rest I wasn't sure how they might come across. I'll try some toned down versions and we'll see how they look!

faidoi

Pentax K10D

08/12/2006 01:23:28 AM · #7

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

Thanks for the input, all. I liked the cartoonish look of the first one, the rest I wasn't sure how they might come across. I'll try some toned down versions and we'll see how they look!

Pretty cool looking but it depends on usage. Shows what the software can do. Might have to try it.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/12/2006 01:33:26 AM · #8

Definitely cool software. For those that haven't seen it, here's a link to some awesome pics and a great tutorial on HDR: //stuckincustoms.com/?p=548

Next time I'll follow the whole thing and see how they turn out!

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

08/12/2006 01:59:06 AM · #9

Originally posted by jdannels:

you can reprocess a single raw file many times in advanced editing and it is legal.

What about this then?..."You may not post-process your entry from or to include elements of multiple images, multiple exposures, clip art, computer-rendered images, or elements from other photographs (even those taken during the challenge week), and other similar items. Taken from Advanced Editing Rules
I read that as it is not legal. The software is opening the same file but it is merging 2+ exposures of that file (multiple exposures). Unless there has been a ruling on this before....?

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/12/2006 02:01:08 AM · #10

Originally posted by dacrazyrn:

Originally posted by jdannels:
you can reprocess a single raw file many times in advanced editing and it is legal.

What about this then?..."You may not post-process your entry from or to include elements of multiple images, multiple exposures, clip art, computer-rendered images, or elements from other photographs (even those taken during the challenge week), and other similar items. Taken from Advanced Editing Rules
I read that as it is not legal. The software is opening the same file but it is merging 2+ exposures of that file (multiple exposures). Unless there has been a ruling on this before....?

You can combine RAW images as long as it is the same file from what I understand. I maybe wrong.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/12/2006 02:05:12 AM · #11

My understanding is that as long as your entry comes from a single original file, and of course you follow the other rules, it is legal. I have seen discussions about this before...I'll see if I can hunt down some confirmation...

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

08/12/2006 02:15:39 AM · #12

So I found this "Here's what's legal for challenges:
You must start with one physical exposure, so bracketing and using multiple source exposures is out. You can, however take one RAW file, process it twice at different exposure settings, and combine those using layers, or "merge to HDR" in CS2, and use the result in Advanced Editing challenges only. Not legal for Basic Editing challenges." posted by Kirbic in this thread. Little did I know. Could have been stacking a highlight and shadow layer for the Advanced Editing all along.

Canon EOS-20D

08/12/2006 02:18:37 AM · #13

Originally posted by dacrazyrn:

Little did I know. Could have been stacking a highlight and shadow layer for the Advanced Editing all along.

You're not alone. It's not really offically documented and unless you happened to catch one of the conversations in the forums, there's really no way of knowing. I spent a lot of time on the SC not even realizing it was legal. D'oh.