I HATE HDR!! - DPChallenge Forums

09/30/2009 06:04:54 PM · #1

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!!

ok, not HDR, just the software. I'm trying to use qtpfsgui or photomatix trial version. I suffered through this on the HDR challenge, and finally got some things I like. I'm trying to go back and redo one of my shots, and I just keep getting crap. I don't get it. I don't understand it, I don't know why it's all turning out really ugly.

I just had to b**** and moan for awhile because it's so frustrating.

this end tonight's public service announcement.

09/30/2009 06:21:48 PM · #2

i used to hate it too, but now i love it. just keep playing around with it. there are so many ways you can adjust the sliders and radio buttons that it's easy to get overwhelmed.

ETA: and don't forget that you might still have to open your photo up in photoshop to put on the finishing touches :)

Message edited by author 2009-09-30 18:23:44.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/30/2009 06:28:01 PM · #3

Originally posted by Steef:

I know that I'll need to play with it, but the photos with which I'm working, have been turning out pretty awful. Should I be using something other than photomatix or qtpfsgui?

ben4345

Nikon D700

09/30/2009 06:31:02 PM · #4

HDR is so vogue

09/30/2009 06:32:28 PM · #5

i can't tell if that last thing you typed is software or a frustrated keysmash :P

i love photomatix. it makes it a lot easier than photoshop's merge to hdr. i have no experience with qtpfsgui, so i can't give you any help there.

my highest rated free study is an HDR i did with photomatix.

are you doing a psuedo hdr from one raw file, or are you using 3 or more exposures?

i fully expect someone way more qualified to pop in this thread and give you some better advice. let me see if i can post some pictures and the steps i did to get them.. i'll bump this a little later :)

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/30/2009 06:33:44 PM · #6

Originally posted by Steef:

I'm actually trying both ways. So far there doesn't seem to be much of a difference.

pixelpig

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 1.8/50mm SAM

09/30/2009 06:36:10 PM · #7

I would like to see one of the shots you're trying HDR out on. And an example of the effect you're hoping for, too. And one of the results you don't like.

HDR is talked about a lot, but I don't often read anything that helps me much such as what kind of original responds best to HDR & why use HDR for display online.

I'm very interested in HDR in BW, but I don't see much of that. BW HDR on Flickr

Message edited by author 2009-09-30 18:46:37.

ben4345

Nikon D700

09/30/2009 06:36:29 PM · #8

Originally posted by vawendy:

I'm actually trying both ways. So far there doesn't seem to be much of a difference.

Bi-curious are we? ;P

09/30/2009 06:36:36 PM · #9

hmmm... would you be interested in letting me give it a try with your photos?

09/30/2009 06:40:43 PM · #10

Originally posted by Steef:

hmmm... would you be interested in letting me give it a try with your photos?

the question is: how do we go about that? The RAW file (or resulting tiff) are too large for my email program...

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/30/2009 06:43:42 PM · #11

Wendy, can you email me a .tif file(16 bit) of one of your proposed HDR photo? Make it 1440 on the long side if possible. I'll play around with photomatix and see what happens. (cantbreakpar at gmail.com)
Can you post an original with some of your attempts at HDR?

I'm not an expert, but I have experimented with psuedo HDR and the real thing.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

09/30/2009 06:50:44 PM · #12

ok, i'm not an expert, i just play around till i like the way the picture looks.. this one is from 3 shots. my settings in Photomatix were close to this:

Strength: 75
Color Saturation: 80
Luminosity: 0
Light Smoothing: 4th button from the left
Microcontrast: 2
Temperature: 1
Highlights Smoothing: 30

Then i opened it in CS3 and did curves and some other stuff i don't really remember, but nothing too crazy.

this one is from a single RAW file. settings in the same order as above (also approximate):
100
75
0
2nd from the left
3
2
30

then in CS3 i did some slight auto adjustments:
curves: auto
curves: linear contrast
brightness/contrast: 0/+30

i'm not saying either photo is particularly well processed, but the both look way better than they did without hdr. my finish in the HDR challenge can kind of give you an idea of my skill level (not very good) :P

pedrobop

Canon PowerShot SX100 IS

09/30/2009 06:52:54 PM · #13

All my HDR images were flat. What's up with yours?

vtruan

Nikon D5100

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

09/30/2009 06:55:27 PM · #14

Originally posted by vawendy:

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!!

I really really do!

09/30/2009 06:58:53 PM · #15

Originally posted by vawendy:

Originally posted by Steef:
hmmm... would you be interested in letting me give it a try with your photos?

the question is: how do we go about that? The RAW file (or resulting tiff) are too large for my email program...

hmmmm.. good question

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/30/2009 07:02:53 PM · #16

mpeters -- I sent you the shrunk down tiff file -- but forgot to mention that I'm playing around with it for tonight's freestudy.... Please don't post results here.

Steef, I pm'd you.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/30/2009 07:21:39 PM · #17

Originally posted by Steef:

Originally posted by vawendy:

Originally posted by Steef:
hmmm... would you be interested in letting me give it a try with your photos?

the question is: how do we go about that? The RAW file (or resulting tiff) are too large for my email program...

hmmmm.. good question

YOu can send a file as large as you want (up to 2 gigs anyway) for free here:

//www.yousendit.com/

R.

Wendy, send it to me if you like, lemme look at it. 16-bit tiff or a RAW original, preferably the latter.

R.

Giorgio

Canon EOS-70D

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG OS for Canon EF

09/30/2009 07:39:34 PM · #18

Try this. It might help. ;)

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/30/2009 07:52:41 PM · #19

Originally posted by vawendy:

mpeters -- I sent you the shrunk down tiff file -- but forgot to mention that I'm playing around with it for tonight's freestudy.... Please don't post results here.

Steef, I pm'd you.

got it! sent you a note back.

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

09/30/2009 08:04:03 PM · #20

thanks everyone!! There's a lot to work with and think about! I'm floored at mpeters tonemapping. I'll have to look into that more. and steef's photo was actually pretty close to what I came up with, finally, though I think yours is a little better, steef.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, explanations and offers. That's what's incredible about this site--the number of people who are willing to help and teach. I will have to try more of this, because it certainly is a big hole in my knowledge.

Bugzeye

09/30/2009 09:08:17 PM · #21

I am in the same boat as you. However I am starting to get the hang of it.

My Latest Attempt.

I just bought This Book, I haven't read through it properly but I have browsed the pages a bit and already found some helpful information in there. Maybe you can check it out at your local library. My plan was to get it at the library, but it was always out and when I finally decided to reserve it, I found out it is reserved for the next 3 months so I broke down and bought a copy instead.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/30/2009 09:20:49 PM · #22

My first HDR attempt had totally blown highlights and muddled midtones. Flat was just the beginning of its problems. Since then, I've learned a good bit just through diligence, so stick with it. I'm no HDR genie like some of the likes here, but I can get decent results. I found doing a single image tonemap to be easier, so maybe mess with that first before doing the multiple exposure stuff.

09/30/2009 09:23:51 PM · #23

how can you do single image tone mapping? I opened an image in photomatix, but it doesn't give me the tone mapping option...