| Author | Thread |
|
|
10/19/2010 03:26:49 PM · #1 |
Ok, I took this picture a while back and just yesterday "finished" work on it. It was my first attempt at taking pictures of a car, and also my first attempt at using HDRI. I very much like the "data" that one gets out of HDRI, but I don't like that super blown out and noisy look. So my goal in using HDRI is to use the data in this "perfect" exposure to bring out things that you can't get to look a certain way in a normal exposure.
I don't know if I've achieved my goal here, I don't want it to look like an HDRI photo in particular.....but I don't know if MAYBE it just looks "odd" or "broken". Things I like about the photo are how the "wide angle" really accentuates the arse of the car, I enjoy the way the HDRI brings out details in the wheels, black panel on the rear, and the carbon fiber in the wing as well as the mesh on the rear hatch. And it REALLY does a number on the paint, the paint reacts very different depending on the angle the light hits it. None of my exposures even remotely conveyed that, not even close. Perhaps HDRI is the ONLY way to get that in a photo? I don't know but the paint REALLY looks good I think.
I could probably "paint" on this thing forever, but I felt it was getting to a point where I may not be able to make it any better with technology. :-D
2006 Lotus Exige by velocity visual, on Flickr
p.s. I just noticed I still have a tiny bit of "halo" in front of the rear wheel, I thought I got it all but I didn't notice it till I saw the image in a smaller size just now. Does anyone else notice that...it REEKS of HDRI...I think?
|
|
|
|
10/19/2010 03:40:59 PM · #2 |
The clouds give a hint of HDR to me. But really, it doesn't look like a blatant HDR at all (to me).
That car is gorgeous! |
|
|
|
10/19/2010 03:45:40 PM · #3 |
Looks really good. What did you use to do the merge with? I agree that it very much depends on the surface itself and the angle of the light as to how nicely it reacts to the treatment. I've been using the formerly free Photomatix basic and just ponied up for it's payware replacement, Photomatix light, which is a significant upgrade. I'm liking the more natural looking ones, with just a modest amount of tonemapped zing added to them. (Though I still go overboard ocassionally. Did this one last night:
Message edited by author 2010-10-19 15:46:41. |
|
|
|
10/19/2010 03:46:41 PM · #4 |
Little bit of halo yes, easy to fix. Not overtly HDR-ish, that's good. I'd go to work on the fender highlight and tone it down, myself...
R. |
|
|
|
10/19/2010 11:03:11 PM · #5 |
I used photomatix a long time ago to get a full on thermonuclear render, then in the areas where I thought it looked bad I took the best looking "normal" exposure and brought it through. I did this mostly in the areas under the rear of the car which looked, to me, unnaturally bright. The drivers side rear tire also had way to much light considering where the "key" is.
I thought I paid for photomatix last year, I wonder if I can still get it installed without buying it again...hmm!
I like that image of the Pueblo, super warm. I think the HDR is good in that one. That's the thing about HDR, I think the data is SUPER useful to have in your "bag" when you are developing. Judging by the direction of the sun in that image, I think without some HDR you wouldn't be able to see any detail on the shadow side. |
|
|
|
10/19/2010 11:11:35 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by velocityvisual:
Judging by the direction of the sun in that image, I think without some HDR you wouldn't be able to see any detail on the shadow side. |
Correct, which is why I did bracketed exposures here. The best light on this place is in the morning, but we got there a little before sundown. It was still some interesting light, but it took more work to get what I wanted out of it. I was handholding for the bracketed shots, so not all of them are lining up, but I'm having a high enough hot rate to get some effective HDR merges.
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/30/2025 04:50:50 AM EDT.
