HDR II - DPChallenge Forums

09/07/2009 10:42:14 PM · #26

I just saw this little gem on an HDR Tutorial site and thought those who do not have Photomatix may want to take a look.
//www.vanilladays.com/hdr_tutorial/

Photomatix discount coupon code: VanillaDays

Put that code in when you buy Photomatix and save 15%.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/07/2009 11:24:01 PM · #27

Guess i'll have to study for this one...i have no idea what HDR means..The description of the challenge is tough!
I'v checked the forum, found nothing. I'll be looking for something on google. I hope i don't need a better camera for this one.

LadyK

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/08/2009 12:25:16 AM · #28

oh jeez, i went and shot for like 4 hrs today and am very unpleased with the results. blah. another day

androgeus

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro for Canon

09/08/2009 02:08:41 AM · #29

Originally posted by prperold:

Originally posted by alans_world:
Why in gods green earth would you cheapen yourself to do something you would normally avoid to please the masses?

DPC is not a site where I showcase my portfolio. For me part of the challenge is trying to please the masses, and exploring different aspects of photography which I would normally not touch. The challenge is HDR in this instance, or rather, the majority of the voters' perception of what HDR is. And frankly, with my Waldo entry averaging 3.6 at the moment, I feel I have to make an attempt at pleasing the masses, at least for the sake of my dignity :)

Vox populi, vox dei - "The voice of the people is the voice of God"

Starbanana

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II

09/08/2009 06:32:25 AM · #30

Im gonna ask a really dumb question now so please be nice ; )

I have read through the HDR tutorial for CS3 and its all good. But... The more, um colourful/ cartoony type HDR images - are they done like that or are they also tone mapped? Now this might be really stupid as Im not entirely sure what tone mapping is..
Is it a second step to the process or is it done as part of the steps the tutorial goes through?

Edit to add - I looked at tone mapping on wikipedia and am completley baffled! Its got equations & theories that although im not stupid, are making me feel that way :)

Message edited by author 2009-09-08 06:36:26.

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

09/08/2009 08:22:09 AM · #31

Tone mapping simply (if not so simply) takes the tonal values of an image and reduces them to a viewable range (1 - 255). For the most part if you simply combine a few RAW images to create an HDR image it turns out pretty bland. It's the tone mapping that brings out the colors everyone has grown accustom to with "HDR" shots.

Here is an example. Notice how the first 3 shots capture the low, mids, and highs of the scene. The 4th combined shot (after tone mapping) brings out all these aspects in the final photo. Click 'View Full Sized Image' to get a better look.

Message edited by author 2009-09-08 08:39:02.

ineedauniquename

Nikon D90

09/08/2009 08:48:31 AM · #32

aaahh.... so all three images are somewhat underexposed. Might explain why my first delibrate attempt at HDR is an utter failure.

Starbanana

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II

09/08/2009 09:34:46 AM · #33

Cheers for that. I shall have to have a play. Just realised Im away in Italy this weekend so Im gonna have to get some shots & edit them before Friday. Eeeek!

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

09/08/2009 09:44:50 AM · #34

Originally posted by ineedauniquename:

aaahh.... so all three images are somewhat underexposed. Might explain why my first delibrate attempt at HDR is an utter failure.

Actually, even though the example doesn't depict it well, it is 1 under exposed (for detail in highlights), 1 exposed properly (for normal detail), and 1 over exposed (for detail in shadows). On each end of the spectrum they produce opposite effects on their opposite aspect (i.e., an under exposed image brings out detail in highlights but completely darkens shadows/low lights; over exposed brings out detail in shadow/low lights but completely blows out highlights). It's the combination of all 3 of these that produce an image that captures detail an lighting from all ranges (shadow, mid, highlights).

You most likely have an AEB / Auto Bracketing feature on your camera which allows you to shoot 3-9 shots using different Exposure settings. If not you can simply use a tripod and shoot 1 @ a time (each time adjusting the exposure compensation +-2)

Lutchenko

Nikon D700

09/08/2009 10:37:02 AM · #35

Originally posted by totaldis:

You most likely have an AEB / Auto Bracketing feature on your camera which allows you to shoot 3-9 shots using different Exposure settings. If not you can simply use a tripod and shoot 1 @ a time (each time adjusting the exposure compensation +-2)

If you're going to change your settings manually and shoot off a tripod beware the clouds..... they move lol

09/08/2009 10:06:19 PM · #36

good point, any movement within your picture sets will most likely lead to ghosting.

Tokina AF 11-16mm f/2.8 116 AT-X Pro DX for Nikon

09/09/2009 01:45:17 AM · #37

Do you think a indoor shot will be too weak for this challenge?

chrisp

Nikon D90

09/09/2009 02:00:13 AM · #38

Originally posted by pedrobop:

Do you think a indoor shot will be too weak for this challenge?

not at all if done correctly, 1st place in last challenge was indoors

well i have my shot but the intended focus point isnt right, ill have to reshoot firday if i can find the time

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

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

09/09/2009 02:04:46 AM · #39

Originally posted by pedrobop:

Do you think a indoor shot will be too weak for this challenge?

If you go indoor I think you'll have to have some pretty cool elements to score well.
Something like

would likely score well even though it technically is just tonemapped.
Also, the winner of the previous HDR challenge was an indoors shot.

I just wish this was a couple weeks ago. I have boatloads of HDR pics from my backpacking trip :\

ETA: Ha,

session416 beat me to the winner comment...

Message edited by author 2009-09-09 02:05:17.

09/09/2009 02:05:09 AM · #40

I'm not sure if i got the HDR thing yet, but i don't think it's very hard to understand, i read that the most important thing is have great details in every part of your shot, in darkness or bright, the details must be nice. Am i right? If i am..i think a good exposure and DOF would be the "right" setup for HDR shots. I hope that's the way.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

09/09/2009 02:07:56 AM · #41

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Originally posted by pedrobop:
Do you think a indoor shot will be too weak for this challenge?

If you go indoor I think you'll have to have some pretty cool elements to score well.
Something like 777758 would likely score well even though it technically is just tonemapped.
Also, the winner of the previous HDR challenge was an indoors shot. 426246

I just wish this was a couple weeks ago. I have boatloads of HDR pics from my backpacking trip :\ 818337

ETA: Ha, session416 beat me to the winner comment...

Woa, you should visit this place again.
Yep..i saw this shot too, it's a really simple subject, but got a 6.02, not bad i think..

Message edited by author 2009-09-09 02:08:59.

spiritualspatula

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

09/09/2009 02:09:48 AM · #42

Originally posted by pedrobop:

True HDR is typically done by combining a series of photos of the same scene. This is done because underexposed shots get all the detail in the really bright areas and overexposing brings out details in the shadows. Camera sensors capture less dynamic range than the human eye, so HDR is a way of getting around that to expand the range. You can also accomplish a lot of the HDR look by tonemapping a single image. Choice for DoF will vary based on what your chosen subject matter is; shallow is better for some things, worse for others. Should be an interesting challenge.

Message edited by author 2009-09-09 02:11:12.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

09/09/2009 02:13:16 AM · #43

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

tonemapping a single image

Sorry but what is this?

I'm gonna sleep now, i'll wait for another of your many answers to my many questions, ehhehe!
Thanks again

spiritualspatula

Message edited by author 2009-09-09 02:16:23.

spiritualspatula

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

09/09/2009 02:30:30 AM · #44

Originally posted by pedrobop:

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
tonemapping a single image

Sorry but what is this?

I'm gonna sleep now, i'll wait for another of your many answers to my many questions, ehhehe!
Thanks again spiritualspatula

Wikipedia Tone Map
DPC Tonemap Tutorial
HDR Tutorial
You can do this to a single image or combine multiple exposures and then do it. It is a required step when combining images because the raw HDR image looks pretty terrible at first. This last link shows what an non-tonemapped HDR image looks like.
Another Tonemapping tutorial, using Photomatix.

As always, my pleasure :)

Message edited by author 2009-09-09 02:30:53.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

09/09/2009 04:06:08 PM · #45

Thanks Derek, but this last tutorial of DPC is for RAW and TIFF files. My camera is just JPEG and i don't have exposure bracketing. If i want to join this one i'll have to take three shots with different exposures. Is there a rule for that or i choose the exposures with my feeling? Reflex cameras have a standard method for that or you have to choose it manually too?
And i think that a indoor shot won't be good for me because my camera won't give me good results.

Message edited by author 2009-09-09 16:12:19.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

09/09/2009 04:39:02 PM · #46

Originally posted by pedrobop:

Is there a rule for that or i choose the exposures with my feeling?

A good starting point may be to shoot 3 exposures, 1 stop apart. Take a couple more at 2 stops out, jsut to have more to play with if the 3 don't give you what you want. Yes, you can do it with JPEG.

Originally posted by pedrobop:

And i think that a indoor shot won't be good for me because my camera won't give me good results.

Simply use a tripod and low ISO setting to minimize noise. I get perfectly good indoor shots with my S5 that way.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

09/09/2009 04:45:40 PM · #47

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by pedrobop:
Is there a rule for that or i choose the exposures with my feeling?

A good starting point may be to shoot 3 exposures, 1 stop apart. Take a couple more at 2 stops out, jsut to have more to play with if the 3 don't give you what you want. Yes, you can do it with JPEG.

Originally posted by pedrobop:
And i think that a indoor shot won't be good for me because my camera won't give me good results.

Simply use a tripod and low ISO setting to minimize noise. I get perfectly good indoor shots with my S5 that way.

Oh, ok

Yo_Spiff, i got the thing about three different exposures, but if i start with the shutter speed set for 1/4s for example, what would be a under and overexposure compared to this 1/4s. Is that a rule or i can choose by myself?

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

09/09/2009 04:50:31 PM · #48

Originally posted by pedrobop:

Oh, ok Yo_Spiff, i got the thing about three different exposures, but if i start with the shutter speed set for 1/4s for example, what would be a under and overexposure compared to this 1/4s. Is that a rule or i can choose by myself?

Just use the exposure compensation control to adjsut 1 stop lower and 1 stop higher. I sent you a PM explaining.

SandyP

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 USM

09/09/2009 05:11:34 PM · #49

I really like the look of well done HDR images. In the last challenge, you had to go to 8th place before getting below a 7-score. And now that people are even more savvy than back then, I think the bar is going to be extremely high on this challenge. Joe Dannels, Brin (or a few of the other Iceland gurus), MAK, Simms. . .my most likely picks for the high 7 winners. I DOUBT if I would get anything even remotely worthy of showing its face in this challenge -- but it will be fun trying.