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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Tried HDR, looks like crap, help?
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03/17/2008 11:12:21 AM · #1
[thumb]658953[/thumb]

I went out this weekend to try to do HDR, I have 3 photographs that I HDR's in Photoshop's HDR merge program.

I am so dissapointed, I have these wonderful landscapes and they all look totally crap.

Here is a 3 exposure car, the car isnt so bad, but the background is horrendous.

I wish Bear would write a tutorial on how to do it lol.

Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions on what I am so obviously doing wrong, I have a landscape one too if you need further proof that I suck!
03/17/2008 11:16:37 AM · #2
Hmmm, maybe it's the conversion to sepia? I use Photomatix Pro with great results.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


03/17/2008 11:19:19 AM · #3
I tried HDR briefly in Photoshop and didn't have any luck. I find Photomatix works well. Maybe it's the software?
03/17/2008 11:22:01 AM · #4
Originally posted by JulietNN:

[thumb]658953[/thumb]

I went out this weekend to try to do HDR, I have 3 photographs that I HDR's in Photoshop's HDR merge program.

I am so dissapointed, I have these wonderful landscapes and they all look totally crap.

Here is a 3 exposure car, the car isnt so bad, but the background is horrendous.

I wish Bear would write a tutorial on how to do it lol.

Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions on what I am so obviously doing wrong, I have a landscape one too if you need further proof that I suck!


Can you send me the originals so I can see what you're dealing with? This is all wrong, for sure.

R.
03/17/2008 11:33:24 AM · #5
those look great Doc, I turned it into sepia cos in colour it looked even worse, i am doing the colour one right now so you can see.

I think I need Photomatix and not try to do them in the PS HDR section, even when i tweaked all three different photos it still looked like , well i dont know, it looked terrible

here is the colour one

[thumb]658957[/thumb]
03/17/2008 11:35:42 AM · #6
I am sending you the RAW files Bear
03/17/2008 11:43:41 AM · #7
Originally posted by JulietNN:

I wish Bear would write a tutorial on how to do it lol.


I second that. Would love to see a tutorial on here for Photomatix.
03/17/2008 12:11:03 PM · #8
it looks like there are too many highlights in there. I'm no master of HDR (at least not in the 3 exposures sense) but it doesn't have the typical look of an HDR picture that's for sure.

Nice colours though!
03/17/2008 12:11:26 PM · #9
Originally posted by JulietNN:

those look great Doc, I turned it into sepia cos in colour it looked even worse, i am doing the colour one right now so you can see.

I think I need Photomatix and not try to do them in the PS HDR section, even when i tweaked all three different photos it still looked like , well i dont know, it looked terrible

here is the colour one

[thumb]658957[/thumb]


so this is the final HDR before you sepia toned it? Also is this a tone mapped version or the straight HDR? It looks VERY dull, not at all what I expect and what you normally get after you tone mapped it. You might be missing a step somewhere...not sure. I am by far not an expert but have dappled with the Photomatix and a new free version someone posted here and have never seen results this dull and (sorry) boring.

Bear should be able to help you a great deal....good luck.
03/17/2008 12:20:50 PM · #10
Here's a nice tutorial for using Photomatix.
03/17/2008 04:45:15 PM · #11
//backingwinds.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-to-create-professional-hdr-images.html

This is the tutorial that I used, there was no tone mapping invovled it was straight HDR.

Maybe that is the problem.

or maybe my exposures where not far enough apart.
03/17/2008 04:46:43 PM · #12
I looked through o rrather glances at the tutorial that you posted Mad and I think that is my problem, I didnt tone map them, they are all straight HDR.

I am going to go and have a cup of joe and read through it more.

Thank you
03/17/2008 06:28:48 PM · #13
Originally posted by JulietNN:

I looked through o rrather glances at the tutorial that you posted Mad and I think that is my problem, I didnt tone map them, they are all straight HDR.

I am going to go and have a cup of joe and read through it more.

Thank you


yeah I don't see anything in there about tone mapping either and since I still us photoshop CS I don't work with HDR in photoshop. I would really give photomatix a try, I'm sure it doesn't give all the same options as PS and unregistered gives you a watermark but it might be a good place to see what the potential results could be...just a thought, can't wait to see finished product.
03/17/2008 06:35:58 PM · #14
Originally posted by doctornick:

Hmmm, maybe it's the conversion to sepia? I use Photomatix Pro with great results.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


Your photos are set to private.
03/17/2008 06:37:08 PM · #15
the 2nd and 3rd one are not though, and they look amazing!
03/17/2008 06:37:41 PM · #16
Originally posted by angelfire:

Originally posted by doctornick:

Hmmm, maybe it's the conversion to sepia? I use Photomatix Pro with great results.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


Your photos are set to private.


Oops, they are not now. :)
03/17/2008 06:41:04 PM · #17
Originally posted by angelfire:


Your photos are set to private.


That's odd. I was able to view them just moments ago - and I'm not anyone he knows, so wouldn't be on any kind of "friends" list.
03/17/2008 06:41:34 PM · #18
Originally posted by mad_brewer:

Here's a nice tutorial for using Photomatix.


Thanks for this :)
03/17/2008 11:57:53 PM · #19
From your original, a subtle HDR/TM. I could go heavy on it but what do you think about this look.
[thumb]659205[/thumb]
03/18/2008 12:35:33 AM · #20
Originally posted by doctornick:

Hmmm, maybe it's the conversion to sepia? I use Photomatix Pro with great results.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


In Example 1, did you use multiple exposures or a single exposure? With multiple exposures how do you avoid movement of the water or the boat?
03/18/2008 12:44:59 AM · #21
Originally posted by AndyMac24:

This looks really good, what program did you use?


Photomatrix Pro. When I do use HDR/TM I try to bring out detail without the image looking like it has been processed with and HDR/TM program. I'm not say heavy HDR/TM doesn't have its place because it does. I just like to use the program to add range.

Thanks for the comment.

Scott
03/18/2008 12:46:00 AM · #22
Get photomatix... My first weekend using it produced some awesome results, and my post processing skills are weak.
03/18/2008 12:48:23 AM · #23
Originally posted by JulietNN:

I am so dissapointed, I have these wonderful landscapes and they all look totally crap.

Don't feel too bad. Most HDR images look like crap.
03/18/2008 12:54:14 AM · #24
Originally posted by sudhi:

Originally posted by doctornick:

Hmmm, maybe it's the conversion to sepia? I use Photomatix Pro with great results.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


In Example 1, did you use multiple exposures or a single exposure? With multiple exposures how do you avoid movement of the water or the boat?

Since doctornick is not online I will try to answer [hope he don't mind]. In Photomatrix Pro after entering your photographs and setting your stop values another box appears. It has three areas. 1) Align source images, 2) Attempt to reduce ghosting artifacts with radio buttons [moving objects/people] and [ripples]. with a dropdown menu that gives you the option of normal or high, 3) this option set to liking.

Option 2 using ripples, I would guess, it what he used to avoid the moement of water.

Hope this helps.
Scott
03/18/2008 03:33:09 AM · #25
Here is another good tutorial from This Week in Photography

TWIP Podcast Episode #9 - HDR Primer
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