High Dynamic Range Photography

[Donkey]

High dynamic range (HDR) photography is where three exposures are taken; usually -2, 0 and +2 and then merged together with tone mapping effects on a program like Photomatix. here are some of mine:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8283/7507154190_2b1e7f3b8c_h.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/7501533870_605435b134_h.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7494952488_3eb6903c6d_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/7495085106_9390d0f53e_h.jpg

I hope to take more now I know how to do them properly (the church one was the only one I edited 'properly')

[Iris]

I've always been a fan of HDR. It creates such awesome effects ^.^. Kudos for learning how to perform it; it's so beyond me at this point.

As for your photos-it's only possible to see the effects in the first two photos. One thing I've noticed in HDR photos is the contrast, that helps create amazing detail, which is something that can be improved in your photos. More drastic changes in exposure between the layers you put together make a photo really pop. I think HDR-wise the second is best, but the first is better content and angle-wise. By combining the positive points of those two photos I think you can create something really spectacular.

I think for beginning to edit them "properly" you're doing really well :). Keep it up.

[tmak621]

I just wanna say that I love the first picture. Great great picture.

[Donkey]

I've always been a fan of HDR. It creates such awesome effects ^.^. Kudos for learning how to perform it; it's so beyond me at this point.

As for your photos-it's only possible to see the effects in the first two photos. One thing I've noticed in HDR photos is the contrast, that helps create amazing detail, which is something that can be improved in your photos. More drastic changes in exposure between the layers you put together make a photo really pop. I think HDR-wise the second is best, but the first is better content and angle-wise. By combining the positive points of those two photos I think you can create something really spectacular.

I think for beginning to edit them "properly" you're doing really well :). Keep it up.
Hi, I didn't want to go OTT with the contrast as it begins to look silly, but lemme show you the difference HDR makes by showing you the exposures at 0 compared.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7494952488_3eb6903c6d_b.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9Q639.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/7495085106_9390d0f53e_h.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jeru4.jpg

[Breakeven]

wow i love them all ^_^

[ImCoolBeans]

Very cool, Jon. I like the one of the building a lot. HDR can be very overused and it can be pretty cheesy and tasteless at times, but I like how you've used it.

[Iris]

Hi, I didn't want to go OTT with the contrast as it begins to look silly, but lemme show you the difference HDR makes by showing you the exposures at 0 compared.

image (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7494952488_3eb6903c6d_b.jpg)
image (http://i.imgur.com/9Q639.jpg)

image (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/7495085106_9390d0f53e_h.jpg)
image (http://i.imgur.com/jeru4.jpg)

Hm. I don't think those two photos really need the complications of HDR The same effects can be achieved by minor increases in contrast and saturation. For the record I've rarely seen plants/flowers used for HDR photos. They're already so...complex, I guess, that HDR doesn't make them stand out as much as other kinds of editing. HDR works well for different scapes and architecture. In those situations the HDR aspect stands out wonderfully but still keeps the photo looking realistic. If you're going to do more experimenting with HDR try more buildings like the first, or skyscapes like the second. The flowers are nice but they just don't gain anything from HDR.

[Steve Jobs]

Needs moarrr bacon!
Honestly though, there's no limits to HDR. Keep it up Donkey, keep shooting. In fact you could go a little more extreme. Part of what you can do in HDR is make things surreal :)