High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photos

Doug-

HDR is a definite improvement over a single exposure, but you could take your photos further by adding just a little more processing to your images. Follow me on this.I took your 3 photos and spent about 15 seconds on each of them to improve the way they look. Here they are:

So, for each of these photos, I just increased the contrast by raising the black triangle and adjusting the midpoint on the "levels" screen, and then added just a little bit of saturation.

I think these look improved because of the reduction of the "hazy gray look", especially on the deck photo.

HDR is not a bad thing, just that one needs to still make manual adjustments. I personally almost never shoot in HDR because it takes too much time for processing. If there is a $1M view, then I'll do the HDR, otherwise, it's the blown-out window look. HTH.

Great job Doug & Steven,

HDR technology is growing in leaps and bounds. The latest Pentax K20D Semi-pro DSLR has on-camera HDR, where for example you take a bracketed 5 images with + & - exposure and it blends them automatically. ...With the understanding that it you won't get the same end result if you were to tweak it using Photoshop or Lightroom.

Tim

Steven - that's excellent! I know i need more practice, especially in the processing department. But with each shot I'm learning more and more. Thanks for commenting.

Tim - I have a wide angle lens on my wish list for my DSLR. As soon as a I get one I won't be using the Kodak V570 for marketing photos. I am simply amazed that I can get a great shot (far better than 99% of other MLS photos) with a point and shoot camera)

I've also been playing around with Pole Ariel Photos. I'll post an entry about that in a couple of days.

I have not ventured into the pole aerial photography yet, but do stand on the topper on the back of my pickup on occasion, to get a good shot. That puts me 6' off the ground, and holding it at eye level puts the camera at about 11' off the ground.

Just today, I could have used a pole to get a better vantage point, as I could not park my truck on the front lawn to stand on top of it.

Forgot to mention that I shoot with a Canon 40D and a Canon 10-22mm lens. I don't usually go to 10mm because of distortion, but when I shoot at 10mm, I also correct for it within photoshop, but the perspective is unnatural.