Krog Street Tunnel, Atlanta: Ive been an avid fan of the Ugly Hedgehog for quite some time, but this is my first time posting any of my work. I'm interested in HDR photography, both...

jcwall396 Loc: Roswell, GA

Ive been an avid fan of the Ugly Hedgehog for quite some time, but this is my first time posting any of my work. I'm interested in HDR photography, both realistic as well as pushing the limits a bit and would appreciate any feedback /comments / suggestions / critique that you can offer.

This photograph was taken at the Krog Street Tunnel in Atlanta. It's a dark tunnel that is used by local street artists to showcase their work. It's been painted and repainted many times over the years and is a neat place to shoot. I wanted to push this image a bit to pop the colors and to show some of the "gritty underside". I would appreciate your feedback on any aspect you care to comment on!

Middle exposure of a set of 5

After Photomatix, Lightroom, and Perfect Effects 9

waltchilds Loc: Central Florida

I like it, well done.

djtravels Loc: Georgia boy now

Very tough lighting to overcome. Nice finished product. djt

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Well done. Not too over the top.

jcwall396 Loc: Roswell, GA

Thanks for the comments!

a2000c Loc: ND

jcwall396 wrote:

Ive been an avid fan of the Ugly Hedgehog for qui... (show quote)

Like it in HDR. Lends itself well. Good subject.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

jcwall396 wrote:

Ive been an avid fan of the Ugly Hedgehog for qui... (show quote)

jcwall396,

Very nicely done. Nothing overcooked, and reminds me of natural suburban tunnels.

Since you have this good image from 5 layers, how would it look with three, +, 0, -Ev?

Michael G

jcwall396 Loc: Roswell, GA

Armadillo wrote:

jcwall396,

Very nicely done. Nothing overcooked, and reminds me of natural suburban tunnels.

Since you have this good image from 5 layers, how would it look with three, +, 0, -Ev?

Michael G

Good question! I've read several debates on how many images to bracket for HDR - there seems to be argument for shooting only 3 images at -2, 0, and +2, but there are others that promote more. I shoot 3 images if I'm hand-holding, but tried 5 images at 1 stop apart to get this photograph. What are the thoughts here on the number of images to blend?

joe west Loc: Taylor, Michigan

jcwall396 wrote:

Ive been an avid fan of the Ugly Hedgehog for qui... (show quote)

the hdr is nice and got alittle pop to it and not burnt

a2000c Loc: ND

jcwall396 wrote:

Good question! I've read several debates on how many images to bracket for HDR - there seems to be argument for shooting only 3 images at -2, 0, and +2, but there are others that promote more. I shoot 3 images if I'm hand-holding, but tried 5 images at 1 stop apart to get this photograph. What are the thoughts here on the number of images to blend?

Depends on the subject and the light as to the number of shots I choose to blend. I have been known to shoot 7 shots and pick and choose which 3 or 4 shots of the seven to blend. As far as I'm concerned, there are no hard and fast rules.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

jcwall396 wrote:

Good question! I've read several debates on how many images to bracket for HDR - there seems to be argument for shooting only 3 images at -2, 0, and +2, but there are others that promote more. I shoot 3 images if I'm hand-holding, but tried 5 images at 1 stop apart to get this photograph. What are the thoughts here on the number of images to blend?

jcwall396,

That is a difficult question to address. Some digital camera will take up to 7 bracketed exposures, some only 3 with automatic bracketed exposures.

Then, the effect of over exposing a capture on the image sensor may exclude a +2Ev.

It is a matter of experimentation with a specific camera manufacturer and model. On my Canon EOS the best bracketed exposures are 3, with an Ev range of +1.6, 0 -1.6Ev. Above +1.6 and the bright elements blow out white and are clipped in the camera processing in RAW, or JPG. When capturing bracketed exposures for later HDR processing I keep my Ev to less than +1.6, 0, -1.6Ev.

Michael G

jcwall396 Loc: Roswell, GA

Armadillo wrote:

jcwall396, br br That is a difficult question to ... (show quote)

I have a Nikon D750, and it will bracket 3 or 5 images at 1 or 2 stops between each image, or up to 9 images with 1 stop between each image. So I have a good amount of latitude. I did shoot a couple of 7-image brackets this weekend just to play around with it, and found that, depending on a number of factors (in this case, primarily the lighting), I ended up throwing out the lowest exposure, sometimes the lowest two exposures, and the highest exposure. So you're right - experimentation depending on the camera, image, environment, lighting, etc., etc.

I'm going to try to nighttime shooting over the next few days in Savannah and Charleston, so I hope to have something else to post in a few days. I'm sure I will be trying out quite a few options while there!

ab7rn Loc: Portland, Oregon

Great job recovering detail in the overhead and the underfoot.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Nicely done. Re number of images to take the more the merrier is the answer. With your tunnel for instance another darker image would probably have compensated a little more for the slightly blown very bright area and a further underexposed image, assuming you did it on auto bracketing, would have made no difference at all. Photomatix supposedly can handle 99 images and they have not built that feature in for fun. In sunlight or decent light 3 bracketed images works fine but for something with a big dynamic range between light and shade, church interior is a good example, then 5 or more may be needed.

Go to http://www.toby-marshall.com He is a hog but a quiet one. He brackets 15 and 21 images. look at his stuff and you will see why. Top top HDR work. Some of the best I have ever seen.

jcwall396 Loc: Roswell, GA

Billyspad wrote:

Nicely done. Re number of images to take the more ... (show quote)

Thanks very much for the feedback! And good point on another under exposure to correct that blown light - I'll keep that in mind this week as I want to try to get some streetlights in some of my images in Savannah.

I just checked out Toby's gallery - WOW! Some very, very nice images there - thanks for the tip!