Whidby Scenic: Taken from the same spot as my Same old Tree picture. A before and after pic, done in Redynamix, from a single image! Don't need to take 3 pics like in Photomatix. I get...

Pathfinder Loc: Naches, Wa

Taken from the same spot as my Same old Tree picture. A before and after pic, done in Redynamix, from a single image! Don't need to take 3 pics like in Photomatix. I get a few users that don't like the HDR effect, but to me the HDR is alive, the original is almost dead looking. Maybe my original wasn't exposed properly, but I would have pure white highlights had I exposed for the darker portions of the image. What to do? Any advice? Jim

Straight from the camera

Done in Redynamix

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Pathfinder wrote:

Taken from the same spot as my Same old Tree picture. A before and after pic, done in Redynamix, from a single image! Don't need to take 3 pics like in Photomatix. I get a few users that don't like the HDR effect, but to me the HDR is alive, the original is almost dead looking. Maybe my original wasn't exposed properly, but I would have pure white highlights had I exposed for the darker portions of the image. What to do? Any advice? Jim

Best shot I've seen you post yet. Nicely done and composed.

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

definitely a nice composition, but the HDR looks almnost cartoonish.

Pathfinder Loc: Naches, Wa

Thanks Bob-------Sometimes I get lucky! What's your opinion of the HDR effect, not just this pic, but of the many pics that have been posted by others? Next question----Where are we going to stage a get together of all the bikers/photographers next summer?

Pathfinder Loc: Naches, Wa

But Squirl, look at the original!

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Pathfinder wrote:

Thanks Bob-------Sometimes I get lucky! What's your opinion of the HDR effect, not just this pic, but of the many pics that have been posted by others? Next question----Where are we going to stage a get together of all the bikers/photographers next summer?

As a rule if I notice it's an obvious HDR I don't like it. I honestly didn't read the text of your original post so I didn't realize the edit was an HDR. In this case what you've done works quite well.

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

Pathfinder wrote:

But Squirl, look at the original!

i know... it's pretty badly underexposed. not much you can do with it... still, even with ReDynamix, it can be made to look more natural...

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Pathfinder wrote:

Taken from the same spot as my Same old Tree picture. A before and after pic, done in Redynamix, from a single image! Don't need to take 3 pics like in Photomatix. I get a few users that don't like the HDR effect, but to me the HDR is alive, the original is almost dead looking. Maybe my original wasn't exposed properly, but I would have pure white highlights had I exposed for the darker portions of the image. What to do? Any advice? Jim

This is in competition with your first tree HDR. In general I like HDR somewhat surreal but I'm not a purist. Therefore I think this is excellent. You have a good eye for artistic photography. Keep um comin. I truly enjoy your work.

Russ

Pathfinder Loc: Naches, Wa

You are correct. I could have smoothed things out a bit, and your redo proves that. I think I may try to keep from straying too far toward radical HDR. I said I may try! I may not suceed, but I'll try. Thanks Squirl, appreciate your input.

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

Pathfinder wrote:

You are correct. I could have smoothed things out a bit, and your redo proves that. I think I may try to keep from straying too far toward radical HDR. I said I may try! I may not suceed, but I'll try. Thanks Squirl, appreciate your input.

you're very welcome. please bear in mind, i'm not trying to be hypercritical here, and if your intent wasn't to create a *realistic* image, i'll shut up and go away. but the real reason for using HDR, or even 'pseudo-HDR' like ReDynaMix, is to compress the dynamic range in an image to bring out detail in the shadows and tone down the highlights. when you process to the point that there are weird halos and odd colors where there shouldn't be, to me, that's too much. but that's just my personal preference, and some folks like the sort of video-game look that HDR can produce... anyway, please don't take my critique as gospel. after all, it's just the opinion of a stranger on the internet... ;)

Pathfinder Loc: Naches, Wa

Thanks Sq---Did you say that redynamix only cost's $16.00?
Wow! A rare bargain these days..You didn't say what part of the country you're from, and you don't need to. Just courious. You probably know that I'm in Mt Rainier country, with an occasional trip to Whidby Island and Anacortes, Wa. By the way, if you lost all your camera gear, what would you buy to replace it with? I'm kinda looking for a better SLR, but not sure which way to go. May keep what I've got for a while and kick some tires.. Jim

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

Pathfinder wrote:

Thanks Sq---Did you say that redynamix only cost's... (show quote)

yep, $16. you order online from MediaChance software, and download the plugin. save it in your Photoshop plugins directory, and you're all set.

if you're curious, i live in Renton... ;)

what would i get? well, assuming insurance would pay most of the replacement cost, i'd probably get a Canon 5D2 to replace my aging 5D, and if i could manage it, a 7D to replace my 40D, though that's not a sure thing. there are some things about the 7D that i'm not too thrilled with... if i had to do it without any help from insurance, i'd probably just get another 5D from eBay. dunno what i'd do about lenses though... my 24-135, which is my "money" lens, is no longer made, and the going price these days for the 100-400L is around $1600 - almost double what i paid for mine!

mortonfarm Loc: Texas

SQUIRL033 wrote:

quote=Pathfinder Thanks Sq---Did you say that red... (show quote)

photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ

SQUIRL033 wrote:

Pathfinder wrote:

But Squirl, look at the original!

i know... it's pretty badly underexposed. not much you can do with it... still, even with ReDynamix, it can be made to look more natural...

This is much improved ...more natural looking

FuzMuz Loc: Southern Utah

Pathfinder wrote:

Taken from the same spot as my Same old Tree picture. A before and after pic, done in Redynamix, from a single image! Don't need to take 3 pics like in Photomatix. I get a few users that don't like the HDR effect, but to me the HDR is alive, the original is almost dead looking. Maybe my original wasn't exposed properly, but I would have pure white highlights had I exposed for the darker portions of the image. What to do? Any advice? Jim

Desaturate to make it more natural or pump it up making it more surreal - Either way would make a great photo.

Is this place on Whidby Island, Washington?