SheilaG Loc: Central Arkansas

This is one of the things that I cannot figure out how to do...

We very recently purchased a house on Petit Jean Mtn, it is an open designed home. Walking in thru the front entrance you can see straight thru the great room to the river and valley beyond the bluff behind the home.

I would love to be able to picture how it more closely looks when you walk in. It is what made me fall in love with the house.

My camera has been in storage for a very long time and now, I find that I have the time to begin learning skills I never developed, using my Nikon on Auto most of the time... With this house 5 minutes from the State Park, I have lots of opportunity to take some nice landscape pics.

Thanks in advance. My camera is a D-70 and two lens Nikon 70-300 F4/5.6D ED, AF-S Nikon 18-70 F3.5-4.5G ED (kit lens if I remember correctly)

The second picture was taken out the window of the sun porch as a storm was brewing in the distance.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Perhaps HDR?

SheilaG Loc: Central Arkansas

I did not even know what that was until I joined here. I am trying to study the D70 manual and figure out how to bracket with my camera. I don't have software specifically for HDR. But I do have LR/Photoshop CC and I think there may be something in there. Again, figuring it out!! Thanks! I appreciate that!!

Bill_de Loc: US

Maybe some exposure bracketing and merging of that first shot would let you see what is beyond the windows.

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Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

There is a bunch of software available, some free, some for cost. Some apps have basic HDR capabilities. There is a specific UHH HDR section, where I expect people more knowledgeable than I would be able to help. http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-107-1.html

I would consider at least three bracketed frames, five probably better, and of course, a tripod.

Good luck

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Standard problem with shots like this. Real bright outside, not so bright inside, one of the two will be over or under exposed because of the light intensity difference between the two locations (inside and outside).
I have no idea what the inside would look like (most likely darker) if you spot metered on the outside.

Maybe two shots (on a tripod), one exposed for inside and another from the same location exposed for outside and combine or cut-n-paste in a photo editor?
Someone here has to have a viable solution to the problem.

SheilaG Loc: Central Arkansas

Sounds like that is the way to go.. I just need to do some studying how to get it done.

Thank you for your service Bill. I noticed your CIB badge!

SheilaG Loc: Central Arkansas

Thank you for the link, I will surely check it out. My camera does 3 bracketed frames. I could do two sets and get 6 to check it out.
Now to find the tripod... should have been put up with the camera.

SheilaG Loc: Central Arkansas

Longshadow, I did try metering the outside and the inside was very dark.. VERY dark..

I've received some good ideas to try and maybe I can get closer to what I want.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Yes HDR and if you want a wider view that shows the walls to each side you might try a panorama. Do two or three HDR sets overlapped to make the pano. First process the separate shots for the HDR and then stitch them for the pano. LR and PS CC will do both jobs and then later you can try separate more advanced apps to do the same things. There are both written and video tutorials on both processes on line.
Since you are used to using Auto I take it you shoot in jpeg?? If so I suggest you try RAW or RAW+JPEG and save the "out of camera" RAWs for redos later after you get better.
With the great difference in lighting between the scene out the windows and the interior you may need to experiment with how many shots at what settings will get you well exposed HDR final images. I would suggest you work on that first then when you get the HDR image looking like you want take the two or three overlapping panos as individual HDRs and stitch those for the final HDR/Pano shot. This experimenting/playing/learning could keep you busy for a while. But with digital you have unlimited chances to try and learn. Then you will have a technique that will serve you well for other subjects in the future.

And before anyone asks, no I haven't done this myself (have done HDR and Pano, but not together). Just a retired classroom teacher with a bit of talent at taking information and creating learning processes that fit the situation. I often did this and pushed myself to learn faster than my students. As they say, you want to really learn something, teach it!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

OK, I found some posts that might help.

#1 An article on bracketing with the D70 and in one place it hints at being able to do more than the 3 shot auto brackets.
http://www.wikihow.com/Bracket-Photos-With-a-Nikon-D70

#2 Looked a bit more and found this article on how to a 5 shot bracket manually:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110817062125AAkCVt0

Darn this is fun, almost like teaching again. Anyone else need some custom designed "Home Work". Please excuse the use of double "four letter" words.

And I found a google page full of HDR Panorama information: http://www.google.com/search?q=creating+hdr+panoramas&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS746US746&oq=creating+an+HDR+Panora&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.17912j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The "Photography Life" article seems easy and straightforward. That view you have would be a great subject for this same treatment he gave the Grand Canyon.

SheilaG Loc: Central Arkansas

Robertjerl,

Thanks so much. That would be awesome to learn both those techniques and combine them.

I really appreciate the research and links. I will be working on those shortly! I bought thei Magic Lantern Guide for my camera, in hopes that it was an easier read than the manual, but it is almost the same....

Looking forward to reviewing your links.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Good deal! Now go do that homework and study. Pop quiz Feb 30th.

SheilaG Loc: Central Arkansas

Just read the Photography Life article. They make it sound easy.. Maybe I can find a shot to practice on tomorrow, until I can get to the mountain again.

Looks like a lot of fun learning this. Thanks for your help.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Enjoy, you are welcome.