Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

Hi ya'all. Pic is a water garden feature.

Please comment or critique as you deem fit but follow it up with helpful critique please.

Many thanks

Baz

Before, normal ex


After, HDR

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

Comment to self. It could do with a bit more contrast & a bit of toning down on the colours. Pictures seem to always look different on UHH.

Baz

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Haveago,

If the first image is at "0" Ev then you have an initial issue with exposure settings and HDR will not help.

If you have a Circular Polarizer Filter that would help in reducing the water reflections from the pond. It may also help bring out the horizon that looks more like distant hills.

Overall your HDR image looks good except for the reflections and distance. You kept the processing down to a minimum, thereby removing the temptation to "over cook" the image.

The power of HDR, is to create in photography, what our eyes recorded at the scene and what we remember days later. You must start with a good original exposure, one that is correctly exposed throughout as much of the frame as possible. Then, where areas of over-exposure, and under-exposure are present, merge 3 - 7 exposures to correct for the out of exposure range.

The next time you try this, and I understand in the UK you will have many days of overcast, snap on a Polarizer Filter and reduce the glare from the water, and distant hills. Set you camera for three consecutive exposures, and set the variable exposure values to -1.7, 0, +1.7. Set the camera on Aperture Priority, so only the shutter duration will vary the exposures. Place the camera on a tripod, and use a cable shutter release cable.

Good luck, you have a good start.

Michael G

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

The image has been improved but I believe you could have accomplished the same thing without HDR and with the polarizer as suggested by Michael. My real point is this: I don't see the need to recover a lot of dynamic range from the "0" exposure.
So an interesting challenge would be to go back there with a polarizer and bracket your shots as suggested by Michael and then compare your best PP on the "0" exposure with an HDR.

I do like the direction your processing is taking you.

Best.

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

Armadillo & LoneRangeFinder,
thanks both of you for comments & suggestions of which I will take note & put to good use.

It just so happens that I have a polarizing filter & will use it as suggested in yr comments. I will post my results once i've had the time to go back to the same place a week or so.

Thanks again the pr of you.

Baz

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

In addition to the above comments and if shooting RAW, I think I would have been tempted to try using a graduated ND filter to darken the sky.

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

Hi Dave, mine is a Panasonic Lumix FZ48 bridge camera so I can only shot JPEG. Funny ol' thing that as I have an ND filter on order, a variable one.

Thanks for yr comments Dave. :thumbup:

Baz

SoHillGuy Loc: Washington

Thinking to myself out loud. Because of the angles of the fence, the fence posts, and the bench to that of the fountain/bird bath or what ever it is, I find the picture disturbing to look at. I believe you should consider finding a different scene to photograph that would be more eye appealing.

SoHillGuy Loc: Washington

Thinking to myself out loud. Because of the angles of the fence, the fence posts, and the bench to that of the fountain/bird bath or what ever it is, I find the picture disturbing to look at. I believe you should reconsider finding a different scene to photograph that would be more eye appealing, or a different angle if you choose to re-shoot this scene.

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

"I find the picture disturbing to look at" for my future pictures in what way do you find it "disturbing" or are others just being kind in their comments.

I please enlighten me SoHillGuy? Thanks

Baz

joe west Loc: Taylor, Michigan

1 is nice, 2nd too dark

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

Thanks for looking & yr comments Joe. I had in fact made a comment to myself above re No2.

"Comment to self. It could do with a bit more contrast & a bit of toning down on the colours. Pictures seem to always look different on UHH".

Baz

SoHillGuy Loc: Washington

It is the angles of the fence sloping down to the left, while the fence post lean to the right. The bench, and ground slope down to the left. The object in the pond is leaning to the right. Because we normally see things in horizontal, and vertical perspective this is why it becomes a distraction.

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

Now I understand why it was disturbing to you. I can now see that in the picture & there is a lot of areas that are out of true to each other.

I will try & look out for that in the future & maybe not include distances in my pictures.

Thanks for explaining things to me.

Baz

deayala1 Loc: Pleasanton, CA

I also think the composition could be improved. The fountain blocks the view of the bench and the view of the fence is interfered with by the bench. Perhaps by taking a different angle you can separate the 3 objects better.