Niagara on the Lake, Canada
Before
After
The After doesn't look natural. Try different effects with your HDR program. I am sure you can get a more natural looking version.
I processed your original in Photomatix and saved the Enhanced version, which looks better than yours.
It is a matter of taste - what you happen to like.
For me, HDR is a tool used for getting a natural look of a scene when the dynamic range is to great for the camera to handle both the bright and dark areas. I have seen some interesting HDR results that had a different artsy look, and thought the work was well done, but not to my personal taste. So, for me, I do prefer the more natural way Kaerophil processed your shot. I personally think yours looks "over processed" or "over cooked". But, others may very well prefer that look.
I liked the way you composed the shot. You did a very good job of capturing the scene's beauty and color. You made me want to visit the place. It is a great shot, just not processed the way I would have preferred.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Tom
kaerophil, I see little or no difference between what you did and the before shot. Sorry guys I still like after better. Thanks for the impressions though. I have taken first in several photo contests with the after version.
And I must say, the actual photo looks much better than what this sight displays. Makes me think this is happening to every photo posted by all others.
I prefer the before. The after photo seems too pumpkin colored for my taste.
The default in your HDR program apparently tone-maps the image. The tone mapping is what makes no. 2 look like a cartoon.
IMHO -- I go with kaerophil on this one. I think the OP's after is just a little to strong for my tastes. The windows just scream for your visual attention. If kaerophil's version could raise the shadows of the lower 2/3's I think it would be pretty awesome.
With the 'Before' image, I get a sense of depth within the scene, helped by the wide range of light and dark tones throughout. But because much of the dark shadow areas have been suppressed and the tonal contrast reduced in the 'After' image, in this altered version the scene appears dimensionally flat and somewhat confusing. Of course it's a matter of personal taste, but I find a confusing image generally more difficult to enjoy.
1--is good 2--is over cooked
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