Will there be any quality loss once converted to JPEG? This is my first go at HDR so I'm still pretty new at this

 

Well I can convert them to JPEG and open them inside of CS2 now, yet when I go to File -> Automate -> Merge to HDR - I get an error that says there's not enough dynamic range in these photos to construct a useful HDR image.

Wow I'm completely lost! I have three photos, one of -2 exposure, one at 0 exposure, and one at +2 exposure.. how's there's not enough dynamic range in that?

 

Photoshop makes it a lot harder to work with HDR image processing than other programs such as Photomatix, which I would definitely recommend.

http://www.hdrsoft.com/

You can download a trial version from that site and if you like it, either buy it (best option) or you would probably be able to torrent it.

 

I use a program called dynamic HDR. I believe its free. and its pretty easy to use

 

i went a little overboard with this one. but it still came out good i though

thoughts?

original


HDR

 

i like the original better to be honest

 

I agree with Anthony C. The HDR version is too saturated (no detail in the front fender) and its too grainy (the clouds).

The original picture is really good because its properly exposed (the white tail fin and the tire tread). You know its exposed properly when you just barely make out the tread pattern and the tire is not too dark or light. Also the headlamps and front hood appears yellowish, indicating that the sun is setting/rising. But the clouds in the background is inconsistent, indicating a colder, midday sky.

The original shot is almost a perfect shot. The only thing I would have done differently is opening up the aperture to blur out the trees/lake in the background; crop the car lower so its sits on the bottom 3rd of the image (1/3 Rule); add ND Grad filter to darken the clouds and/or use vignetting to darken the foreground gravel at the edges; and use a Circular Polarizer to take out the reflection of the windshield- but then, sometimes people prefer to leave in the glare because it adds realism.

 

ha wow guys. thanks for the thorough explanation. i knew it was a bit over done. but i felt like sharing anyway

and if i would had more time to put into shooting the photos i would've but some more thought and effort into it. i was pretty rushed. maybe i'll make another HDR version to try and keep the realism but still get the clouds to stand out in it

 

J_Dizzle, I messed around with your photo a bit on Lightroom just to see what I could come up with. What you think?

 

i like it, but i think you lost the bright red that i wanted out of it. it looks to candy when in reality the car is a very vibrant red

 

Looks anodized almost. Not "deep".

 

Too lazy to remove reflections, but that would go a long way to improve the picture.

 

as u can see the car's exposure is near perfect so there's no need to mess with it... the OP did a good job in capturing it.

 

Here's another go at it..

 

well thank you


that one came out pretty good

 

I mixed a few different photos and selected the "best" features from each one

 

haha i see. anyone ever tried it with people? i mentioned it to my boss and showed him a couple shots and he seemed interested in doing it as part of sittings

 

For people it's usually easiest to use Photomatix and just Tone Map a RAW file. Unless you can get them to sit perfectly still through all the exposures

 

well i shoot in raw. and i just well have a normally exposed photo, lightend shot, and darkend shot. so i can do it with one shot ha

 

heres my attempt at it, i tried bringing out as much red as possible, but being dark, its kinda hard, i like the original better but this is my try at it: