Ninja on Deals Gap

[Blaze Z Blaze]

Help me out HDR Gods! I processed this from one picture. I used CS3 to change the color curves and make 4 different pics from the one. Then I merged them in PhotoMatrix, got it close to the way I wanted it, then tweaked it again in CS3. Anyone have any advice for me?

http://precisionradiance.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=584&g2_serialNumber=4

[mercphoto]

...got it close to the way I wanted it, then tweaked it again in CS3.
I don't have experience with HDR and I'll admit, with few exceptions, I haven't liked the HDR's I have seen. Most don't look natural at all to me. But to answer your question relies entirely on "the way I wanted it". Exactly how do you want it to look? Are you wanting a "the eye saw it this way", or some sort of unnatural surreal look?

[Blaze Z Blaze]

But to answer your question relies entirely on "the way I wanted it". Exactly how do you want it to look? Are you wanting a "the eye saw it this way", or some sort of unnatural surreal look?

I guess I didnt think of it like that. Its hard to explain, but when I look at other HDR's a lot of the time I am like "wow!" and then when I look at ones I have done I am like "eh, what is it missing?". The picture I posted is there. I feel it is achieving the HDR look, but when I see it in comparison to others, i think "what is it missing?". So I am trying to learn from the HDR's Pros tricks and secrets to give it the "wow" factor. Does that make sense?

[BCSPhotoguy]

I guess I didnt think of it like that. Its hard to explain, but when I look at other HDR's a lot of the time I am like "wow!" and then when I look at ones I have done I am like "eh, what is it missing?". The picture I posted is there. I feel it is achieving the HDR look, but when I see it in comparison to others, i think "what is it missing?". So I am trying to learn from the HDR's Pros tricks and secrets to give it the "wow" factor. Does that make sense?

I think your example is great! One thing I would try is doing a unsharp mask in CS3 - may make it pop a bit more. I love doing HDR's - it seems the ones that I am not overly crazy about, other people like. I know I am my own worse critic - could that be your issue?

I have seen MANY bad HDR's - this isnt one of em! Try the USM and see what you think!

[Blaze Z Blaze]

Thanks for the advice Photoguy, ill def. give it a try:thumb

[jonh68]

I guess I didnt think of it like that. Its hard to explain, but when I look at other HDR's a lot of the time I am like "wow!" and then when I look at ones I have done I am like "eh, what is it missing?". The picture I posted is there. I feel it is achieving the HDR look, but when I see it in comparison to others, i think "what is it missing?". So I am trying to learn from the HDR's Pros tricks and secrets to give it the "wow" factor. Does that make sense?

I don't do HDR, but everything I have read about it says you need multiple exposures, from the camera, and not from PP. Kind of hard to do with sports shots.