Central Texas Highland Lakes Area

[jstpeter]

Spent the other day with the family out and about around the highland lakes in Central Texas. Here are some different shots from our day trip. All of these places were within 30 minutes of one another!

1) Longhorn Caverns
http://www.mjsphotographyonline.com/photos/448013652_3bHh7-L.jpg

2) House at Longhorn Cavern State Park
http://www.mjsphotographyonline.com/photos/448048841_PWjhK-L.jpg

3) Inks Lake State Park

http://www.mjsphotographyonline.com/photos/448200003_K7u8W-L.jpg

4) Lake Buchannan
http://www.mjsphotographyonline.com/photos/448328145_83ZSR-L.jpg

5) And we ended the day with a sunset at Canyon of the Eagles Lodge
http://www.mjsphotographyonline.com/photos/448323692_BcYUb-L.jpg

[Shootin1st]

Nice stuff. Really like 1 and 3.

:thumb

[jstpeter]

Shootin thanks for the comments!

[Tom Abbott]

These are awesome. Can you share your post-processing steps?? Thanks!

[jstpeter]

Tom,

Glad you like them. These are all bracketed shots. I then process in a HDR software called Photomatix, followed by sharpening and levels in PS. If you need more details just let me know.

[jeffmeyers]

These are all good shots, but I think the HDR effect is a bit much on most of them. #1 seems to work. But the others are pushed just a little too far, IMHO.

So #2 is almost "glittery" because of there are so many small tonal transitions and they are all pretty drastic.

#3 is better. But notice the haloing artifacts on the trees that protrude into the sky.

You also have severe haloing on the tree in the right on #4. And they sky on #4 has all sorts of artifacts because it's been pushed too far.

I think you could tone down the HDR effect and have really good shots here.

[Erbeman]

These are all good shots, but I think the HDR effect is a bit much on most of them. #1 seems to work. But the others are pushed just a little too far, IMHO.

So #2 is almost "glittery" because of there are so many small tonal transitions and they are all pretty drastic.

#3 is better. But notice the haloing artifacts on the trees that protrude into the sky.

You also have severe haloing on the tree in the right on #4. And they sky on #4 has all sorts of artifacts because it's been pushed too far.

I think you could tone down the HDR effect and have really good shots here.

I agree with Jeff here. HDR is a nice effect in moderation. I think you just went a bit overboard with these. Less is more with HDR IMO. Still nice pics however.