Holy HDR Images- Night Shoot

[Lumen Miner (Mitchell)]

I can't say that I was brought up at all religious, yet I do have a love for decent architecture.

This church in Beecroft was built in 1900. I would have to say, tonight was most probably the first time it was shot in HDR.

I have tried to ease back on the tone mapping, as I most certainly did not want a 3D rendered look.

I think I am running a very thin line with these, yet I feel that I am getting closer to the mark I'm looking for.

I have taken on board Humayun's warnings ( ) and feel this would be the absolute limit of HDR in standard shots. In fact, I perhaps have over stepped the bounds a tad, actually now that I am re-evaluating, perhaps this is too much.

In future shots I will ease back even more.
I do not want HDR to become an over-powering element in my photography, as it sends shivers up some peoples spine. I can totally understand that, as it looks horrible when over cooked.


As always comments and critique are welcomed!!

[sheeny (Al)]

Tough subject, Mitchell with those lights in the FOV!

I like the HDR processing on 5 and 6 best - the HDR glow is noticeable between the roof and sky in the others. That glow around objects is the HDR artifact that I look for most. If I can't see it, it's good!

Just a composition tip. for architecture shots like 5 and 6, try to get the base line of the building (or apparent baseline of the building) in shot and either parallel to the bottom of the frame, or in line with an obvious vanishing point.

Do you use PS? Another tip to try with architecture is to use the warp tool to straighten the building up a bit so it doesn't look like it's laying back so far... you've obviously had to get very close to the building to get these shots, so I wouldn't expect you can achieve much with warp though.

Al.

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Hey Mitchell, nice going. I'm mucking around with HDR shots at the moment as well. Only discovered it since reading this forum but to some it's old hat Are you just using PS? Might want to try EasyHDR or Photomatix for the HDR processing. How about for the next try photographing the inside of the church, you may get some really interesting results of the light coming in through the leadlight windows

[Lumen Miner (Mitchell)]

Originally Posted by sheeny

Tough subject, Mitchell with those lights in the FOV!

I like the HDR processing on 5 and 6 best - the HDR glow is noticeable between the roof and sky in the others. That glow around objects is the HDR artifact that I look for most. If I can't see it, it's good!

Just a composition tip. for architecture shots like 5 and 6, try to get the base line of the building (or apparent baseline of the building) in shot and either parallel to the bottom of the frame, or in line with an obvious vanishing point.

Do you use PS? Another tip to try with architecture is to use the warp tool to straighten the building up a bit so it doesn't look like it's laying back so far... you've obviously had to get very close to the building to get these shots, so I wouldn't expect you can achieve much with warp though.

Al.

Thanks mate! I only have a 350d so trying to frame in the dark was hard. I literally could not make out, the brick lines to line up with. On the tripod I have a ball-mount, then a tilt/pan head piggybacked on top. Perhaps I should have removed, the ball mount and just shot with the tilt / pan. My tripod is shocking too, it is actually a halogen light tripod, not a photography one. I think I actually may have had it lined up perfectly, yet it seems the mount is tilting back to the left after locking off. Actually I am pretty sure that is the issue, just checked it then.

So, glow = no go. Got it, I didn't realise that was something identifiable as an error. Nice, I will make sure I don't do that again... Thanks, this is what I need to know!

Originally Posted by lacad01

Hey Mitchell, nice going. I'm mucking around with HDR shots at the moment as well. Only discovered it since reading this forum but to some it's old hat Are you just using PS? Might want to try EasyHDR or Photomatix for the HDR processing. How about for the next try photographing the inside of the church, you may get some really interesting results of the light coming in through the leadlight windows

Thank you!! I am using picturenaut as photomatrix unregistered, leaves water marks, I'll check out EasyHDR though.
Yes, I will ask permission to photogragh inside. I didn't think the resident, would appreciate me knocking on their door at 1am.