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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    High Dynamic Range Imaging

    Bustak introduced HDR imagery in his Northern Thailand through a rebel dslr thread with a few dramatic photos taken in the North and a beauty from KL.

    https://teakdoor.com/northern-thailan...l-dslr-11.html

    I've been experimenting with the same photomatix software since I returned from Hong Kong.

    Essentially in laymans terms the human eye is sophisticated enough to balance the light across 20 'stops' so you can see the view in front of you clearly. A camera is not so capable and can only accurately balance it's view by 3 stops. Hence when you look at something that is backlit, the human eye can see it, a camera cannot. For example this picture of the buddah on Lantau Island. By exposing the sky correctly, the camera is unable to see the buddah itself.



    By taking 3 shots of the buddah, correctly exposing the various components of the picture, you can merge them using HDR software, creating 'the perfect picture'. You can adjust various levels within the software to get some dramatic effects.



    Some of the best pics I have seen is landscapes where foliage is always at many many different angles each reflecting different light levels. Suddenly they are all balanced and the effect is stunning in my book. With permission I will later post some pics done by a friend of mine to highlight this.

    As I said in the other thread I tend to preset auto exposure bracketing. I underexpose all shots by -2/3 of a stop in Thailand. I then set one stop above and below that. So you get -1&2/3 and +1/3 to go with it.

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    Here's some from Phuket last weekend.






  3. #3
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    A couple more



    And this one was done hand held, which seemed to come out OK.



    The advantage of doing HDR on the second one was to use a fill in flash it would have been bouncing around with all that chrome and also would have been impossible to balance over the different distances within the bus.

  4. #4
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    friscofrankie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock
    I underexpose all shots by -2/3 of a stop in Thailand. I then set one stop above and below that. So you get -1&2/3 and +1/3 to go with it.
    This exactly the same procedure I use unless I am in a situation where auto exposure is my only option.
    I've been frustrated in attempts to merge the photos for the effect the software you mentioned, does it do this without a lot of input on your part or is it a more manual process?

    If manual, I hope you will discuss it in some detail. I think my picture taking is improving and am getting better results with less and less post processing (out of necessity). My post processing skills suck, looking through digital photography books I have been disappointed in my attempt to find one that goes into much detail on this part of the process.
    When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty -- T. Jefferson


  5. #5
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    does it do this without a lot of input on your part
    None whatsoever to create the initial picture, the tweaking afterwards is just a case of slide it and see.

    I can give a copy of the software to anyone who wants it if you can receive a 10MB email.

  6. #6
    Northern Hermit
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    ^Windoze right?

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Bugger - I can't program my camera. Have to do it manually.

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    yep, Windows.

    I'm sure they do a Mac version, just google Photomatix torrent for Mac (or whatever other OS you are after).

    I found it for Windows in about 5 minutes when I wanted it.

  9. #9
    Developing Member

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock
    I underexpose all shots by -2/3 of a stop in Thailand
    Is that for all pics or only when doing a HDR series of exposure

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    all pics.

    Thailand is very bright so as a standard setting it works for me.

    My style is very much 'mean and moody'

    That's why photographing a wedding on the weekend was so hard.

  11. #11
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock
    I found it for Windows in about 5 minutes when I wanted it.
    yeah easy to find. Looks like I'll be putting together that mac sooner rather than later.
    some great shots here BTW.

    Since you highlighted the one hand held shot, I am assuming most of these were taken from a rest? How important is this?

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    If it is a lower light shot, critical.

    If the -1&2/3 shot is at 2 times the focal length, (e.g. 100mm lens 1/200) as long as you dont move noticably then you'll be OK.

    To get real sharpness a tripod is critical.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock View Post
    all pics.

    Thailand is very bright so as a standard setting it works for me.

    My style is very much 'mean and moody'

    That's why photographing a wedding on the weekend was so hard.
    Thanks

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    As promised here are some HDR landscapes taken by Ossie a colleague of mine, who is an excellent photographer..

    These are taken using the Canon 1DS Mark III Canon's flagship professional camera.







    The last one is an interesting case as it is a HDR taken from a single photograph. The RAW has been adjusted and saved with a +1&3/4 and a -1&3/4. Then the HDR has been created from that. I have tried a couple but found them very noisy, as it is not a true exposure but a digitally manipulated exposure which is not the same thing at all. This one works though.

    Last edited by Bobcock; 07-05-2009 at 01:26 PM.

  15. #15
    En route
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    Stunning pics there mate.

  16. #16
    Found it!
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    WOW! Nice job Bobcock! This one is GREAT, it looks so natural:


    I really like the last one too & that's the one created by a RAW file!

    Thanks for sharing.

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