Peter, the newest HDR software can produce a very nice tone mapped image without the garish colors and cartoonish effects. Most people are using it that way these days. However, I've found that the new shadow controls in Lightroom almost eliminate the need for the hdr. Much easier and better control (imo) than burning an area.
Jim
Guest
05-Apr-2013 16:14
Thanks Paul, Jim, Traveller. @Jim, I've never been a fan of HDR so that didn't occur to me. Maybe I'll try that next time I'm there (definitely going back for another try). @Trav - hand held, braced against a railing. very windy, so I wasn't sure any of them would come out sharp at that ss. The rainbow: That's what it was, I think. I adjusted the WB a little to get a daylight balance, and had to burn in the cliffs and grass on the right (avoiding the rainbow). Maybe a reflection (no pun intended) of the greenness of the scene - water was a little on the green side, as were the rocks due to moss/algea/whatever?
Guest
05-Apr-2013 06:58
I say bravo on the water falls...tripod, or hand held? The only element I find problematic is the rainbow...I am not sure that this works for me...the other colors are too good and too real...this seems "off-color," to me. But this is the kind of shot that I would imagine that you have 30 versions of to work with. Best Wishes, Traveller
I'm not being critical, I'm trying to find a good big print in the frame.
This is a tough scene to capture - and you did well. You might need almost a full second to smooth the water out the way you want it. On top of that the very brights and the very dark shadows almost say "hdr". I like it as is, though.
Jim
Guest
04-Apr-2013 23:48
Paul, my CP did double duty as a 2 stop ND filter - not quite enough, so I stopped it down about another stop in post. I should have taken the time to look up how to move the iso down to 50 to see what 0.4" would have looked like.
Were you using a ND filter?? Maybe a ND8? Doing the mental math, your shutter speed appears to be about 3 stops slower than I'd expect. Nice entry by the way! Paul
