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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 97 - Do-Overs & Second Chances (hosted by Jim Harrison) >> Exhibition > 11th Place
Long Term Parking
by jnconradie
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30-MAR-2007 jnconradie

11th Place
Long Term Parking
by jnconradie

near Swellendam, South Africa

Challenge 94: Shadows
Challenge 62: Low light or low key
Challenge 38: Inanimate Objects


HDR processing from 6 different exposures;
tone-mapping in Photomatix;
sepia toning and orton effect in PhotoShop Elements;
with a blurred bw layer added;
played around with levels to boost contrast a little.

Canon EOS 20D ,Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
4s f/7.1 at 12.0mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time29-Apr-2007 11:01:16
Make
Model
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length
Exposure Time
Aperture
ISO Equivalent
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Mode (-1)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programmanual (1)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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jnconradie10-Jul-2007 13:30
Thanks very much, Michael. Kind regards jnconradie
Michael Kilpatrick09-Jul-2007 13:37
Late comment from me Nico, but I really like the composition and the end result. Also admire the complex technique.
Regards
Michael
jnconradie03-Jul-2007 13:44
Hi Lonnit, I am afraid I cannot help with respect to the plugin version of Photomatix. I use the stand-alone version (v.2.4.1), where "Generate" is under the "HDR" menu. Regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge02-Jul-2007 21:51
Nico, yes, I do use the max setting. I'm confused though... 'generate HDR'? That's sounding vaguely familiar! LOL! I only use the tone mapping process, and I do it on a single exposure. I think I recall the generate HDR part of the program, but that isn't in the plug-in filters, right? Hmmm... do we pull that down from the automate menu? I forget how to access it! I'm not sure I've ever used it with multiple exposures! Please refresh my memory! ~ Lonnit
jnconradie02-Jul-2007 14:54
Hi Lonnit, me again. I just wanted to confirm that it is indeed the "Light Smoothing" slider (3rd from the top in the Tone Mapping dialog box of Photomatix) which I set to a max value in order to avoid the white halo's.

Shu, I would describe the software as just about idiot-proof! :-) Download a trial version athttp://www.hdrsoft.com and soon you'll be addicted, too! :-) Regards jnconradie
Shu02-Jul-2007 14:20
Thanks for your workflow, Nico. Photomatix sounds interesting and certainly gives your images much appeal. Is it difficult to use? (I note your lesson, but it's hard to
visualize each step.....??) Of course when we see something we like we want to know how it's done. LOL The subject matter of this image constitutes a large
percent of the overall effect. The sepia tone is perfect! shu
jnconradie02-Jul-2007 05:29
Thanks Elana; Thanks, Debbi.

Lonnit, I only "stumbled upon" HDR processing very recently, so it is entirely possible that I do it all wrong! :-) But let me try to explain my approach. If anybody knows of better/faster/more correct ways of doing it, I would be delighted to learn.

(a) Sometimes it is "real HDR" (as I call it), which means I start off with real multiple exposures, each shot in RAW and then each converted to jpg. Typically bracketed -1, 0 and +1, but sometimes a lot more. In the case of "Long Term Parking", the camera was on a tripod and I took exposures at probably -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3. I then converted these six RAW files to jpg and imported the jpg's into Photomatix. If I recall correctly, the next two steps are then "Generate HDR" and next "Tone Mapping", which leads to the final end-result. (Which can then go into PS Elements for some more work, if required.)

(b) Sometimes, though, I only have one RAW exposure to work with, in which case it becomes "pseudo-HDR" (my terminology). I use a RAW conversion programme to convert the single RAW file to jpg with say 3 different exposure settings, for example -1, 0 and +1. These three jpgs then go into Photomatix and the rest of the process is as described above. I have always found this "pseudo" approach to be less effective, for pretty obvious reasons seeing that it all begins with the data in a single RAW file, rather than with multiple data sets.

(Perhaps, if I had PS CS I would use a different workflow, but I am not sure about PS CS and HDR work.)

(c) I know exactly what you mean by the "annoying halo of white that occurs in Photomatix"!! I do not have the software with me whilst writing this, but I think the secret towards avoiding this effect lies (in my opinion) in one of the Tone Mapping parameters which define the degree of light smoothing that takes place. I usually set the light smoothing to a max value, which leads to minimal halo effect. I am sorry that I cannot recall the exact name of the relevant slides control at the moment. I will write again as soon as I have this info.

Hope this helps / is of interest... and I would be so pleased to learn from others in this respect since it really is "new territory" for me, too. Regards jnconradie

Canon DSLR Challenge01-Jul-2007 20:34
Nostalgic!!I like it.
-Elena
Canon DSLR Challenge01-Jul-2007 20:20
No, no... I see the glow of softness, and how the light coming thru the window glows. What I'm referring to is the annoying halo of white that occurs in Photomatix. You can see an example of it here, where the trees meet the sky. It's much more notable in the full sized image, but it shows here a bit. http://www.flickr.com/photos/graphicdetails/416157198/in/set-848243/
~ Lonnit
Guest 01-Jul-2007 19:53
Interesting comment Lonnit, as on my monitor I definately see the 'glow'. I do happen to like that look. Nice job!
Debbi
Canon DSLR Challenge01-Jul-2007 18:20
I hadn't read the blurb and I was thinking it odd that the highlight wasn't so massively blown. It's a very nice exposures. LOL! Now, I've got to ask... you've mentioned this before; you create an image from multiple exposures using the HDR process, but, you then say you also use Photomatix. If I have multiple exposures, I use the HDR process to combine them. If I only have a single exposure, I use Photomatix. Why do you find it necessary to do both? Isn't that redundant? Additionally, this does not even have that "ultra-real" HDR look. It looks like a normal, very well exposed image. It doesn't get that fake look. Why is that? you're also not getting Photomatix's glow in the transitions where dark meets light. Why? Thanks! ~ Lonnit
jnconradie01-Jul-2007 16:54
Thanks, Lonnit! :-) The old barn was really very dark inside, with sunlight coming in through that door-opening. I thought it was a particularly suitable scene for HDR since no single exposure would have been able to do justice to the harsh back-lighting, as well as the very deep, dark shadows. Delighted that you liked it. Regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge01-Jul-2007 16:23
Doesn't seem too dark here. Very nice mood. The bright spot is a bit distracting, but it seems kind of important to the image as a whole, so removal might not be an improvement. ~ Lonnit
jnconradie01-Jul-2007 14:24
Thanks, shu, for the compliments and constructive feedback. I will take another look to see what can be done. Regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge01-Jul-2007 12:44
I love the subject, composition and toning of this image but it does appear a bit dark on my monitor. Perhaps a tweaking in curves, shadow/highlight or dodge would help. The image has much appeal! shu