photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Zane Paxton | profile | all galleries >> Misc. Fuji S2 Shots >> Dynamic Range Tool Comparisions tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Dynamic Range Tool Comparisions

This compares the before and after shots using Fred Miranda's new Dynamic Range tool. DRI Pro™ Plugin v1.1 More info at: http://www.fredmiranda.com/DRI/

"This tool offers an easy and efficient solution to increase dynamic range by blending two images shot at different exposures. One exposed for shadow detail and the other for the highlights. Result: You end up with the best of both."

This process lends itself to RAW files where you can push the exposures 2-3 f-stops either way to generate the two different files that are needed for this technique.

The "before" images are on the left and the "after" images on the right
Antelope-7
Antelope-7		 Antelope-7-DR
Antelope-7-DR
Antelope-13
Antelope-13		 Antelope-13-DR
Antelope-13-DR
Lower-Multnomah-2
Lower-Multnomah-2		 Lower-Multnomah-2-DR
Lower-Multnomah-2-DR
Last Light on Half Dome
Last Light on Half Dome		 Last Light on Half Dome-DR
Last Light on Half Dome-DR
Mirror Lake at Dawn
Mirror Lake at Dawn		 The interesting thing about this place is that in the winter, it is just a slight wide spot in the river and not really a proper lake. In the spring and summer with all the snow melt it becomes a proper Lake again. So it was a bit more of a challenge to try and capture the mirror effect when there is far less of a mirror to work with ;~).
Mirror Lake at Dawn		The interesting thing about this place is that in the winter, it is just a slight wide spot in the river and not really a proper lake. In the spring and summer with all the snow melt it becomes a proper "Lake" again. So it was a bit more of a challenge to try and capture the mirror effect when there is far less of a mirror to work with ;~).
Cascade-Falls-1-S-W-F.jpg
Cascade-Falls-1-S-W-F.jpg		 On Highway 140 just outside the park.
Cascade Falls-2		On Highway 140 just outside the park.
This is an image that was processed normally. I exposed for the sky, but with normal processing the sky is blown out to preserve normal looking exposeure on the glacier.
Glacier--4-Normal.jpg		This is an image that was processed normally. I exposed for the sky, but with normal processing the sky is blown out to preserve "normal" looking exposeure on the glacier. Step #1: Since this was shot in RAW format, I published one version that is exposed 0 (The original was exposed for the cloudy sky). I will cal this the Underexposed version that is optimized for the bright areas, in this case the sky.
Glacier--4-U.jpg		Step #1:
Since this was shot in RAW format, I published one version that is exposed "0" (The original was exposed for the cloudy sky). I will cal this the "Underexposed version" that is optimized for the bright areas, in this case the sky.
Step #2: This is the over-exposed version that is adjusted +2.5 stops in the RAW conversion software. It is optimized for the darker areas, in this case that is the glacier and dark rocks on the right.
Glacier--4-O.jpg		Step #2:

This is the over-exposed version that is adjusted +2.5 stops in the RAW conversion software. It is optimized for the darker areas, in this case that is the glacier and dark rocks on the right.		 Here's the combined versions using DRI set manually to 15 as I wanted a higher degree of optimization. Now the sky has some density to convey the sense of cloudiness and there is more detail in the shadow areas. This is more how a person's eye would percieve the scene if they were standing there. I process normally with some levels, sensor dust spot removal and sharpening using FlexSharp 2.0
Glacier--4-DRI-Final.jpg		Here's the combined versions using DRI set manually to 15 as I wanted a higher degree of optimization.

Now the sky has some density to convey the sense of "cloudiness" and there is more detail in the shadow areas. This is more how a person's eye would percieve the scene if they were standing there.

I process normally with some levels, sensor dust spot removal and sharpening using FlexSharp 2.0
Let me be really clear why this image is posted at all. I tried to bury this as deep into my site as possible, but it still pops up on the Recents. This is merely posted here to show the Before (as-shot) version of a D3x image on the DPReview Nikon Forum. I was showing the incredible DR that the D3x has and how far you can pull up the shadows and still have a usable image. Here's the link for the full explanation: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=35303041 PleAlso, here's the link for the After shot: http://www.pbase.com/devonshire/image/118589804/original
Zion Bridge.jpg		Let me be really clear why this image is posted at all. I tried to bury this as deep into my site as possible, but it still pops up on the "Recents".

This is merely posted here to show the "Before" (as-shot) version of a D3x image on the DPReview Nikon Forum. I was showing the incredible DR that the D3x has and how far you can pull up the shadows and still have a usable image. Here's the link for the full explanation:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=35303041

PleAlso, here's the link for the "After" shot:
http://www.pbase.com/devonshire/image/118589804/original

comment | share
Guest 28-Aug-2004 13:41
I agree with Aaron's comment: sometimes dark, mysterious parts of a photo lend drama and also the contrast that make the brighter parts sing out. For example, I think Morning Lake is more expressive and compelling in the 'before' version. However, your photo of the canyon is stunning in the after version. Very interesting - thanks for sharing this. And your photography is excellent!
Aaron Peterson15-Jun-2004 22:32
Nice examples. I use similar methods on my images. The question that these sort of techniques brings up is when should you leave certain areas underexposed. I believe that on certain images areas of blackness and darkness enhance the drama and contrast and the "right" exposure isn't always the one where everything is seen in perfect light, however, it really is nice to have more creative control over the exposure of a scene with digital.
click on thumbnails for full image