Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix

***Dave*** · 30-11-2007, 13:32

In my quest to nail the process for HDR for Monochrome this is my attempt from this afternoon. Bracketted 9 shots @ 1 stop intervals, then loaded in to Photomatix for HDR. Exported image to PS, where converted to Monochrome & a bit of tweaking

Is the shot working for you. Anything you would change . Honest opinions welcome , as I want to get this process sorted

GainfulShrimp · 30-11-2007, 13:59

I like it. Classic ultra-wideangle sky almost makes me fall backwards.

You seem to have hit the right balance between plenty of detail without getting too bad a halo around the margins.

***Dave*** · 30-11-2007, 14:09

Just finished processing this one in similar fashion :-

Warren D · 30-11-2007, 14:13

Nicely done, i like them!

JMitchell · 30-11-2007, 15:07

Very nice, only thing I'd say is that if they are supposed to be HDR ish and give a lot of detail, then why are both the trees almost completely black?

***Dave*** · 30-11-2007, 19:22

Very dull day Jack & tree was dark, although I do see what you mean .... always a nightmare getting a decent tone to sky behind a tree , without sometime losing detail in the tree itself....... much easier with buildings

P-E · 30-11-2007, 19:30

Very striking couple of shots.

What do they look like non HDR and with your normal mono treatment?

***Dave*** · 30-11-2007, 19:32

I can get the foreground looking good through USM, but the sky is nowhere near as dramatic

P-E · 30-11-2007, 19:38

No good just tone mapping the sky then?

***Dave*** · 30-11-2007, 19:51

You made me process a single shot now ... git

. Had to do a fair bit of dodging & burning in sky to get similar effect & it's taken about 50% longer to process. What do you reckon ? The tree is tons better & I haven't cleaned up the sky this time with noise reduction ..... maybe I should stick to my normal methods & save some disk space

***Dave*** · 30-11-2007, 19:54

Forgot to say the reason the tree look worse in HDR version, is because it was blowing a gale , so lots of movement across the 9 shots .... doh.

P-E · 30-11-2007, 19:58

I know what I think.......be interested to see what others say now you have put a single shot up

_MB_ · 30-11-2007, 21:12

You're getting close to nailing it, I just wonder if there's enough tonal range here in the first place for HDR to be worth it. I could see this photo taken with film.

JMitchell · 30-11-2007, 22:29

Despite your efforts Dave, I really prefer the single. The sky is much much better, and yes as you say the tree is a lot nicer too. Tbh I think either work well as it's a great shot, but when compared the single comes out on top

**Dabhand16** · 01-12-2007, 02:53

_MB_ has hit the nail on the head. I think this shot is probably not as responsive to HDR treatment as others. It might have taken longer, but I think the result is better.

30-11-2007, 13:32	#1 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,816	Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix In my quest to nail the process for HDR for Monochrome this is my attempt from this afternoon. Bracketted 9 shots @ 1 stop intervals, then loaded in to Photomatix for HDR. Exported image to PS, where converted to Monochrome & a bit of tweaking Is the shot working for you. Anything you would change . Honest opinions welcome , as I want to get this process sorted

30-11-2007, 13:59	#2 (permalink)
GainfulShrimp Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 325	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix I like it. Classic ultra-wideangle sky almost makes me fall backwards. You seem to have hit the right balance between plenty of detail without getting too bad a halo around the margins.

30-11-2007, 14:09	#3 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,816	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix Just finished processing this one in similar fashion :-

30-11-2007, 14:13	#4 (permalink)
Warren D Quite Chatty Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK Posts: 74	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix Nicely done, i like them!

30-11-2007, 15:07	#5 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,498	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix Very nice, only thing I'd say is that if they are supposed to be HDR ish and give a lot of detail, then why are both the trees almost completely black?

30-11-2007, 19:22	#6 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,816	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix Very dull day Jack & tree was dark, although I do see what you mean .... always a nightmare getting a decent tone to sky behind a tree , without sometime losing detail in the tree itself....... much easier with buildings

30-11-2007, 19:30	#7 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,492	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix Very striking couple of shots. What do they look like non HDR and with your normal mono treatment?

30-11-2007, 19:32	#8 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,816	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix I can get the foreground looking good through USM, but the sky is nowhere near as dramatic

30-11-2007, 19:38	#9 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,492	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix No good just tone mapping the sky then?

30-11-2007, 19:51	#10 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,816	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix You made me process a single shot now ... git . Had to do a fair bit of dodging & burning in sky to get similar effect & it's taken about 50% longer to process. What do you reckon ? The tree is tons better & I haven't cleaned up the sky this time with noise reduction ..... maybe I should stick to my normal methods & save some disk space

30-11-2007, 19:54	#11 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,816	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix Forgot to say the reason the tree look worse in HDR version, is because it was blowing a gale , so lots of movement across the 9 shots .... doh.

30-11-2007, 19:58	#12 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,492	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix I know what I think.......be interested to see what others say now you have put a single shot up

30-11-2007, 21:12	#13 (permalink)
_MB_ Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northumberland, UK Posts: 826	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix You're getting close to nailing it, I just wonder if there's enough tonal range here in the first place for HDR to be worth it. I could see this photo taken with film.

30-11-2007, 22:29	#14 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,498	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix Despite your efforts Dave, I really prefer the single. The sky is much much better, and yes as you say the tree is a lot nicer too. Tbh I think either work well as it's a great shot, but when compared the single comes out on top

01-12-2007, 02:53	#15 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,904	Re: Monochrome HDR Landscape using PhotoMatix _MB_ has hit the nail on the head. I think this shot is probably not as responsive to HDR treatment as others. It might have taken longer, but I think the result is better.