Totally Hooked on HDR

[photocraft]

I've spent my entire weekend getting out there ...........searching for that perfect shot.
I feel as though I have discovered something from another planet, a bit like a kid with a new toy. (In this case a new dimension)

I do however need some advice on this technique. I am using Photomatix Pro and CS3.
BUT, when is it too much? IE The photograph starts to look more like a drawing or it seems as though a LucisArt Filter was applied. I guess what I'm asking is... When is a photograph no longer a photo, but a digital drawing?

Anyway I am attaching some of the images I took around Cape Town on Sunday. All comments welcome.

[Vjim]

Nice job; especially #5 with the clock tower.

Thanks, Vjim

[photocraft]

Thank you, I appreciate the comment Vjim

[garrentee]

Great work photocraft!!

I personally think that enough is never enough depending on your taste...I personally like the gritty cartoonish effect that HDR can give you, but, I also like the real effect!! Its great for a lot of things, but the photography snob's(so to speak) will beg to differ and say its ruining photography!! Like all new things people will fight it!! Snowboarding at one point was considered a joke and banned from lot of ski areas but now almost 50 percent of ski area customers are snowboarders...its a huge sport!!

Garren

[Flyf1sh3r]

I agree with Garren.

As long as you like it..... Who cares!

I love HDR, and I like both extreme, and realistic.

Nice shots I love the last one.

[photocraft]

Now thats what I wanted to hear. I love your analogy Garren, and thank you too for the comment Flf1sh3, the last one is my favorite.

[Joel]

2nd and last one are great. In the last one is that clouds rolloing in? They look very low and fast.

[photocraft]

Hi Joel, yes that is cloud rolling down off Table Mountain in the background.

Thank you for the comments
Mark

[Jason Hermann]

Great series and solid processing all around

I would have to agree with Garren on the "how far to go" analogy. Well put IMO You still need to take a good picture to get a good HDR.

Best,
Jay

[photocraft]

Thank you for the reply Jason. I have a question. I have compared the image quality from 3 to 5 exposures of the same image. I don't notice any difference in the quality of the final tone mapped image. Why is this?
IE. Surely I should have more Dynamic Range with more picture(Info)

[Jason Hermann]

If they look the same then you captured the same amount of useable dynamic range in the 3 exposures compared to the 5 exposures.

If for example you went darker or brighter with the extra 2 exposures to cover the range you should get a better result.

Basically as long as you cover the DR range effectively, it doesn't really matter how many exposures you use in my experience. Some really tuff scenes can take up to 9 exposures though, like this image here:



The window on the top right was super bright, and under the Piano was really dark. There is no way the DR could be effectively captured with 3 shots in this scene.

However, in this scene 3 was enough:



I hope that rambling makes sense

Best,
Jay