First HDR - settings help please?

[Yv]

Hi Guys

Ok, this is my first attempt at HDR. I used photomatix to do the actual conversion,[having done the 3 bracketted shots in RAW and converted to tiffs] and I know it can be vastly improved on, but can someone point me in the right direction of which settings I got right or wrong please? :shrug:

I was deliberately aiming for a photographic effect rather than a an OTT conversion btw.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1002/HDRtrial.jpg

[Yv]

I can see also that there is what looks like a huge halo round the left hand side trees, but the sun was over there and no matter how I adjusted the settings, it remained :(

[Jimmy_Lemon]

www.vanilladays.com/hdr-guide - Mr Pete's handy guide :)

I still cant quite work out all the settings myself so not sure which is over done on yours, but it looks a bit OTT to me :( nice shot though :D

[Yv]

It was petes guide I used, other wise I dread to think what it might have ended up like. Like you say though, its still a bit daunting getting a handle on them all, and making the judgement, so if Petes around.... ;)

[petemc]

I think with regard to the sun you can try dropping the white clipping down. That might help there. The red's seem a tad over saturated too, which can happen. The clouds seem a little odd too. Did Photomatix ask you to confirm the bracketing?

[Yv]

Hmm...good point, it didn't, I didnt think about it at the time, :shrug: So try again, clip the white, is there anything I can do about the reds? And what do I do if it doesn't ask me about the bracketting? Sorry to pester Pete :embarrassed:

I did several different shots I want to have a go with from around Camden this afternoon, and I think I definately need the practice :lol:

[petemc]

If it doesn't ask load the images in a different way. Load Photomatix, goto HDR menu then generate. It'll ask you to use the ones open or load in new ones. Load in the new ones and it should ask you to confirm the bracketing. The reds you can't fix in Photomatix so save that for Photoshop.

[Yv]

If it doesn't ask load the images in a different way. Load Photomatix, goto HDR menu then generate. It'll ask you to use the ones open or load in new ones. Load in the new ones and it should ask you to confirm the bracketing. The reds you can't fix in Photomatix so save that for Photoshop.

:thumbs: Thanks Pete, much appreciated - will have another go, though maybe in the morning when a bit more awake.

[Yv]

OK. Had another go with a different image. I will go back to that early one later. I am using Photomatix version 2.4.1, and no matter how I open the images, it will not ask for confirmation of bracket settings. I am making sure when I convert from RAW that the exif data is retained, so I can only assume that this version just doesn't ask for that confirmation :shrug:

So, here is next attempt. After merge I put it through PS just to crop it and shrink to fit online. I am much more pleased with this image than the earlier one in this thread. Its achieved what I wanted which was to bring out the detail whilst retaining those clouds and the colour, which was the point of the picture in the first place, Camden being as colourful as it is. I know it can still be improved on so I intend getting some more practice in on technique as and when the opportunity arises. :D Many thanks to Pete for his guide, its permanently open in my browser when I am doing this stuff! :thumbs:

As usual, comments and advice very much welcome... ;)

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1002/camdenshops.jpg

[Londonchris]

Can`t help with the hdr as i`m in the same boat, but thats a cool looking shop :thumbs: