understanding HDR

processed further in photoshop

David Nightingale’s version

I’ve been thinking about this image all week and wondering how it might turn out if the sun came out on the weekend. I am happy with it and let’s hope David Nightingale likes it too. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was struggling in the first couple of weeks in this HDR course. My main problem was figuring out how to decide the number of shots required to ensure that the full dynamic range was covered without losing details in either the shadows or the highlights. For me, I need to understand the fundamental technical pieces before I can move ahead and get creative.

All I have to say is that PPSOP is one of the best photography schools and their instruction methodology suits my learning style to a T. Even though David Nightingale is located in Blackpool, UK, he patiently explained his own technique to me several times through the Q&A forums and also through personal email. Each time he ended the conversation with an invitation to come back again if I still did not understand. Whoever said that you cannot get a personal touch through the internet never took a class at PPSOP. It’s a good thing the next round of classes start on Friday when this one is all over.

P.S. David did his critique already! He felt the image was oversaturated and suggested some ways to address this. The third image above is his picture with the adjustments. There was some good news after his feedback on improvements though; he said “having got that out of the way though, I think this is a great image. There’s no appreciable noise, no obvious halos, but there is a wealth of detail and colour, right through the tonal range. In other words – this works well.”