10-18-06 – HDR

Can I get a rules ruling on something? I have a shot I previously submitted to a contest as a regular photo, but I’ve taken the shot and made an HDR out of it, which looks quite a lot different than the original. However, I assembled the HDR from the same original file, but developed it at several different exposures to combine for HDR. I’m guessing this shot would/should still be disqualified since the base file is the same as the image used for another contest? Just making sure…if it’s ruled acceptable, I’ll use it, but otherwise, I won’t, and my heart isn’t set on it or anything.

*nod* That’s what I’d think too. No need to be sorry, just wanted to be sure!

Do you shoot RAW? If so, you can create an HDR image from a single RAW file by developing it at different exposures. All of the shots I’ll have this week are done like this. One benefit to using a single RAW file is that you don’t have to worry about aligning the images, because they’ll be exact other than the exposures. If you want to try this method, try shooting a middle-of-the-histogram exposure, that way you don’t add too much noise when you bring the exposure up in post-processing. You can bring the exposure down for the shadow detail, and your in-camera exposure will handle the mid-tones. You can obviously break it out into more exposures if you like, but 3 often will do the job.

Oh wow, that really sucks about your tripod, then! Are there any rocks or benches or railings near there that you could stablize your camera on to take the shot? With a waterfall shot, I think you’re going to want to use a single RAW file anyway (even if you do a slow shutter to soften), because the different placement/positioning of the water and droplets in the various exposures will create ghosting in the final image.

On the other hand, an HDR macro definitely could be nice. Or go for something otherwise mundane in some otherwise harsh lighting…like something sitting in the light streaming in from window with more shadowy areas visible. Or you could go with DC landmarks even if they have been photographed to death. They’ve been photographed, but how many HDR shots of DC would likely be entered into this contest? Not likely that many, and even if there were others, what you do with your tone mapping can potentially make it look like a very different shot.

So I say don’t stress so much about it. It’s just Farktography–have fun with it 😉

Oh, and welcome aboard 🙂

well, my HDR attempts are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lady_elsinore/sets/72157594331587481/

Good luck getting your waterfall shot–I bet it will make for a beautiful image in HDR. If you go with creating from a single long exposure RAW image, expose to the right just a bit on your histogram, that way you can bring down the exposure for the shadows, and when you bring up for highlights you won’t bring up as much and won’t increase noise much. Hope that makes sense–I’m not wording it well.

Pretty sweet that work’s letting you order a new tripod head!

Have fun getting your shots today!

Man, I really want to post in this one, but with a 9AM class I can’t afford to stay up late enough to post. I guess I’ll catch the tail end of things in the morning.

Thanks Bob!

I for one will miss the HDR contest and eagerly await another- unlike some people.