Sunset with Grad ND and HDR comparaison

Got a thin skin? Then look elsewhere. Post a link to an image that you've made, and invite others to offer their critiques. Honesty is encouraged, but please be positive in your constructive criticism. Flaming and just plain nastiness will not be tolerated. Please note that this is not an area for you to showcase your images, nor is this a place for you to show-off where you have been. This is an area for you to post images so that you may share with us a technique that you have mastered, or are trying to master. Typically, no more than about four images should be posted in any one post or thread, and the maximum size of any side of any image should not exceed 950 px.

Moderators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators

Forum rules
Please note that image critiquing is a matter of give and take: if you post images for critique, and you then expect to receive criticism, then it is also reasonable, fair and appropriate that, in return, you post your critique of the images of other members here as a matter of courtesy. So please do offer your critique of the images of others; your opinion is important, and will help everyone here enjoy their visit to far greater extent.

Also please note that, unless you state something to the contrary, other members might attempt to repost your image with their own post processing applied. We see this as an acceptable form of critique, but should you prefer that others not modify your work, this is perfectly ok, and you should state this, either within your post, or within your signature.

Images posted here should conform with the general forum guidelines. Image sizes should not exceed 950 pixels along the largest side (height or width) and typically no more than four images per post or thread.

Please also ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is.

Sunset with Grad ND and HDR comparaison

Postby radar on Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:35 pm

Hi,

I've been using the Hitech Graduated ND filters for a while now and I have been pretty happy with them. I have also read about HDR - High Dynamic Range, here and the web. Last night, I decided to do a bit of a test to see the types of results I would be able to get with both techniques. The photos with and without the filters were taken at the same settings so the only difference is the filter. The HDR photo is a set of seven bracketed photos.

Photos taken with D200, Tokina 12-24 at 15mm, f16, 0.4s, lens set to hyperfocal distance so manual focusing. I did the metering with the filter on.

Instead of adjusting the exposure when I didn't have the filter on, I decided to use the same settings to show the effect of the filter on the photo.

Click on photo to get a larger version.

With ND Filter
Image

With no filter
Image

With ND filter with some fill light added in post processing
Image

HDR photo - no filter, 7 shots bracketed (sorry about watermark, using trial version)
Image

All of these were taken within a few minutes of each other. The HDR photos were taken within a few seconds of each other.

I also took some photos with a 1-stop and 2-stop ND grad filter but I thought that showing the 3-stop one was the best of the three.

Hopefully you found this useful, I did :D

Pretty sure you can also do the HDR in Photoshop but it was certainly very easy in Photomatix. I'll probably get the software, it runs on Mac and Windows.

Useful links:

Where I got the filters:
http://www.teamworkphoto.com/hitech.html

Home of the manufacturer:
http://www.formatt.co.uk/home/default.asp

Photomatix software:
http://www.hdrsoft.com/

Review of Photomatix, you can also get a discount if you buy via site:
http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_a106/essay.html

Cheers,

André
(Mods: not sure if this should be in Image section or tips, feel free to move it)
Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution. Ansel Adams

(misc Nikon stuff)
User avatar
radar
Senior Member
 
Posts: 2823
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:18 am
Location: Lake Macquarie (Newcastle) - D700, D7000

Postby zeddy on Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:44 pm

sorry for the dumb question but what is HDR
thanks zsolt
User avatar
zeddy
Member
 
Posts: 170
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:21 pm
Location: milperra n.s.w

Postby Yi-P on Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:57 pm

zeddy wrote:sorry for the dumb question but what is HDR
thanks zsolt


Stands for "High Dynamic Range"

Which will include a very broad range of shadow and highlight details, more to make a shot 'wow' like and surreal as a painting.
User avatar
Yi-P
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3579
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:12 am
Location: Sydney -- Ashfield

Postby radar on Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:57 pm

zeddy wrote:sorry for the dumb question but what is HDR
thanks zsolt


Good question 8)

Simply put, which is the explanation I started with, you combine a series of photos together from under exposed to over exposed and anything in between. The software puts them together and you end up with a final photo with most of the parts properly exposed. It is good to use this type of photography where you have a wide range of lighting.

For an lenghty explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

Cheers,

André
Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution. Ansel Adams

(misc Nikon stuff)
User avatar
radar
Senior Member
 
Posts: 2823
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:18 am
Location: Lake Macquarie (Newcastle) - D700, D7000

Postby zeddy on Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:58 pm

ok did some reserch and got some answers
thanks zsolt

next time i'll do some reserch before asking DUMB questions
User avatar
zeddy
Member
 
Posts: 170
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:21 pm
Location: milperra n.s.w

Postby ods on Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:26 pm

This is the best HDR site that I have come across, passed to me from someone on another forum :)

http://petemc.net/hdr-guide/
ods
Newbie
 
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:01 am
Location: Glenwood, NSW

Postby radar on Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:48 pm

Great site ods,

thanks for that. I think I had seen the site before, but didn't bookmark it before.

Cheers,

André
Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution. Ansel Adams

(misc Nikon stuff)
User avatar
radar
Senior Member
 
Posts: 2823
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:18 am
Location: Lake Macquarie (Newcastle) - D700, D7000

Postby sirhc55 on Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:10 pm

The HDR version does show more dynamic range and is an impressive illustration of the power of 32 bit. . .
Chris
--------------------------------
I started my life with nothing and I’ve still got most of it left
User avatar
sirhc55
Key Member
 
Posts: 12930
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:57 pm
Location: Port Macquarie - Olympus EM-10

Postby photograham on Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:25 pm

Congratulations Radar, that HDR image is certainly a fine image and I think the best of the batch. Guess our old slide braketing skills are really still needed.
User avatar
photograham
Member
 
Posts: 213
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:23 pm
Location: Pakenham, Vic

Postby obzelite on Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:52 pm

hdr is something i've played with in photoshop, but never got the results i was after.
that article helps explain why. thanks.

if u want to see more hdr shots have a search on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?w=all&q=hdr&m=names
Simon
www.colberne.com.au
I purchased a Teddy Bear this morning for the sum of $10. I named him Mohammed. This afternoon I sold him on E-Bay for $30. My question is, "Have I made a prophet?"
User avatar
obzelite
Senior Member
 
Posts: 638
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2006 2:47 am
Location: Willagee, WA - D90


Return to Image Reviews and Critiques