The Filmmaker

[Scottwdw]

Taken at night with a tripod and the Tokina 11-16 @ 13mm and processed with Photomatix. ; Do like the starbursts you get with the Tokina when the aperture is stepped down. ; I used f/11 here.

1.

After reading a book on HDR, the three images I used to make the above image were not good candidates to make a good HDR image. ; I needed a bigger EV spread and more images. ; The book did give me some ideas on how to re-do so here is another attempt. ; Used the Tone Compressor for this one.

2.

Again, re-visited the Details Enhancer with more knowledge of all the sliders and came up with one more verson.

3.

 

[gary]

i really like this, is it possible to seperate out the statue a little and bronze it darker?? i'm thinking that might make it stand out even more, but that's just a personal prreference

 

[PolynesianMedic]

Looking good to me, I think that I do like the starbursts, also. ;

 

[prettypixie]

Very nice.

 

[Scottwdw]

Gary, I see what you are saying as that is the statue's real coloration but I like how the statue is front and center and separated from the background due to the color the HDR processing gave it. ; Hey, I think this makes me an art-tist! (kind of, sort of)

 

[WDWFigment]

I really like the composition and the white balance here, but I think the shot as processed looks like the shadows/darks and the blacks/contrast are a little low (you can see this in the noise in the sky). ; I agree with Gary that this makes it look slightly flat.

 

[Scottwdw]

I've been returning to this shot here and on flickr and was becoming less and less enchanted with it because of the noise you mentioned, Tom. ; I will do some more research on Photomatix processing and see if I can clean up the noise and restore some of that contrast.

Thank you and Gary for your comments. ;

 

[Craig]

great composition!
will be a perfect image with more contrast, like you said.

maybe layers to darken the background a little?

 

[Scottwdw]

I use Aperture, Craig. ; No layers for me. ;

However, I did re-do it. See the original post.

 

[gary]

#2 for me, now admittedly that's a personal preference, but the first time i viewed it, my eyes were immediately drawn to the statue, i only became aware of the background as more than just there, after i had my fill of the statue, it was not a conscious process, just a how i processed internally, then i visited the background, and i guess it's just how i'm wired, it's a strong photo to me. with a clear subject, foreground and background. now granted some folks have accused me of faulty wiring, but that doesn't mean i can't know what i likes

 

[Scottwdw]

I agree with you Gary. ; Once I get Aperture 3 with S-Curve adjustments, I think I can improve it more without increasing the background too much. ; The biggest problem is the three photos did not include the whole EV range. ; The HDR's that did come out good, did encompass the whole range. ; Like this one:

 

[Roger]

I use Aperture, Craig. ; No layers for me. ;

Use the Brushes, Scott. ; Let go. ; Stretch out your new capabilities.

 

[Tim]

the at-at is nicely done. ; impressive.

 

[WDWFigment]

If you had the capability to edit the 0 EV shot with layers, you should have enough dynamic range (in my opinion) to have a balanced shot. ; That's just in going with my own personal experience shooting at nighttime over in that area (and editing those shots). ; The only thing that would be a little blown is the AIE giant TV screen.

A single RAW file has a lot of dynamic range in it...

 

[Scottwdw]

Use the Brushes, Scott. ; Let go. ; Stretch out your new capabilities.

Once I get Aperture 3, I'll do so, Roger. ;

 

[Roger]

You haven't received your new MBP yet? ; Did you notice that it also has a Facebook uploader tool?