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Well, it's about time I did my MINI justice! I've been working with HDR photography for the past couple of months so I thought it time to get one of my Royal Grey '06 MINI. HDR is amazing! It allows you to capture what your eye would see in all the contrast and color levels, and then enables you to add an artistic flair. Here it is:
I'm using Photomatix Pro, current version. Also, I'm using Noiseware as part of my digital darkroom.
Sometimes (or many times), I feel like HDR can go waaaay overboard. Too much halo'ing or really unnatural coloring. While I certainly appreciate tone mapping, I feel like some moderation is the key.
HDR is High Dynamic Range. You can actually process RAW files into HDR. I've done that too. What HDR offers is the ability to capture a much higher range of contrast and color than a single snapshot can.
Think of it this way: Have you ever been somewhere scenic, taken a picture to remember it, but then after developing it or viewing it on screen, you say to yourself, "I know I was there, but it doesn't look like what I remember?" That's because your eyes can see a contrast ratio of tens of thousands to 1, where a simple snapshot is only a few thousands to 1.
Since RAW files capture a much larger range of information, they can be processed to yield an HDR result, providing you've shot the RAW at the proper exposure settings.
I've dabbled in HDR a little bit, but didn't really like my results. I would be very interested in knowing how you got the shots above. The results are amazing.
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Phydeaux - Puget Sound MINI VP Mod list for Kirby '05 DS/B MCS
Nice pix. What's HDR? Is that a form of RAW processing?
Another use for HDR is where you've got portions of your scene that would be over-exposed if you tried to capture all the details in the shadowed areas.
For example, if you've ever taken an interior picture of a room that has windows when it's sunny outside, you'll know what I mean. If you set the exposure to correctly capture all of the detail inside the room, then the windows will just be white overexposed rectangles, and you won't be able to see outside. But if you expose correctly to be able to see what's outside the window, the interior of the room will be too dark.
To use HDR in this case, you could actually take multiple shots of the same scene, varying the exposure between the shots. Then the HDR software will combine the parts of the various exposures to give you one final picture where all parts of the scene are exposed correctly - you don't lose any details in the shadows, and you don't have "blown-out" overexposed sections.
You can go here to see an HDR shot of the interior of a factory. The HDR hasn't been over-used here - in fact, it doesn't jump out at you at all, but if you were to try to duplicate this shot without HDR, it would be almost impossible to capture the details way back in the back of the scene without totally overexposing the stuff closer to the camera.
If you go to www.flickr.com and search for "HDR", you'll see a bunch more examples.
EDIT - I should have mentioned that if you're going to combine multiple exposures using HDR, everything in your scene needs to be pretty much stationary, and you need to take the multiple exposures with a tripod, so that everything will be in the same place for all of the shots. You can do limited HDR with a single RAW exposure, but even the dynamic range of a single RAW exposure isn't close to what our eyes are capable of.
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Last edited by ScottRiqui; 09-05-2007 at 01:36 AM.
I wonder if my screen is not up to your picture quality.
Like viewing fine art through dirty glass.
I need a 1080i quality monitor.
Keep posting more but realize you are making us jealous.
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#43 Street Modified (SM) Class SCCA Hawaii Region
2005-2009 Solo Run Off and Points Champion (Hawaii)(2nd 2006 Points)
2005-2008 Overall PAX: 8th 2006, 7th 2007, Tied 10th 2008.
2010-2011 Modified FWD RallyCross (Points Champion) http://www.sccahawaii.org/pics2008/s.../img_38944.jpg
Is HDR a specific camera (like SLR), or is it just software?
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It's a method of processing images, typically in RAW format taken by an SLR, to produce images that more accurately portray what our eyes can see (and sometimes above and beyond that).
The wikipedia entry is a good place to learn more.
To see a variety of HDR images, check out this link to flickr: HDR Images.
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Dan L. — '07 LiB/B MCS, Prem, CW, Audio, Sport Pkg, Lounge Leather/Cream White/Oak, Rear Fog, White Turn Signals, Driving Lights Ordered 10/30/2007 — Completed(!!) 11/09/2007 — Picked Up (12/12/2007)!! flickr photos * Don't Panic! * tumblr (MINI blog)
Nice HDR work. It is difficult to keep HDR shots from looking muddy. Your images look great.
I've not had much luck with HDR so I often use masks for different areas of the image at different exposures. The Pt. Lobos photo in my misc. gallery is an example. Couldn't keep the "snap" to it with HDR.
This was a scene of extremely bright sun on sea foam vs. deep shaded plants. IIRC, it was shot on a tripod with different exposures. That method can handle a much greater range of brightness that pulling different versions out of a RAW file.
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Robin Casady Bombadil: 2007 MINI Cooper S, R56, Pure Silver, LSD, Wood Shift Knob, Rota Slipstream 16x7, NAV, HIFI...
Nice photos! I agree with you, HDR can sometimes become "muddy". I try to shoot all my HDR shots with F8 or higher - it seems to keep the detail sharp.
I don't always shoot HDR. There's still the allure of being able to capture what you can with the right exposure and lighting with minimal editing. Looks like you've got that part down!
Love your work Robin!
ASC - I ride by that site every morning on the train if I'm not mistaken. We need to get you to join MINI5280 if you have not done so. There would be a lot of good photo ops for you to capture. If you are not a member check out www.MINI5280.org for more info. Love your photos, HDR or NOT.
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Last edited by MiniMaybee; 09-07-2007 at 05:51 AM.
Yeah, I do need to join MINI5280. I've been meaning to since I picked up my MINI, but I've been traveling so much that it's been on the back burner. I will join soon, I promise!
Please post your first shot in the sunset thread. That's a really nice shot.
I've seen too many HDR shots on Flickr that look fake, or like paintings. I think some people think it saves their crappy shots. Keep the finish results "normal" looking like you have.
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2007 MCS JCW Dark Silver/Black DSOC89 Traded Swifty 10/20/11 My Flickr
Very very niiiiiiice. 
Founding Members - DC METRO MINIs
2006 Mini Cooper 5speed, window tint 35% front side passengers and 20% rear windows.
Visit Arizona... speed for the cameras and reduce our budget deficit!
