Hi Gang,
Today I’m sharing some images I shot recently of the state capital. I’m separating them into 3 groups to discuss broad level shooting/editing approaches to each group. Hope you enjoy the images:
Group 1: HDR – this group of interiors was pure HDR work. Each image was processed with the HDR feature (vs. Exposure Fusion) in Photomatix using 3 files separated by two stops. I shot them in aperture priority, set the camera to shoot 2 stop brackets. In all cases I was shooting with my canon 16-35mm lens, tungsten white balance. In all three cases I edited in Lab color mode to expedite the color correction process and to give me more control over color correction.
.
.
.
.
.
Group 2: Shooting to the right and use of the Gradient Map – More and more often I’m shooting to the right of the histogram, or over exposing to the point that I don’t have any true blacks. I’m doing this in the studio, in landscapes, and elsewhere. I use the Raw Converter to pull back true blacks with the Blacks slider and make a few other minor adjustments (recovery and brightness being the two biggies), resulting in what I consider to be better looking digital files from the start. This makes sense, given the knowledge that there is more good data in highlights than in shadows in a digital file. I then used a two gradient maps: the first set to a black and white gradient with the adjustment layer set to a softlight blending mode. I then used a second black and white gradient map left to normal blending mode. Why this instead of a black and white adjustment layer? Good question and the fine points are certainly debatable. Mostly I like what the black and white gradient map does right out of the gate, especially on SKIN TONES, not featured in this post obviously, but in upcoming posts. Play with it. If you like it, great. If you don’t, great.
.
.
.
.
.
Group 3: HDR and Gradient Map – These last two images are a combination of HDR work and Gradient Map processing, all discussed above.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=4d065196-5532-4bf7-9f1f-0c7ff4678c2c)
Related posts:
6 Comments
Alec, Very nice HDR. I would be curious what your settings were in Photomatix for the interior color shots…..great range, nice color.
Can we all pitch in and buy the house chamber some new carpet? Avocado green (or what ever it is ) is so 70′s.
Chet
HI Chet,
I don’t recall the exact settings. I do recall that I did use the HDR function, and that in all three cases I used light smoothing setting less than max. That’s a bit of a divergence for me and I can’t imagine under what circumstances I would do that with exteriors. For the interiors it worked pretty well, though.
The carpet has to go. Wow.
Cheers,
alec
Lab color is a new world, and I’m really seeing the difference. Your color HDR shots are simply gorgeous!!
Can you say why you went with HDR instead of Exposure Fusion for these?
HI Amy,
Typically I would use the Exposure Fusion, especially if this was commercial work for a client. EF tends to be much kinder to the image and manages light sources better. HDR tends to be less realistic, more in the direction of abstraction. Just my experience with a lot of experimentation. With that said, its not a rule for sure. For my personal work like this I’m happy to go in a more abstract direction that the HDR function provides. That’s it.
Good stuff Alec. I just picked up another Architecture gig. Pretty big deal for me. So . . . I may be calling
Awesome site! Your writing is so refreshing compared to most other writers. Thanks for writing when you do, I will be sure to bookmark your site!