HDR done with Photomatrix. I know it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. Many have commented on the halo around the tree. Let me know what you think.
HDR is definitely a style that isn't for everyone, and I'm not well versed in it at all.
That being said, I'm partial to the B&W ... halo as noted. Without having ever even tried HDR, this one strikes me as wondering if you could do it kinda 1/2 way in HDR, then finish it selectively afterwards as a strategy to help with the heavy halo. Again, I'm HDR "challenged" (i.e. clueless), so pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Of the 3 images, I prefer the color. Why not try hdr with the color image? What did you do to generate such strong halos and such a garish third image? I would suggest going back and looking at your hdr settings. I often back off the strength setting to give a more natural appearance and reduce or eliminate the halos. This looks like a nice sunset and a interesting tree to help the appeal of the image. I think you need to give the post processing a bit less aggressive treatment.
I always see B&W as unfinished. Just a personal quirk so ignore it and if you want, apply my comments to the B&W as they will work just as well there.
I like the middle image best. I would let the blacks go pure black and develop the rest with zero halo. In that case I would crop off almost all the black foreground, just leave enough for a base.
By the way, I heard this same advice from David Muench
1. Nice drama. Too much ghosting/haloing around the tree as others have said.
2. Pretty, but, to me not enough going on. The purely silhouetted field leaves a large, information-free negative space. In this version I would crop about half of that area.
3. Sorry. This is why many folks dont like HDR. Some people like the intense unrealistic look it can generate and even I have like this with certain subjects. Not here. Same issue as #1 with the brightness around the trees.
sbeme wrote:
1. Nice drama. Too much ghosting/haloing around the tree as others have said.
2. Pretty, but, to me not enough going on. The purely silhouetted field leaves a large, information-free negative space. In this version I would crop about half of that area.
3. Sorry. This is why many folks dont like HDR. Some people like the intense unrealistic look it can generate and even I have like this with certain subjects. Not here. Same issue as #1 with the brightness around the trees.
Scott
I agree... HDR is a technique that will enhance detail but can easily be over-done... Believe me, I have had my share of them...
