I thought this might be helpful for those wondering about the D600's DR and how it's DR compares with HDR images. The first one is "as shot" image of my campus, the second is after adjusting highlights and shadows and the final image is 3 bracketed exposures via Photomatix 4.0. Any recommendations and criticism are welcome since I am new to photography and specifically HDR
Thanks for posting this -- I am getting this camera soon, so every example I can see is helpful. Honestly the middle one looks pretty good -- the HDR has better shadow detail, but I think the statue looks a little odd. If you could pull up the shadows a touch more in the middle one I think it would be pretty good. Not that the HDR looks bad or anything. I'm just amazed with the DR on these last 2 FX cameras.
Paul
My most sincere advice is to avoid HDR altogether until you feel more comfortable and skilled as a photographer. Multiple exposure HDR techniques can easily create visually dazzling imagery--which is why it's so popular--but it tends to just as easily make pictures look gimmicky and unnatural. The second photo looks best to me for just that reason.
I'd recommend sticking to one exposure and think carefully about what you're trying to accomplish with it. It's just my own opinion, but I think it's a better path to mastery... a road I perpetually feel like I'm just starting out on myself.
Thanks guys I couldn't agree more with you Frank but I was just trying to demonstrate the high DR of the D600 and how the need for HDR for high DR scenes with this camera is unnecessary, unless a special effect is to be achieved. I know that some advanced HDR techniques produce way better results than this one, however, I still need a lot of practice to master them.
HDR gets a bad rap because so many people do it poorly. Posts like rioni's above demonstrate this. The process of combining multiple exposures also multiplies colors and tones by default, which creates that hypersaturated, edgy look. And unfortunately most photographers don't have the skill to reverse this side effect in the conversion. In fact many embrace it. But it is ugly...
Fortunately the D800 (and I assume the D600) has a built-in HDR capability which produces natural looking images while combining multiple exposures for greater dynamic range. Plus it is a lot easier than the old bracketing/software HDR process..
The other challenge with HDR for the newcomer is understanding when (and when not) to employ the technique. Your example is a good example of when to use it, shooting into shadow and sunlit sky simultaneously. However you could take the saturation and contrast down for a more natural look. Others simply don't know when to turn it off
