Serenading the Bride 3

Again, this is among my first HDR and am looking for some advice on how

to make it look a little less fake, while still having some of the same

qualities. Any help is great.

Thanks

John

I love the post process here. Very successful and impressive. If you use Photomatix, using tone compressor part of tone mapping, and also max value in smoothing section of detail enhancer create more real looking pictures. Regards.

Hamid.

I've not done any hdr, so cant give you technique pointers, but for this image I reckon the process you've got came out spot on.

The lady on the piano looks the least worked, and so most real, part of the scene and is the obvious draw for the eye

the guy on the piano next least, the arm movement really helping.

then the background and its cast really do step into an almost comic book kind of effect.

The overall is really good. the flash placement, weather caught in the first shot or place after, is a great touch too. Although well constructed, I'm not sure the scene would have held quite the same appeal for me if it were more 'real'

nice one

Thanks a lot Rob for the detail and feedback, it is always greatly appreciated! I will post an original photo without the HDR, it was still a fun scene to be apart of.

Hi!

Well, I like the image. If you want to get something more real, then I'd say use Photoshop. Merge to HDR. Do not tone map. Instead paint on the picture with the soft brush set to, let's say 50% gray. It'll bring out the darker tones (from the underexposed photo, 'cause I assume you've got at least 3 exposures). Once you get the desired effect, you can go for shadows highlights (but switch the advanced options on). You do not have to tone map. Just create a smart object out of your hdr - do not merge it. I'm not saying that it's the best strategy for HDR. It just works for me. I hope i was of some help.

Regards,

Adrian

I love it, it ha a Saturday Evening Post quality to it.  Very well done.  I can see it in the faces.