Manchester Beach 016 HDR @ Best Large

Thanks for your time.

-Dave

I'm liking the pano shape and the driftwood / sand detail in the larger view is great! But the sky looks too intense a blue colour, maybe this is a result of the HDR or maybe its my monitor that needs calibrating (its about 2 weeks overdue) My own process of HDR is very simple. I bracket 5 shots + and - 1 EV apart then load the RAW files into photomatix, I convert the RAW files using photomatix software and simply adjust in Tone Mapping. Its a very easy straight forward way of producing a HDR but as in all HDR shots care must be taken with the sky, as very often it looks too fabricated and un natural. To avoid the tell tale signs of HDR sky syndrome I process one of the bracketed shots normally with the intention of producing a natural looking sky. I then use the image as a layer over the top of the HDR image and simple erase the parts of the image where I want the HDR effects to show, leaving the natural sky.  Of course you might already be aware of this method and if so, sorry for covering old ground. But Hope this helps!

Kind Regards

Alf

Thank you for the pointers Alf.  Layering is something that I must learn, a goal for the new year fast approaching.  Most of the heavy blue came from the polarizer and I was trying to tame it down without detracting from elsewhere.  I have always been reticent of layering, it feels to me a bit like cut and paste.  But I am becoming more receptive.

Personally, one of my biggest problems with HDR, is red shadows and red fringing.  I often spend too much time adjusting for them.  At one time, those dark shadows within the driftwood, were blazoned with fire-engine red centers.  I am still learning and needing to learn much.  B/R...

-Dave

I like the balance of the composition of this very nice panorama. You haw to see it large, to see the effect of this great panorama.

Cheers.