Right… You’ve probably noticed by now that I am a fan of HDR. I’ll now try and share a few of the pitfalls I have found as I’ve messed around with it
1. Go easy, tiger…
The first few HDRs you make will probably be pretty extreme. As you get more used to the technique, you might find yourself getting sick of looking at your initial attempts, which could start to look a bit garish. Often the thing that draws you to HDR in the first place can become the thing that makes you hate it. I’ve found that mellowing my settings as I get used to the technique has helped my photography a lot.
The picture I posted on the main HDR tutorial is below:
Now - I included that because it’s a nice image, and it’s very obviously HDR. That’s both a good and a bad thing. For the purposes of a HDR tutorial, it’s good to see a shot that really shows off what HDR can do in an obvious way - but for me, I’d rather people looked at a picture and said “Wow, great photo!” rather than “Wow - great HDR!”.
The thing I’m trying to learn here is to use more the HDR technique a little more subtly, so I get an image I want without it looking outstandingly unreal or overprocessed. Whilst HDRs can look amazing, you do get bored of seeing them after a while, unless they are done with a little thought and style.
My second trip to a church, I toned it down a bit, and this is one of the images I produced:
Now - I think that’s a lovely image. It’s not as in your face arresting as the first one, but I think it’s a better photograph. Taken without HDR, it wouldn’t have looked half as nice - the windows and walls are completely blown out, and there is little detail in the roof ornaments and alcoves. But - looking at that image, I don’t know if I’d guess it was a HDR. Would you (a genuine question)?
That, to me, makes it more of a success. If I can take great photos that wouldn’t be possible without HDR, and make them so that first and foremost they are obviously a pleasing image rather than obviously HDR, then I am a happy chap.
What I do is have two saved settings in photomatix - one called “Extreme” and one called “Subtle”. Then, when I batch process a pile of images, I choose the one I fancy and see what comes out. If any look promising, I reopen the saved .hdr files in photomatix, and reprocess and tweak. Normally if a picture works in extreme, I’ll try it in subtle just in case, and vice versa.
2. HDR is no substitute for thinking about your shot
I am very guilty of this. Bang my camera on AV, set up AEB, frame what I hope is going to be a nice image and fire off 3 shots. Then move on to the next one.
This *can* work fine. But it’s really no substitute for stopping and thinking. Earlier this week I spent a glorious afternoon in dovedale, and 90% of my shots were ruined because I was too lazy and just did that. Look at this one for example:
The sky, as you can see, is completely ruined. This wouldn’t necessarily have been a good pic anyway, but if I’d thought about it a little, and then checked for blown highlights on the camera afterwards, I would have saved it.
I’ve made a little promise to myself that what I will do in the future is:
- Use manual mode with spot metering
- Consciously choose a point in the picture that I want to meter off, and meter off it
- Take the pictures, check them for blown highlights, and take more if need be
The first two things are what I should really always do anyway, HDR or not, if I am taking carefully composed photographs. There are occasions where AV, TV, P or even full auto are completely sensible - but if you are on AV and happen to accidentally meter off a dark log, your picture’s likely to suck.
In short, use your brain!
3. Don’t lose heart!
It’s very easy to look at other photographers work and despair because you see all their fantastic photographs, and then look at your huge pile of failures and know in your heart you’ll never be as good as them. But remember - all you see of other photographers work is the stuff they choose to show you. You see all your failures, and none (or few) of theirs. So don’t lose heart - remember everyone else is human too, and if you enjoy taking pictures, then keep plugging away, and you’ll improve.
It’s also worth remembering that some subjects will just not work as decent HDRs. It’s hard to really nail it down, but don’t be shocked if lots of your images just look terrible, no matter how much you twiddle. It’s partly suitability for the medium, and partly just some photographs will always look lame. Everyone takes them, so don’t let it bother you. Concentrate on your successes, and try and learn from your failures.
I myself go through phases - a bit like a sine wave of confidence. I start off thinking I’m crap, then go out and try really hard and get some good photographs, then start to get more confident. I get more and more confident until I get lazy, and then I take a whole pile of terrible photographs and think I’m terrible again. Which makes me try harder, and the whole cycle continues.
I take AN AWFUL LOT OF PHOTOS. I probably put 10% up on my flickr account. Perhaps 2% of them get on here. I suspect most “serious” photographers do the same - you get a good eye for what you like, and become quite severe when throwing away the dross.
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