Newport Bay bridge (Yaquina Bay Bridge), just before dusk. There was a boat arriving in a few minutes and the boat's movement and wake would ruin the final HDR shot, generating artifacts and pixellation. Since it takes a moment to adjust for each exposure I worked quickly.
Images on this page are large 5MB jpg and take time to download, once clicked.
For each scene, five exposures were made, ranging from -2 stops to +2 stops EV. Paintshop Pro was used to combine the images into a final HDR. HDR techniques are covered in this article: HDR Technique - Stanley Forest Burn. The lens is a kit zoom lens set at 22mm ACPS, mounted on a tripod.
HDR Set #1
This is a five-exposure sequence using moderately-enhanced coloring.
(EV +/-2 stops)
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| Click for larger view; click "X" to return |
HDR Set #2
The second version, using the same five exposures, has more aggressive color enhancements. I like this version even though it looks more artificial. I wished the cloud contrast from the first picture made it over. Some day, I will bring over the clouds from the first picture.
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| Click for larger view, click "X" to return |
Unedited - Non HDR Straight Photo
This is a non HDR reference photo, EV +0, taken to illustrate this article. Being near sunset, I was hoping for a warmer light, but as you can see, it was unremarkable and was soft and diffuse.
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| Click for larger view, click "X" to return |
Compare this un-edited image, with the final two sets and you can see the 16:9 crop removed some clutter in the foreground and gave the picture a more horizontal look. I cropped after all of the HDR work.
From the HDR series (5 exposures, not illustrated), the center exposure (EV+0) was taken at [f9/180], ISO 250. White-balance was manually-set. I did not use a grey-card, and it shows, being off by +2/3 stop on the center exposure. With HDR, a poorly-exposed meter reading is of less concern because the blended photos will merge into a near-perfect exposure.
I like how HDR maintains a good exposure in the sky and the bridge. This photograph would have been challenging with traditional film. I would have had to use graduated filters, and extra work in the dark-room, to salvage this otherwise bland photo -- or wait for better lighting.
Interior HDR views:
Mistakes
Earlier in the day I was shooting JPG and forgot to return the camera to RAW. Because of this, the HDR exposures were in high-quality JPG, and I think that adds softness to the edges and this would not have been a problem if I would have used my checklist.
Secondly, in the top-photos, in my haste, I forgot to lock-down the tripod's head and it moved ever-so-slightly as I manipulated the controls. When I first merged the pictures, it was a pixellated train-wreck. Fortunately, the software (PSP) has an option to "align" the pictures before merging, otherwise the exposures would have been lost.
Related Articles:
White Balancing
Using an 18% Grey Card
HDR Techniques for Stanley Forest Burn
NewPort Bay (Yaquina Bay Bridge)
Highway 21 HDR
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