Competition Number #39....HDR

[keith richardson]

Hi everyone,
well I am sure that several of you have anticipated and expected me to go for a particular subject whenever I get to choose a theme, and so far I have avoided it as I felt that most members were too unsure, or would be excluded through lack of experience.

But you never know until you try so this competitions theme is (finally),..... HDR.

Any subject you like, although obviously some subjects work much better than others. I will mainly be looking for the picture that uses the technique to enhance and improve the image, rather than just using the technique to make the image.

Apologies to anyone who may feel excluded by this choice of subject, but another comp will be along in a fortnight or so.

Closing date will be midnight on Monday the 13th July.

Good luck everyone.

[bazzasmeg]

This is my entry for the HDR competition, taken at Chillingham Castle in the North East.

Best regards, Barry

[Andrew Shepherd]

Here's my effort (from a recent visit to the Huncoats building)...

[PhilipHowe]

.

[Tracey McGovern]

Here is my entry...... Drawing Off Tower at Haweswater

Drawing Off Tower at Haweswater

IMG_7398-Drawing-Off-Tower-(smaller).jpg (123.58 KiB) Viewed 9729 times

Tracey

[Cookie]

I tried this tree shot whilst at Rivington on Thursday.

Trees.jpg (98.85 KiB) Viewed 9655 times

[Des]

Des.

[Tom Gerrard]

Here is my entry taken at Castlefields

[John]

So far, this is my favourite of the HDR images I have done:

Ripon Cathedral, made of 5 images.

[pammie]

This was taken in the Superintendant's flat in the Victoria Baths building on our recent trip there. 5 images used.

[JimC]

An Idyllic Spot.

Aberglaslyn.jpg (71.85 KiB) Viewed 9382 times

[keith richardson]

Hi,

When I set this theme as a competition i did have a bit of an inkling what a heavy task i may have set for myself, with there being a possibility of quite a few entries, and also with it being what some people may well see as my specialist subject.
And with that in mind I did worry that I would view the entries not just as pictures in themselves, but also look at them in particular with an eye as to how I would have processed the same or similar material to get the result that I would usually like to go for.
Which then of course leads to me looking as if I think that the way that I would have done it is the 'best' way, which could then be construed as just a little conceited on my part.
But I suppose this could be applied to any judge in a competition.

Of course, any comments made may also be limited on my part as I may not want to give too much away by divulging all my techniques and secrets by telling too much about how I would have done it... (but thats never stopped me before...)

So having made that as clear as mud and hopefully got everyone off my back before I start, here are the comments. .

Bazzameg.
I like this shot, very much the right sort of subject and well spotted. The detail on the wheels is great. If anything I would have toned down the greens at the bottom as they are overly saturated, which is common with HDR shots.

Andrew.
I really like this shot, and definitely the right location for HDR work, and the composition is spot on. The graffitti and the dereliction of the building are made for HDR. My only concern with this shot is that there is a very bright area with the doorway and a very dark area to the left. These could have been toned down, (and up), a little more to enhance even more detail.

Phillip Howe.
Nice shot with a good choice of subject. Personally, I think that it needed the colours toning down a bit and maybe the sharpness adjusting, particularly in the central area where the main interest lies. Another inherent problem with HDR is seen here, with the lights flaring in your shots. This happens a lot.

Tracey.
A very nice shot this. The water has come out particularly well. ( I saw it on your ephotozine site and it looks even better on there where it is larger). I would probably have desaturated the hills in the background a little to make the tower stand out more. Good to see an HDR landscape for a change.

Cookie.
Not really sure about this one as it is a nice composition and a good subject usually. But I think if anything the technique has been under used, and so it hasn't brought out the depth of tones and detail as much as could be expected, except in the bottom left corner of the shot.

Des.
A different subject altogether and this works for me. Some very dark patches with the leaves and stalks, but I feel it adds to the overall feel of 'decay' in the subject, which is very much an HDR mainstay, whether it be in a building, an old wreck or a flower. The background has really come out well too.


Tom.
One of my favourite photographic haunts, Castlefields. I was there getting drowned by the rain before heading to the air and space museum the other week.
Red bricks are an ideal subject for HDR and there are not many places where you will find more examples than there.
That said I think in this case the bright sunlight has not been kind and has drowned out some of the more subtle nuances you find in HDR, but I like it anyway.

John.
Well what can I say, except that I half expected this one to turn up here and I wasn't dissapointed, as I am sure you weren't when you processed this one.
This is absolutely the ideal subject for HDR and this is an excellent example of how to do it properly. (As Wigan 10 have already demonstrated at their open day, and who am I to argue with them?)
No criticism except that on this version the whites in the windows look a bit dull, but that may just be the resolution on here.

Pammie.
Very nice image and very some nice tonal work in this, the overall effect is really nice and gives a pleasant nostalgic feel to it. Although composition wise I think I would have tended to move closer in and also I may have concentrated more on the grittiness of the subject. (but thats just me ).

Len.
Well seen and composed, but I think let down by the colour cast and the dark areas, which are a little too dark for any detail to show.

JimC.
Another subject that leads itself to HDR very well. (and that goes for Wales as well). Really well composed and the trees looks really good and have come out well. I just think again that the colours need to be toned down a little as this often allows more detail to come through. And I would have adjusted the levels on the river to bring the contrast in line with the details of the riverside.
Overall a really nice landscape shot.

So having commented on them all, and given hopefully a few tips and hints along the way, here is the result...


3rd place.. Andrew. An ideal location for this and I am sure we will see several more from there this year.

2nd Place Des. A different approach in both technique and subject.

1st Place John. Well, Who am I to argue with W10. . A prime example of both subject matter and technique.



Thanks to everyone who entered.

So John, its over to you to start the next one rolling.
And on a side note, John, I actually prefer the shot you did of the boiler house that is on your ephotozine site, but again, thats just me.

[John]

Thank you Keith, I don't know what to say....but thank you.

Well done to everyone, HDR seems to have "arrived" as a technique and we are getting some good stuff.

The Boiler House is a new shot done after my entry, but thanks for the comments Keith.

I'll put my "thinking cap" on now and post a new competition a little later.....