Any tips for doing foliage - HDR

I get a lot of blur in foliage even in a light wind, is there anything I can do to make a better image?

This is a panorama of two HDRI's over a span of 9 ev. Possibly needlessly since I keep going until the histogram starts moving right.

http://backup.cambridgeincolour.com/...no_hfSmall.jpg

Hi Arith,

I think we'll always struggle with multiple shots for HDR when there's movement like this.

I'd suggest taking just a single shot - RAW - at a high-enough shutterspeed so that motion isn't excessive, and go from there.

I doubt that there's much in this scene that a good RAW exposure wouldn't be able to handle (I'd be happy to have a crack at processing if for you as a test if you like).

The other technique that might help is to try working with 2 versions of the same RAW file -- it still contains the same amount of information, but if can make processing a little easier.

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

Hi Arith,

I think we'll always struggle with multiple shots for HDR when there's movement like this.

I'd suggest taking just a single shot - RAW - at a high-enough shutterspeed so that motion isn't excessive, and go from there.

I doubt that there's much in this scene that a good RAW exposure wouldn't be able to handle (I'd be happy to have a crack at processing if for you as a test if you like).

The other technique that might help is to try working with 2 versions of the same RAW file -- it still contains the same amount of information, but if can make processing a little easier.

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I'll look up a couple of RAW files, but I cannot upload them to fotki since they only accept jpeg. I can't seem to do a pseudo HDRI with picturenaut and I like to see some definition in shadows and not too much white.

The main reason I became interested in HDRI is the potential for showing foliage, leaves mainly as leaves and not an awful porridge, although some turn out ok, I'm forever cloning and sharpening/blurring with a brush.

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Originally Posted by arith

I'll look up a couple of RAW files, but I cannot upload them to fotki since they only accept jpeg.

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If you want to get some RAWs to me just pop along to www.sendthisfile.com - create a free account - put in your own addesss as a destination - and then just copy/paste the link to me in a PM - works like a charm :)

Hi Arith,

If this was just a test shot to demo the HDR problems you're having, then the following won't be much help, but if not, it may be.

The whole lot could do with an anti-clockwise twist to sort the verticals and compositionally, the central trunk dividing the frame into two halves isn't great - but might allow a divider to treat the non-challenging left half more simply (and with less movement) than the right half.

I think you could achieve a lot of what you're after with more conventional processing, do take up Colin's offer.

Cheers,

I really think you would gain more by thinking about the composition of your shots. This one is bisected by the tree trunk and the two halves look very different halves. I know that's harder to avoid with a panorama because of the scope of the shot, but this really does look like two separate shots joined together. Also, I think it's not level - that tower is leaning to the right.

If you have unwanted motion in an HDR sequence all you can do is make the HDR from a single RAW using a fast shutter speed. Are you sure you aligned the shots correctly in the merge process?

rob

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Originally Posted by carregwen

I really think you would gain more by thinking about the composition of your shots. This one is bisected by the tree trunk and the two halves look very different halves. I know that's harder to avoid with a panorama because of the scope of the shot, but this really does look like two separate shots joined together. Also, I think it's not level - that tower is leaning to the right.

If you have unwanted motion in an HDR sequence all you can do is make the HDR from a single RAW using a fast shutter speed. Are you sure you aligned the shots correctly in the merge process?

rob

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This is unfortunately the only view of the tower and bridge, and unfortunately as far back as I can get plus the widest lens I have is 28mm. I know the tower appears to be leaning but I always level my tripod as well as I can, and if I rotate right I get to lose more on the right top and more importantly the flag.

I use autostitch to put them together and it is a bit of a lottery to how they come out the other end.

I will look for a file now.

cheers.

Scratch the rotating comment, it is leaning right so rotate anti-clockwise, for some reason I didn't do that.

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Originally Posted by arith

This is unfortunately the only view of the tower and bridge

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How about standing in the water wearing a pair of waders? (I have to resort to this kind of thing quite often).

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

How about standing in the water wearing a pair of waders? (I have to resort to this kind of thing quite often).

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No chance of that; tripod in the water wow that is dedication.

I put some files up; I don't understand what is required so there are four, and hopefully they are the right four; since I cannot see them easily.

They are;

Sept00354 (1).CRW
Sept00354 (1).THM
Sept00363.CRW
Sept00363.THM

they are at downloads.arismetique.com/

http://downloads.arismetique.com/Sept00354 (1).CRW
http://downloads.arismetique.com/Sept00354 (1).THM

http://downloads.arismetique.com/Sept00363.CRW
http://downloads.arismetique.com/Sept00363.THM

Sometimes I think I must be on drugs:)

http://backup.cambridgeincolour.com/...o_hf2small.jpg

Only headless ducks and blur

Hi Arith,

It's the 2 *.CRW ones that I needed - I'll have a look at these tonight for you :)

Hi Arith,

This is the best that I could do - I manually overlayed the two images into the best position that I could get them into, and then just used a soft eraser to transition between the two (at the tree trunk which bisects the image) (a good point to transition the images).

A level tripod with a panning base helps a lot - that way you can swing back and forth several times to check that things are level. The images weren't very sharp - probably just the camera/lens combination that you were using, so I doubt you'll get them much better without upgrading. I applied sharpening at various stages to get the best I could out of it. Other than that, just some minor levels and saturation adjustments.

What do you think?

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/fo...1&d=1254215275

I think it is fantastic, you are right it is a cheap canon lens but all I can afford unfortunately. The best I can afford to do a decent photo. I have another that is older and from 80-200mm, without all the bells like USM and IS but it actually appears sharper but that could just be my eyes.

Everything is second hand including the polariser, I thought it important to get a decent filter in order to not add to the degradation and it cost more than a cheap new one.

The tripod is very cheap but sturdy; I noticed a lot of flexibility with what the spirit level calls level and this must be my levelling problem.

Cheers, that is a real good effort.

It would be impossible here to go into the water because it is over-run by teenagers with skateboards, and I only had a small opportunity to get the bridge unoccupied, although the other way looking into sun at a church behind trees might be more interesting in the early morning.

Thank you very much for your help.

Hi Arith,

Glad you liked it :)

If you think getting into the water is too tough, take a look at what Joe McNally gets up to to get the shot ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEAKQFddTLI&feature=fvw

:eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

Hi Arith,

Glad you liked it :)

If you think getting into the water is too tough, take a look at what Joe McNally gets up to to get the shot ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEAKQFddTLI&feature=fvw

:eek:

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Going in the water doesn't look so bad now. :)