This may prove to be worthwhile! HDR Efex Pro

http://www.niksoftware.com/hdrefexpr...R+Announcement


As a huge fan of Nik Software plugins, their new (coming in October) HDR Efex Pro just may get me interested in HDR again. Previous positive experience with other Nik products (Viveza, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro) leads me to wonder if HDR Efex pro will set the new high water mark for HDR software. U point technology in an HDR program. Whoooooot!

I must say that I have found Nik software good if used in the right proportion and in the right conditions
Gatted

Looks interesting. Take a look at the video.

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Originally Posted by Eric M

Previous positive experience with other Nik products (Viveza, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro) leads me to wonder if HDR Efex pro will set the new high water mark for HDR software. U point technology in an HDR program. Whoooooot!

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From what I've seen it may well help people to break all speed records when creating "artistic / surreal" (*** cough *** grossly over-saturated, over-processed, un-realistic, visually "nuked" *** cough ***) Images :(

I hate to sound negative (again) (perhaps I'm just getting old and grumpy), but I'm finding that programs like this do a lot of damage to the definition of what HDR really is (ie using techniques to capture a wider-range of light than is possible in a single capture, without using special techniques); in the video they stated that (paraphrasing) "it's a way to combine multiple exposures into a composite that looks like the scene the photographer saw when he was there" - and yet NONE of the resultant images looked anything like the scene would have looked like (if I were at a location and saw most of the skies that I see in "HDR" shots I'd start running for the nearest underground bunker and/or nuke-proof shelter (abandoning wife and children, but saving camera and lenses!).

Programs like this have little to do with HDR and everything to do with creating "artistic / surreal" images - which is fine - just don't call them HDR!

Grrrrrr.

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

I hate to sound negative (again) (perhaps I'm just getting old and grumpy)...

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Woa cowboy, you are ticking far too many boxes before time...:D

Like Colin I think that kind of photography should not be calling HDR

I looked at the Nik site and I am not impressed. HDR is something else and very different.

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

From what I've seen it may well help people to break all speed records when creating "artistic / surreal" (*** cough *** grossly over-saturated, over-processed, un-realistic, visually "nuked" *** cough ***) Images :(

I hate to sound negative (again) (perhaps I'm just getting old and grumpy), but I'm finding that programs like this do a lot of damage to the definition of what HDR really is (ie using techniques to capture a wider-range of light than is possible in a single capture, without using special techniques); in the video they stated that (paraphrasing) "it's a way to combine multiple exposures into a composite that looks like the scene the photographer saw when he was there" - and yet NONE of the resultant images looked anything like the scene would have looked like (if I were at a location and saw most of the skies that I see in "HDR" shots I'd start running for the nearest underground bunker and/or nuke-proof shelter (abandoning wife and children, but saving camera and lenses!).

Programs like this have little to do with HDR and everything to do with creating "artistic / surreal" images - which is fine - just don't call them HDR!

Grrrrrr.

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All HDR software is quite capable of nuking color reproduction right into the cartoon range. While many people love that look, I use it VERY sparingly. What I am excited about is that the Nik Software plugins I have experience with have been very well thought out and intuitive. They are known for quality software. My hope is that the new HDR software will help quickly tonemap images with better control over the color reproduction as well as speed up the workflow over currently offered software (I use Dynamic Photo HDR). Their website is going to go for sizzle, but I am looking through that to see what may prove to be a much improved HDR program over others on the market. Some of the sample tonemaps on the website have more photorealistic color (particularly the greens) than others I have seen and used. Time will tell.

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Originally Posted by Eric M

All HDR software is quite capable of nuking color reproduction right into the cartoon range. While many people love that look, I use it VERY sparingly. What I am excited about is that the Nik Software plugins I have experience with have been very well thought out and intuitive. They are known for quality software. My hope is that the new HDR software will help quickly tonemap images with better control over the color reproduction as well as speed up the workflow over currently offered software (I use Dynamic Photo HDR). Their website is going to go for sizzle, but I am looking through that to see what may prove to be a much improved HDR program over others on the market. Some of the sample tonemaps on the website have more photorealistic color (particularly the greens) than others I have seen and used. Time will tell.

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I hope your right Eric - perhaps by default they're catering for a perception that "surreal" is what most people are wanting? ... Although personally, I don't think they do themselves any favours in doing that.

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

From what I've seen it may well help people to break all speed records when creating "artistic / surreal" (*** cough *** grossly over-saturated, over-processed, un-realistic, visually "nuked" *** cough ***) Images :(

I hate to sound negative (again) (perhaps I'm just getting old and grumpy), but I'm finding that programs like this do a lot of damage to the definition of what HDR really is (ie using techniques to capture a wider-range of light than is possible in a single capture, without using special techniques); in the video they stated that (paraphrasing) "it's a way to combine multiple exposures into a composite that looks like the scene the photographer saw when he was there" - and yet NONE of the resultant images looked anything like the scene would have looked like (if I were at a location and saw most of the skies that I see in "HDR" shots I'd start running for the nearest underground bunker and/or nuke-proof shelter (abandoning wife and children, but saving camera and lenses!).

Programs like this have little to do with HDR and everything to do with creating "artistic / surreal" images - which is fine - just don't call them HDR!

Grrrrrr.

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Couldn't agree more.

My interest in photography is as a VFX artist, been rendering to 32bit formats for quite a few years now. The purpose is to tweak images to look the way they're supposed to look.

You know you've hit the nail on the head when someone can simply sit back and say "that's a gorgeous image" with no real impression that trickery was involved. If they can pick it out as an HDR, then you failed.

95% of all "HDR" images I see are basically an exercise in tastelessness.

The fact that this software includes all these presets is a solid clue as to who it's catered to. And that's NOT to say you shouldn't do creative stuff via HDR imaging techniques, I just shouldn't be INSTANTLY able to say "lol...HDR" when I look at it. Remember; you can have too much of a good thing.

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Originally Posted by Lornek

You know you've hit the nail on the head when someone can simply sit back and say "that's a gorgeous image" with no real impression that trickery was involved. If they can pick it out as an HDR, then you failed.

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My spirits are lifted!

It's actually quite encouraging to know that there are others out there who actually understand what HDR is really about. A big green "thumbs up" from me!

PS: Welcome to CiC - great to have you with us :)

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A big green "thumbs up" from me!

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and you both get one from me ;)