Simviation Forums

I just found a free program that will make HDR images (qtpfsgui odd name, but it works).

That looks great! Would be hard for airshow photo's though

That looks great! Would be hard for airshow photo's though

Yeah, for the first two above, I was actually standing at the end of the runway at my home airport and while I was there someone took-off and I tried doing an HDR shot of the airplane, but even after it had taken off and it was climbing out it was moving too much to make it work.  So yeah, this is probably good only for the very slow moving subject.

Your shots look REALLY great, but can't you just photoshop them instead of taking three different shots and combining them?

Your shots look REALLY great, but can't you just photoshop them instead of taking three different shots and combining them?

Not really Truck, the idea is that you have three different pictures at three different exposure levels. Each exposure level is correct for a specific part of the picture. Bringing the three together ensures that all areas of the picture are then exposed at the level you are looking for. Using Photshop or similar only lets you adjust the picture as a whole and in doing so, areas of the shot will be above or below what you are looking for as a whole.

I posted these two pitures some time back, both HDR. With an edit program you would never be able to get all areas at the correct level. The cockpit shot, either the outside view would have been totally over exposed and or the rudder pedals would have been under exposed. Even an edit program cannot do anything when the information is not there. The same for the second shot. To get the wall exit light detail, the hanger doors would have been white-out.

Matt

Your shots look REALLY great, but can't you just photoshop them instead of taking three different shots and combining them?

A camera has an ability to capture a simple range of brightness, the natural world has more range then the camera can capture. And the human eye can see more then the camera. So HDR tried to artificially correct that. Simply, If its too dark the camera image data will show black, if its too bright the camera image data will show white. If those ranges are exceeded in an image then no amount of photoshop will bring them back. HDR takes 3 images, 1 properly exposing the brights, 1 properly exposing the midrange, and 1 properly exposing the darks. They are then merged together to give us an image closer to what the human eye would see.

In certain settings its a fantastic tool, such as the kitchen shot (though it needs some work) However I feel HDR is an overused fad much like the lens flair was in Photoshop.

I like the first 2 shots but I feel #3 was overdone as you can see the halo around the trees where the images were merged. The green also looks very unnatural, much like an alien planet

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys.  That cockpit shot is really awesome expat. 8-)

[quote]Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys.

Ah, I see.  I have much to learn  ;D