Hey guys,

Just got a Canon 1000D and have been taking some shots, some good, some bad. There's a few below. Also below is my first attempt at an HDR shot.

Took 5 exposures between -2.68 and +2.68 stops. Using an aperture of 9.0 and various shutter speeds. Then used Photoshops merge to HDR function as described here: HDR Tutorial Obviously looks pretty damn ugly and I need the photography whiz kids to give me a few tips? Cheers.





EDIT: HDR Image removed as better(ish) version below with adjusted brightness/contrast

 

ive never used PS to do HDR, but isn't there an option to tone it down?

 

Played with the brightness and the contrast a bit and got this:

 

not to bad for your first time

 

take a step back and look at that picture, do you honestly think that looks good?

 

^ dude he's asking for tips to make it better

 

^ That's constructive.. (EDIT: Sarcasm aimed above S Special, I'm just a slow poster!


OP from one amateur to another, the best I could say is to just keep playing with it. The best thing about digital is that you can just keep trying anything and whether it works or not, you'll learn from it.

But for first time shots and HDR I think they're good. Better than the first ones I did!

 

thanks for that - yep that's what it's about - the original post says that I don't think it looks great and so I want to know how to make it better.

Cheers all who can help.

 

The HDR is way over cooked, along with it being too light/bright, it's supposed to be a very subtle change and not actually appear is if it's been HDR'd alot.

The second attempt is alot better, still a bit over-cooked tho. Not bad a first time, just keep practicing it, and search for other HDR images, you will get a better idea.

 

Friends don't let friends do HDR. It's the cancer of digital photography, and 99% of them are overdone or not even done properly at all. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

As for the actual photography part, I'm assuming you have the kit lens with your camera (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ?). Try using the longest focal length of your lens (zoomed in) and the widest aperture (lowest aperture number). The effect you'll get with only a 55mm f/5.6 and a 1.6x crop sensor will be limited, but it will help to blur the background a bit and give the subject a little more pop, instead of everything being in sharp focus.

A couple examples:
Shot with a 5D + 85mm f/1.2L-II @ f/2.8 (My old car )


Shot with 5D + 400mm f/5.6L @ f/8.0 Subject-to-background distance is also another major factor (JFO's race car)