HDR or Lightroom?

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Tagin

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Tim
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This was my second attempt at HDR. I knew the image I wanted and HDR seemed the right tool. However, taking a few images at different exposures then adjusting in Lightroom gave a result closer to what I intended.

HDR



Lightroom

Tulip sunset by timgaston, on Flickr

Comments welcome.
 
Single good exposure processed well > bad HDR...!

Look at the haloing around the edges of the trees, dead giveaway. The key to HDR (as with most processing!) is moderation...
 
:agree:
 
markmullen said:
The lightroom shot is in a different league to the HDR in my opinion, the haloing, the lack of contrast, the muddy sky, all put me off the HDR shot, the lightroom on the other hand is lovely, well done.
Click to expand...

I agree. The LR image is fine.
I am not anti HDR at all, but that HDR isnt nice.
 
Thanks for the comments. I am learning that in photography, as in much else, the best approach is to keep it simple.
 
Beav said:
Lightroom by far.

Im going to practice single exposures more I think and edit them nicely. I often get a halo in my HDR photos too :(
Click to expand...

A good technique is to bracket your exposure like you would do for a HDR, but then use layer masks in PS to blend them manually for a great dynamic range but a more natural looking shot. Use the over-exposed shot to add detail in dark shadows, and the under-exposed shot to bring down a blown-out sky (for example generally - not talking about this particular shot).
 
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Winkyphoto said:
A good technique is to bracket your exposure like you would do for a HDR, but then use layer masks in PS to blend them manually for a great dynamic range but a more natural looking shot. Use the over-exposed shot to add detail in dark shadows, and the under-exposed shot to bring down a blown-out sky (for example generally - not talking about this particular shot).
Click to expand...

Cheers :) Will youtube it :)
 
You have a really good composition, and lovely light in the lightroom image, with those tulips holding the image together exceptionally well, totally ruined in the HDR image, HDR is so last decade, Winkyphoto's suggestion is a better choice, as ND grads would struggle a bit in this situation.

In your lightroom image, a couple of niggles, you have some purple fringing in the left trees, which could be removed when you process your Raw file, also there are one or two dust bunnies (much more prevalent in the HDR image), finally shooting at F25?, is really pushing it to the limits quality wise.
 
HDR can look good to me at times but not in this case. Your Lightroom shot is much more appealing.

Blending layers, HDR, grads plus others are all part of the photographers toolkit (if we choose to use them) but don't always have to be used!
 
Personally, I can't stand HDR, probably because most people overdo it.

Here is a great plugin for lightroom for exposure blending

http://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/lrenfuse.php

Simply select you exposure, blend using the plugin. This is automated. Finish off in lightroom.

The results are not HDR, but a good blend which looks realistic.
 
:agree:
I think I have come to dislike HDR for the reasons ecoleman states, less is always more! I have seen some terrible overcooked images in HDR which is why I give it a wide berth. The LR image is much more pleasing Tim, I'm no expert but I know what's pleasing to my eye... Your gut reaction was right stick with the LR image
 
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