Take more than a single shot

Something more about the swan photo. The creation of this HDR was not as straightforward as it should be. I had no problems with the swan, which was standing perfectly still, but with the wind, which moved the foliage quite heavily. So when I combined the three shots, there was so much ghosting, that I abandoned any attempts to repair them right away. So what I ended up doing was:

• split a single raw (0EV) into three separate files in Lightroom (at 0EV, -2EV, +2EV)
• create a HDR from these files
• loaded the created file, together with the original three shot (not the created ones) into layers in Photoshop
• repaired all overexposed areas (and other problems) from the original shots

Doing it this way, I had my HDR details, had no overexposed areas (the swan was totally white :) ) and no ghosting in my final photo.

So my advice is, even when you don’t think that the shots will ever align, take more than one, it can help you with the final HDR.

Check out the original 0EV shot on the right :)

Posing Swan

You wouldn’t believe that this was taken with a wide angle lens, from a tripod :). I was standing so close, but the swan didn’t moved at all for a minute, and when I took the shot it went into the water. It really looked, like it was just posing for the shot :)

I went a little stronger on the HDR processing than usually, but as I was editing the photo I saw a certain painterly look to it, so I went with it.

HDR from a single RAW (few parts from a second) taken with Canon 450D with Sigma 10-20mm lens, from a tripod.

New and old

This photo is from the center of Bratislava. This is a part, which was demolished during socialism, to make way for the road and the bridge. It’s quite sad actually, as a lot of beautiful old houses and a synagogue was standing here.

HDR from three shots, taken with Canon 450D with Sigma 10-20mm lens, from a tripod.

Beetle at Gasometer

I think this shot could have been better. I still see few problems with it. First of all the composition could be better, and secondly there are still some overexposed areas in the shot (I tried to repair them, so hopefully they are not so visible :) ). But there is a simple explanation for both problems. There were small complications while taking this shot, the passing cars :). This street was not as wide and not as empty as I would like. So every-time I tried to take the shot, I had to quickly move away, so there is no accident. But I think even if it’s not 100% as I would like, that it’s a nice enough image to be shared :)

Photo taken at Gasometer city in Vienna, Austria, during a sunset.

HDR from three shots, taken with Canon 450D with Sigma 10-20mm lens, from a tripod

Floating above Prague

Every time I look at this photo I think about Jules Verne. It really looks to me like a cover to one of his book :). I’m thinking of trying to create an aged version of it, to make a more vintage look :)

HDR from three shots, taken with Canon 450D with Sigma 18-200mm lens, handheld.

New bridge Triangle

One more from Saturday. The sky was nice and clear and you could see into the distance without problems. I thought about how to compose a shot of the New bridge to make it more interesting. And then I noticed, that with the road it creates a very nice triangle. So I centered on it, and I think it quite works.

HDR from three shots, taken with Canon 450D with Sigma 10-20mm lens, from a tripod