A Tonemapped Photo

[judyg0313]

I took this photo of some of the coolest "Yard Art" I have ever found. I know it is probably too busy but the old car was just too good to pass up. By using the Detail enhancer in tonemapping, I decided it really looks like a pen and ink. It was my second choice for HDR Lesson 4. I increased the contrast and would like your opinion on this one..

[eyerkish]

Hi Judy,

What a cool subject for an HDR. I presume this is a three exposure HDR? I agree with you that the photo itself is a little too busy but the processing looks to be pretty good. Perhaps just a touch too much contrast, though. You may want to either play with that or lower your black point a bit and see the results. Do you have a color version of this as well? I'd love to see it.

[judyg0313]

Thanks Eddie. Your comments mean a lot. I tried cropping this to eliminate some of the clutter but I liked it better this way so I left it alone. I used the contrast increase to give it more of a surreal look and feeling. I don't have a colored one processed but I'll try one and put it on here. I'd like to see what you think...I'll go back and try your suggestions too and see if it improves it. Thanks again..

[eyerkish]

Thanks Eddie. Your comments mean a lot. I tried cropping this to eliminate some of the clutter but I liked it better this way so I left it alone. I used the contrast increase to give it more of a surreal look and feeling. I don't have a colored one processed but I'll try one and put it on here. I'd like to see what you think...I'll go back and try your suggestions too and see if it improves it. Thanks again..

No problem at all, Judy. If you'd like, I can take a shot at it if you don't mind sending me your RAW files. Let me know if you're okay with it and I will PM you my email address.

[rasmussen4]

Hey Judy, excellent work on your "yard art" discovery! I would've done the same as you, even if it felt cluttered that's exactly what it looked like right? Your tone-mapping is strong, but frankly that kind of HDR processing is really a personal choice so it's hard to critique you too much on that. Depending on the day my "preference" on various editing techniques changes, so you're more than welcome to whatever processing you prefer! I agree, it definitely came out looking like a pen and ink drawing, and the subject definitely suited the particular processing that you applied.

The only thing I think I might have done a little differently is to move to the left a bit more and make the old truck kind of go into a diagonal perspective, rather than the side-view. I like the side view, but one way to deal with the "cluttered" feeling, while still retaining the essence of the stuff around there would be to shoot from an angle, and get in a little close. I would've loved to try this with a wide-angle lens that could give a nice fish-eye feel too. Just some ideas, great find here!

[judyg0313]

Ok Eddie, here is my color version. Tell me where and I'll send you my three pix to see what you can do.
16118

Thanks
Judy

[judyg0313]

Greg, you are my tudor in the HDR course. This was my second photo for Lesson 4 that you didn't see. I pretty much used the settings you had given in lesson 2. And thanks for agreeing about the clutter. This man's whole yard was like that. It was hard to pick only one subject. When I cropped it down, it just didn't tell the whole story so I left it. I processed it in color and then unsaturated it in Lightroom. I added contrast like you said. I know HDR especially tonemapping is a preference. And I really liked this and wanted you to see it. I thought the front of the truck was not as interesting and it sort of outlined the old tires sticking out because they were just leaned against a rock. Thus the side view. The guy that lived here and did the yard art was as interesting as his yard. Made our vacation special for sure. Thank you.

[eyerkish]

Hi Judy, I just saw your color posting as for some reason, I was not subscribed to this thread. I love your color version, very nice!

[craigpauli]

Hi Judy, both versions to me are fantastic. I really love the surreal look in the colour version.

[judyg0313]

Hi Judy, both versions to me are fantastic. I really love the surreal look in the colour version.

Thanks Craig. That makes me feel good with you and Eddie liking it. I really appreciate all the support I get on here. I'm beginning to think I'll make it as a photographer after all.

Judy

[judyg0313]

Hi Judy, I just saw your color posting as for some reason, I was not subscribed to this thread. I love your color version, very nice!

No problem Eddie. Thanks for all your help...
Judy