Night + 7-shot HDR + Panorama + Sugar = Awesomeness

[shocksyde]

Non-HDR version below for comparison

 

[BeauJangles]

As far as HDRs go, that's not too bad.

 

[finbarqs]

To me, this shot looks to be a very "low dynamic range shot" which can be accomplished with < 4 stops! I see a complete loss of details in the shadows, and some blown out high lights on the lights themselves. In fact, I believe the contrast is too strong and HDR is there to reduce the contrast of an image.

But besides that fact, I like the shot

 

[Tristicus]

Is that the full res?

 

[skulkingghost]

I love the way it came out, I think the way you did it was absolutely fantastic, great contrast, and the colors pop. This is a great use of hdr, HDR night shots are exceptionally hard to pull off.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I really like the way this thing came out as well

 

[alfa147x]

I like it! The HDR isnt way overdone! Great shot!

I love HDR's but most times people go WAY overboard!

 

[shocksyde]

To me, this shot looks to be a very "low dynamic range shot" which can be accomplished with < 4 stops! I see a complete loss of details in the shadows, and some blown out high lights on the lights themselves. In fact, I believe the contrast is too strong and HDR is there to reduce the contrast of an image.

But besides that fact, I like the shot

Well, I don't like typical HDR pictures. I tweaked this one to my liking, which means emphasis on the dark and high contrast. It's personal preference, really.

 

[shocksyde]

Is that the full res?

Nope, the full res is somewhere in the neighborhood of 24" x 60"

 

[Aharami]

sweet night HDR! love it!

 

[davestar]

Bmore!

 

[Ballatician]

I like it. Now it would be nice to know what equipment/settings you used so a noob like me can try and reproduce.

 

[shocksyde]

Equipment: I used an old 105mm f/2.5 Nikon AI lens on a D300. Tripod.

Settings: 12 7-exposure bracketed shots. Used interval timer and took pictures in 7-shot bursts. Starting exposure was something in the area of ISO 400, 1/6s, f/8. Then the camera automatically took 3 pics more and more underexposed and 3 pics more and more overexposed (1 stop increments). Took 3 rows of pictures, 4 pics to each row.

Software: Photomatix for HDR, Hugin for stitching, Photoshop for clean-up

TADA!

 

[Ballatician]

Tada indeed haha, thanks for the deets.

 

[996GT2]

Nice, Inner Harbor! Good to see someone else from Baltimore on AT.

I took a shot like that a while ago, albeit not in HDR. I think Inner Harbor actually looks quite nice at night without any HDR, as long as you expose correctly.

 

[finbarqs]

I think this can be accomplished without HDR, and exposure blending... I believe the dynamic range in this scene can be achieved with any modern DSLR camera... (which is >10stops)

 

[shocksyde]

Nice, Inner Harbor! Good to see someone else from Baltimore on AT.

I took a shot like that a while ago, albeit not in HDR. I think Inner Harbor actually looks quite nice at night without any HDR, as long as you expose correctly.

Do you have a favorite spot to shoot the Inner Harbor from? I've done on top of Fed Hill and in front of the Science Center.

 

[shocksyde]

I think this can be accomplished without HDR, and exposure blending... I believe the dynamic range in this scene can be achieved with any modern DSLR camera... (which is >10stops)

I'll have to look at the original shots again to be sure, but I'll bet the interior lights of the Domino buidling wouldn't be nearly that bright on a one exposure shot.

You're probably not far off, though. I really don't like true HDR images and tone them down a lot. Subtle is where it's at.

 

[SexyK]

Nice job. Is the Domino factory up and running again after the fire/explosion?

 

[shocksyde]

Nice job. Is the Domino factory up and running again after the fire/explosion?

As far as I can tell. I remember hearing the explosion, haha. EXPLOSIVE SUGAR! No joke, I think somehow they obtained the correct air to fuel ratio for a powdered sugar explosion.

 

[shocksyde]

Added a non-HDR version to OP for comparison.

 

[Cattykit]

Seems like I'm the only one who doesn't like it.
Anyway, I don't like it because of color channel clipping issues..Even in such a small size, it's so evident. If you make slightly large print, it'd be a disaster.

 

[shocksyde]

Seems like I'm the only one who doesn't like it.
Anyway, I don't like it because of color channel clipping issues..Even in such a small size, it's so evident. If you make slightly large print, it'd be a disaster.

How do I fix it?

 

[ProfJohn]

I like the original better.

Not a big fan of HDR, seems like cheating

 

[shocksyde]

I like the original better.

Not a big fan of HDR, seems like cheating

It's not cheating if your goal isn't 100% photography. This is "Photographic Art." It's not like I'm gonna lie to people and say this is one exposure.