So I'm getting into real estate photography.

[DayLaPaul]

Thanks for the explanation. Is AEB a feature that is costly to produce? It seems like only more expensive cameras have it. Is this because it is costly to implement or simply because it is a feature only professional photographers need?

What I'm getting at is, will we see AEB as a standard feature in digital cameras in the near future or will it always be something reserved for more professional models?

Also, is it possible to make ghetto HDR photos by just taking 3 photos (with a tripod) at different camera settings?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
So the software does the HDR work???

So me with my tripod and d70s could try something like this without a lot of time and effort?

Just bracket 5-6 shots of my living room and then let the software make it look pretty?

The software will blend the pictures in such a way that the dark areas and the bright areas will both be properly exposed in the same photo. That's it. Your windows won't be blown out white and your black sofas won't be a solid lump of detail-less black.

It's up to you to edit the resulting output to something pleasing to the eye, which isn't too hard to do. Bit of saturation, contrast, sharpening, perspective correction, exposure adjustment, highlight recovery, shadow recovery, and it should be pretty good.

 

[ProfJohn]

Looking at some examples on the web it seems that HDR is perfect for night shots and cityscapes. But too many of the pics look fake. I would call it 'cheating' more than anything else

But yours looked good, I think you accomplished what you wanted.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Thanks for the explanation. Is AEB a feature that is costly to produce? It seems like only more expensive cameras have it. Is this because it is costly to implement or simply because it is a feature only professional photographers need?

What I'm getting at is, will we see AEB as a standard feature in digital cameras in the near future or will it always be something reserved for more professional models?

Also, is it possible to make ghetto HDR photos by just taking 3 photos (with a tripod) at different camera settings?

It's a feature that more professional people need. All it is is extra programming for the camera. In a nutshell, all it does is automatically decrease or increase the shutter speed for each shot for the given number of shots.

I don't think it'll be a standard feature. Cameras that don't have manual mode will probably not have AEB. Point and shoots with manual mode stand a greater chance of having it, but still not guaranteed. SLRs should definitely have it.

Yes, ghetto HDR is possible with 3 exposures. It's even possible with just one exposure, but this is best done with RAW files from a camera with wide dynamic range to begin with. One exposure from a P&S won't cut it.

 

[Auggie]

Originally posted by: virtuamike

Originally posted by: Auggie
Just as a curiosity, how much setup cost is there to this? Camera/lens/tripod/software, etc? This is something that seems like it would actually be pretty fun to do as a side hobby/spending-money job.

Eh, there are better ways to lose money

Haha! Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[akugami]

Small critique from an end user. When viewing those, the pictures really jump out at you. Now, PEOPLE ARE STUPID. As someone else mentioned, they're not looking for art (the buyers nor the sellers). I think the fact that the pictures jump out at you will elicit a second glance. This is a good thing because you want your product being noticed. If I go to a web site showcasing three houses side by side and one of them has been redone with HDR to pop out at you as you've done, it'll definitely catch the attention more than a regular photo with no retouching.

With all that said, too much HDR. However, you're trying to attract attention so...

I think for a normal photo all I'd want to do is warm it up a bit and that's it. I remember someone who took a really nice shot of a parakeet or something, over saturated the colors like crazy and everyone loved it. The darn bird was bleeding green and red.

 

[AndrewR]

As a recent buyer who looked at TOO MANY house listings, I'd say your pictures are excellent. Yes, they look somewhat artificial, but your average buyer will have no idea that it's HDR and probably won't care. The average buyer will see very nice photos and will investigate the house in greater detail -- which is the whole point of the photos! I know we may have glossed over some listings because the pictures were crap. I especially like the exterior shots where the interior is clearly visible.

From a photography perspective, the only thing I can critique is the perspective/distortion issues with wide angle. I realize that's the distortion is almost unavoidable, but have you considered using DxO software to correct lens distortion? I have no experience with it, but I remember reading about its abilities and particularly its application for wide angle interior shots. In reading the description on their site (and accompanying photos), I suspect your bathroom photo would look better with DxO correction (the light fixture is very distorted in the upper left).

On another note, what focal length are you using for these shots? I am probably going to pick up a 16-80mm to accompany my 11-18mm and will hopefully start into my own real estate photography sideline in the near future. I may use both HDR and multiple flashes to see which I prefer (thanks to Circuit City, I have three flashguns now). Speaking of which, I need to contact a couple realtors and also produce some images to show them.

 

[scott916]

The HDR is well done, but it gives them the look of being just SLIGHTLY overexposed.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: AndrewR
As a recent buyer who looked at TOO MANY house listings, I'd say your pictures are excellent. Yes, they look somewhat artificial, but your average buyer will have no idea that it's HDR and probably won't care. The average buyer will see very nice photos and will investigate the house in greater detail -- which is the whole point of the photos! I know we may have glossed over some listings because the pictures were crap. I especially like the exterior shots where the interior is clearly visible.

From a photography perspective, the only thing I can critique is the perspective/distortion issues with wide angle. I realize that's the distortion is almost unavoidable, but have you considered using DxO software to correct lens distortion? I have no experience with it, but I remember reading about its abilities and particularly its application for wide angle interior shots. In reading the description on their site (and accompanying photos), I suspect your bathroom photo would look better with DxO correction (the light fixture is very distorted in the upper left).

On another note, what focal length are you using for these shots? I am probably going to pick up a 16-80mm to accompany my 11-18mm and will hopefully start into my own real estate photography sideline in the near future. I may use both HDR and multiple flashes to see which I prefer (thanks to Circuit City, I have three flashguns now). Speaking of which, I need to contact a couple realtors and also produce some images to show them.

A couple of people here and on flickr have already commented on the distortion issue, which worries me because I have already corrected for distortion in all of these photos...

I use PTLens, which corrects the distortion specific to an individual lens because it keeps a distortion database of all lenses and reads this info from the EXIF. I further correct the distortion by correcting the verticals - unless your lens is pointed directly parallel with a vertical wall, your verticals are going to be slanted. If the lens is pointed down slightly to get more of the floorspace into the picture, your verticals will be slanted inwards towards the top, giving an unnatural appearance. In PTLens I edit each photo to make the verticals vertical.

I do see the distortion in the bathroom light fixture - one bulb is fatter than the other... yeah, I dunno. I guess I need to play around with it some more, but not sure if it's something that I can fix.

I've used DxO before, and frankly, it's kinda clunky when used with Lightroom, not to mention the software itself is clunky. And it doesn't correct for specific lens distortions. But I should give it another go.

I'm using 11mm on the 11-16mm for all my shots. Try contacting realtors, but also give builders a call too. Sometimes they have model homes or recently built homes that they'd like to show off. And I think builders might be nicer than realtors too. Consider pairing up with house stagers in your area so that you can consistently photograph houses that have furniture and decorations inside, rather than empty homes or ones with craptastic interiors because the owners don't tidy up or have an eye for design.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: scott916
The HDR is well done, but it gives them the look of being just SLIGHTLY overexposed.

I've been putting the bulk of the image data right between the 3rd and 4th quarters of the histogram. I *think* viewers like to see a room that's bright - gives it a sense of being slick and clean, especially whites. Decrease the exposure and the whites start looking more and more gray, which isn't a good thing.

 

[magomago]

I like the indoor photos a lot more than the outdoor photos. Try to minimize the halos. IMO I wouldn't go for perfection, especially at what you want to offer for only 200 dollars/shot.
If you have programming skills, I'd try to get some kind of script setup that once you put in the pics into a folder, write some information (location, data about the house) click 'go'...and then it executes and provides inputs for each program and passes it to the next. Everything would be decided ahead of time with batch settings. The final result is the webpage, with the Panos setup automatically, and even the google links as ready to go. One click n stop shop. Of course that will take quite a bit of time, and some photos might not be PERRRFECT (but you can easily edit individual photos with a few minutes) you can really hammer out projects on a much faster basis. You will also probably have to decide on a predefined number of photos for each house, and always take them in that order (first two photos are door, next two are bla bla, etc. etc. etc.)

 

[jpeyton]

I can notice the HDR halos, so it might be a little overdone.

Jab up the contrast a little. HDR tends to add a gray sheen over things.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I've used DxO before, and frankly, it's kinda clunky when used with Lightroom, not to mention the software itself is clunky. And it doesn't correct for specific lens distortions. But I should give it another go.

I need to buy Lightroom already. But, the DxO page references specific lenses with specific camera bodies with which it works. I'm not sure how it compensates for each lens, though.

I'm going to take some photos at home this weekend. The wife likes to keep the place show quality anyway.

 

[yllus]

Good photos! I wouldn't worry about it looking slightly surreal; the purpose is not to impress other photographers with your realistic HDRs, but to capture the attention of house shoppers. It'll definitely accomplish that.

Hmm, so you use 9 exposures with Lightroom + Enfuse? I guess I'm going to try 3 shots using AEB, plus burst mode, with my 40D. Guess I'll need to invest in a remote shutter cord too. And I really have to start making use of PTLens again - I have v8.5.2 and only ever slightly toyed with it to fix the lens issues of my Sigma 10-20mm.

 

[Need4Speed]

not to hijack the thread, but you can do some pseudo HDR using tonal contrast alone. The following pix I shot in raw and used only a single exposure, no bracketing was done.

http://cognitivedistortions.ne...MG_2086-Edit.jpg&id=13
http://cognitivedistortions.ne...MG_2981-Edit.jpg&id=16
http://cognitivedistortions.ne...age=building.jpg&id=20

The Mazda is purposely overdone, but you get the idea. I use Photomatix and Lightroom usually, but there are times when I just don't have time to setup a tripod, lock the mirror, bracket, etc in order to get a quick HDR shot. The previous shots were made with NIK ColerEfx. Most HDR apps will allow you to make three bracketed shots from a single RAW file as well. My point was just to offer up some alternatives ....

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: yllus
Good photos! I wouldn't worry about it looking slightly surreal; the purpose is not to impress other photographers with your realistic HDRs, but to capture the attention of house shoppers. It'll definitely accomplish that.

Hmm, so you use 9 exposures with Lightroom + Enfuse? I guess I'm going to try 3 shots using AEB, plus burst mode, with my 40D. Guess I'll need to invest in a remote shutter cord too. And I really have to start making use of PTLens again - I have v8.5.2 and only ever slightly toyed with it to fix the lens issues of my Sigma 10-20mm.

You don't need the remote shutter. Just use AEB and the timer, also make sure you lock the mirror as it will cause some unwanted vibrations.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Originally posted by: yllus
Good photos! I wouldn't worry about it looking slightly surreal; the purpose is not to impress other photographers with your realistic HDRs, but to capture the attention of house shoppers. It'll definitely accomplish that.

Hmm, so you use 9 exposures with Lightroom + Enfuse? I guess I'm going to try 3 shots using AEB, plus burst mode, with my 40D. Guess I'll need to invest in a remote shutter cord too. And I really have to start making use of PTLens again - I have v8.5.2 and only ever slightly toyed with it to fix the lens issues of my Sigma 10-20mm.

You don't need the remote shutter. Just use AEB and the timer, also make sure you lock the mirror as it will cause some unwanted vibrations.

That won't work, will it? (I'm at the office and thus unable to test this on my camera.)

I was under the impression that in order to take the 3 exposures for the AEB you had to click the shutter 3 times. The built-in timer will take 1 exposure for you, but not the other 2. Or am I wrong?

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Originally posted by: yllus
Good photos! I wouldn't worry about it looking slightly surreal; the purpose is not to impress other photographers with your realistic HDRs, but to capture the attention of house shoppers. It'll definitely accomplish that.

Hmm, so you use 9 exposures with Lightroom + Enfuse? I guess I'm going to try 3 shots using AEB, plus burst mode, with my 40D. Guess I'll need to invest in a remote shutter cord too. And I really have to start making use of PTLens again - I have v8.5.2 and only ever slightly toyed with it to fix the lens issues of my Sigma 10-20mm.

You don't need the remote shutter. Just use AEB and the timer, also make sure you lock the mirror as it will cause some unwanted vibrations.

That won't work, will it? (I'm at the office and thus unable to test this on my camera.)

I was under the impression that in order to take the 3 exposures for the AEB you had to click the shutter 3 times. The built-in timer will take 1 exposure for you, but not the other 2. Or am I wrong?

I was originally going to say that my camera (Sony A700) could do that, but now that I think about it, I'm not positive. For AEB, I set that on the Drive menu, which has a separate selection for the 2-sec timer w/mirror lock-up. I'll have to delve into the manual to see if I can set them simultaneously.

 

[spikespiegal]

As a recent buyer who looked at TOO MANY house listings, I'd say your pictures are excellent.

They are.

While some of the exterior shots show a bit too many HDR artifacts, the interiour shots are superb, and that's what counts. The interiour shots are well balanced, look professional, and make the rooms look very livable and lively. In other words..make the house appealing and very marketable.

I've printed a lot of realestate work in my career; most of it large format / view camera with the photogs typically using large softboxes to balance the interiour lighting. Fuzzy's shots look less artificial than many of those because they show off the entire room while not using artificial lighting that you often see used to sell stereos.

I have no problems with the interiour vantage points.