Shooting the Sun

[Mad Aussie]

As you can see I took this shooting towards the sun. It's an HDR in order to get any detail at all of course.

I'm really not sure if this is a keeper in the end though.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/3908362378_2a8fa14fa8_o.jpg

[jjeling]

Good Job MA. From what I hear you are becoming a real professional these days.....

[Mad Aussie]

Good Job MA. From what I hear you are becoming a real professional these days.....
Thanks JJ.

Not sure where you hear crap like that mate ;)

[EJC]

I like it MA. Keep it. I've seen prints and calendars for sale that pale in comparison.

[Mad Aussie]

Cheers EJC

[JAS_Photo]

Yes, it is very nice!

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Raiven

[Greg_Nuspel]

Excellent HDR it looks very good and I know how hard that is to achieve. I also enjoy the composition my eye keeps scanning the scene taking it all in.

[tomorrowstreasures]

the hdr really does help this come to life.

[Greg_Nuspel]

One thing to note about this shot is it would be good for stock, there is lots of area for products and/or text.

[Mad Aussie]

Thank you also TT and Greg.

I really thought this one might be worthless ... there you go.

[jlabel]

I liked this is a good hdr

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks jlabel.

I was going to throw this away but decided to see what people thought. Seems I was wrong and it's more appealing than I thought.

[Shelley]

I think it's an excellent shot. One question though, what is HDR?

[Mad Aussie]

I think it's an excellent shot. One question though, what is HDR?
Thanks Shelley.

HDR means High Dynamic Range and refers to the lights and darks in your photo.
A high dynamic range would mean that there is a big difference from the brightest parts of your photo and the darkest parts.
The problem this creates is it becomes impossible for our cameras to correctly expose all of the scene. The camera goes for an average and usually results in parts being blown out and other bits too dark.
If we try to compensate manually we can get the camera to handle the brightest parts, but the darks will be too dark, and vice versa.

One solution (if you want to see as much detail as possible) is what people called "HDR' but should really call 'HDR Merge.'
This is a process where you take at least 2 but usually 3 or more shots of the same scene (on a tripod usually) at different exposures.
Then, using some software (most popular is Photomatix) you merge the three shots together and process it for the effect you want. The better HDR Merge shots are then usually taken into Photshop or similar and processed a bit further again.

[scorpio_e]

Well done. I like the composition and the processing.

[Mad Aussie]

cheers scorpio

[Marko]

For me this is 'just' a good shot MA. There's nothing really wrong with it of course (and the composition, exposure colours are well done), but it's not making me go wow like many of your other shots. It's missing something, maybe 'tension'. I know that's abstract but it's hard to put into words.
I think it may be the hill at the left, it's not as interesting as the elements we see in your wow shots if that makes any sense. Anyhow just my :twocents:

[Mad Aussie]

For me this is 'just' a good shot MA. There's nothing really wrong with it of course (and the composition, exposure colours are well done), but it's not making me go wow like many of your other shots. It's missing something, maybe 'tension'. I know that's abstract but it's hard to put into words.
I think it may be the hill at the left, it's not as interesting as the elements we see in your wow shots if that makes any sense. Anyhow just my :twocents:
Yeh that's pretty much how I felt marko. I was pleased that I got a shot with such detail and colour after shooting at the sun that way but felt it was simply 'lacking'

[lexluth1]

Looks GREAT to me!

[Mad Aussie]

Well thanks Lex. It seems to appeal to some and not others.