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[JAS_Photo]

Giants frolic beneath the "Bow".

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4378359632_ae7c389cf7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jas_photos/4378359632/)

I actually plan on doing this over with al bit more breathing space for the main giant. Also, I think I misused my polarizer and got a sky split between blue and almost white. Still, I kind of like it.

[Marko]

Lovely HDR here overall. Very cool shot and I agree about the breathing room.

[ericmark]

Lovely a real inspiration I must get out and take some more.
I do like unfinished building seems to add to picture.

[JAS_Photo]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4379331269_f22672299b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jas_photos/4379331269/)

Another version but I like the angle of view vis a vis the arrangement of the figures looking at the Bow in the first more.

[edG]

nice capture

[ericmark]

I would love to see what the centre image of group looked like? I am not sure how much the negative effect has made this image and how much it was to do with composition.
Also interested as to which program was used to combine images and which one or more were used to reduce from 32bit to 16bit and 16bit to 8bit?
OK I fully understand if you prefer not to say. But unless I ask!
Both are really good however if I had to select one it would be first with building work showing.
As to why, sorry can't put my finger on difference just first seems more pleasing to my eye. Maybe because I'm an engineer.

[Michaelaw]

I quit using my PF for now as it's screwing up way more shots than it's helping. I like both shots but am leaning more to the first, not sure why just yet:)

[ericmark]

I was introduced on here to Picturenaut and just last night I tried combining same three images with Picturenaut and Photoshop CS4 but once combined using Photoshop CS4 for all processing "Tone Mapping/HDR Conversion" and realised it is that first process that Photoshop messes up.

Using Picturenaut to produce the first 32 bit file the sky colour was truer to original and it did not separate out giving purple edges to clouds. I had thought it was way I was processing but now I realise all down to that first part of processing with Photoshop.

Also Picturenaut is quicker. Not tried any of the other packages. Hence taking a great interest in your work. It seems there are two reasons to use HDR one is to capture a larger range as name suggests and the other is to use that extended range to warp the image to give a negative/chrome effect to image. First bit I am now happy with. But second stage you seem to have mastered and I am only aspiring to.

All best Eric

[Bambi]

I really like these JAS. Well done!

[JAS_Photo]

Thanks, all! Although I had done a HDR for the first image I ended up just processing one photo not the HDR image.

Eric, I use Topaz Adjust and Topaz Detail. I import my photos into LightRoom and since my computer is 64 bit that is my workspace. I do the preliminary edits in LR then send them to Adobe Photoshop Elements to finish off. Elements is Photoshop 'light' so to speak. It can do many things that Photoshop can do but most of it only in an 8 bit format. So you need to convert your image to 8 bit to do most things.

If I am doing an HDR I send the files to a separate folder on my computer then open Photomatix - I have the 'light' version- and import them. I believe there is an importer you can download that allows you to import photos directly to Photomatix from Lightroom though. I will post what my file looks like before the 'fun' begins.

[JAS_Photo]

The Original pretty sad, huh?

[Marko]

Thanks for showing the original.

I too like shot one better...and i think I know why.:)
In shot 1 the main central figure is better lined up with the building, giving it a better sense of height or giantess. This is one of those rarer cases where the dead center focal point works very well!

The only thing I would have changed from shot 1 is my position to the subject. I would have moved back maybe 1 foot (to get the full head on the shot). I like the crop on the foot the way it is (or showing the full foot).

Hope that helps - Marko

[JAS_Photo]

Marko, That is what I was thinking when I lined up the shot. Unfortunately, It was a bit crooked and straightening caused the tightness on the subject. The white sky to the west may have just been a high thin cloud formation and not my CP. Also there is a little rise just behind where I was to take the photo, and I wanted to be low to the ground looking up to make the giants size exaggerated. I will go back again to try the get it more like I had in mind again when I can.

Hopefully on a Sunday when not too many people are around. Right now the snow is keeping the vagrant population at bay.

[JAS_Photo]

Another go at the Blue Giants and the Bow

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4398055954_3aab8ab9f8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jas_photos/4398055954/)

[ericmark]

Thank you for original image. You have really improved on it. Well done.

[JAS_Photo]

Eric, the last image is from a new HDR I just did yesterday. I now beleive that the unmatched light fom left to right on the photo, white sky/blue sky is caused by the time of day and was not do to my polarizer. This last is quite extreme but it illustrates the idea I had in mind quite well, I think. :)