Old Courthouse in the Night

[Lizardqing]

Snapped this while wandering around the square in the middle of the night this past weekend. I have not tinkered with black and white very much beyond the quick auto change to B&W settings on programs but this I toyed around with all sorts of levels and such. Let me know what you think if anything that would make it better. This was also my first time out trying out HDR. I never do anything the simple way so I tried at night the first time.

[Mad Aussie]

Apart from the blown out bits in the little trees and bushes, I like this very much. Nice strong shadows give it a foreboding feel.

[Marko]

It does have a moody feel and i like that. The trees look like they were solarized. (an old darkroom technique where the tones get reversed when u turn on the light while the image is developing in the developing tray)

[Lizardqing]

Thanks guys. I think I know the issue with the trees, they have some 20 million candle power ( or at least they seem like when walking in front of one! ) shining. I did what I could to shield them with objects so the main light would not be there but do y'all have any suggestions for keeping the trees from getting blown out?

[Mad Aussie]

but do y'all have any suggestions for keeping the trees from getting blown out?

After taking you initial bracketed shots for your HDR, take another set, before moving the tripod, exposed only for those lights and leaves ... then blend that into the final image.