HDR advice

[kat]

Yes, that looks right in my eye to MA.

As MA mentioned the 2 stop is just a guide. I've had to switch mine up many times to get the right looking combination.

[jlabel]

Really I dont see why you think they are terrible, for me it is just perfect HDR, you have information in the darken areas of the rock and high areas in the sky, so what is the problem?

[Bambi]

Really I dont see why you think they are terrible, for me it is just perfect HDR, you have information in the darken areas of the rock and high areas in the sky, so what is the problem?

thanks jlabel, you are very kind . I think I was looking for more of a colour range and the blown out cloud was bugging me. Seeing MA's pictures was very helpful to give me a visual of what I am looking for. I plan to go out this weekend and try it again.

[squirl033]

for myself, i find shooting at +/- 2 stops is usually too much. +/- 1 stop, or maybe 1.5. should be sufficient, especially for the beach scene you were taking. if you want, you can auto-bracket 3 shots, but i find it's often better to shoot in manual mode, using the exposure guide in the viewfinder to take 4 or 5 shots spanning a +/- 2 stop range. it seems that way the software doesn't have to work quite so hard and the exposures come out more realistic. for the beach scene you were shooting, did you try simply using a grad ND filter? might have eliminated the need for HDR in the first place...