HDR Rattle Snake

[almo]

I have been digging around in my old images for any that I may have bracketed, and that line up pretty good. Here is one I found today of what I believe is a timber rattler.

It is 2 exposures, I believe about 5 stops apart. Don't ask me why I took two images 5 stops apart, I don't remember.

I used photomatix for the merge.

[AgingEyes]

A good idea. It would be better with more DOF though. I can see some noise in the top part of the photo, too.

[Frog]

Why did you take two shots 5 stops apart? Sorry, couldn't resist.
Looks pretty good with even exposure throughout.

[almo]

A good idea. It would be better with more DOF though. I can see some noise in the top part of the photo, too.

The noise is mostly a product of the HDR conversion. If I were better at it I could control that better. But, I am still learning it. The DOF is my fault lol.

Thanks!

[almo]

Why did you take two shots 5 stops apart? Sorry, couldn't resist.
Looks pretty good with even exposure throughout.

I've honestly been trying to figure that out. First thought was my flash didn't fire, but the f-stops are way off, f/5, f/9. If the flash had simply not fired I'd expect the apertures to be the same.

[Frog]

hmmm? I'd be puzzling over that too.
I think hdr works best with the same f/stop and different shutter speeds if I understand correctly but maybe you've just proved it isn't necessarily so.

[Sushigaijin]

well, I can't really comment on the technique - it DOES seem a bit noisy though...

Actually I just wanted to chime in with an ID. Crotalus Adamanteus, eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Incredible find, I might add. If I'm ever down your way, it will be in my top two or three species to find...

[frleal70]

Looks pretty good. Maybe try Auto bracketing the exposure with camera set to continuous firing. Photomatix is going to introduce a lot of noise in the shadows. A decent noise reduction filter (Noise Pro) might help.

[almo]

hmmm? I'd be puzzling over that too.
I think hdr works best with the same f/stop and different shutter speeds if I understand correctly but maybe you've just proved it isn't necessarily so.

From what i gather it's a combination of the two. I usually set my camera to auto bracket 1-0-1, or 1/3-0-1/3.

[almo]

Looks pretty good. Maybe try Auto bracketing the exposure with camera set to continuous firing.

Normally, as with the shot below, that is what I would do. However, as I stated in my OP, this is an old shot.... Well, two old shots, that I had never intended to combine. I am just playing around really.

Here is a combo of 3 shots that I took specifically to make an HDR.

[frleal70]

Oh, right on. One of these days I'll learn how to read the entire post. That's a beautiful shot, btw.

[almo]

Oh, right on. One of these days I'll learn how to read the entire post.

Let he who is without sin...

We all do it...

That's a beautiful shot, btw.

Thanks!

[Loupey]

I think hdr works best with the same f/stop and different shutter speeds if I understand correctly but maybe you've just proved it isn't necessarily so.

I think, in general, that this statement is true (although I rarely do any HDR - and none for N&W). I think merging images with different DOF is what is causing the somewhat unusual OOF areas.

Neat idea though. Something to think about if the conditions are right.

[paulnj]

nice eastern DB John.....

[Canon_Bob]

One place where I've used this in N/W is when I have to fire a heavy flash to light a bird, but don't want a flash-shadowed background. I just leave the tripod set until the bird flies off, then take a properly exposed image of just the BG with no flash. I then merge the flash lit bird onto the naturally lit BG. Works OK, but not something I've done beyond the experimental phase.