Covered Bridge HDR

[Greg McCary]

This is a two exposure HDR. As I kept playing with it in PS. I desided to give it an old newspaper look. This bridge has been covered by ever photographer in town and I am trying for something different than them. What do you think?
Greg

[Jaedon]

I like the subject and I like the feel you've gone with decideing to go with the newspaper feel. Personally I think that the image is a bit dark for my tastes however.

But if you are going to all the trouble of shooting to do and HDR process to the image why not shoot a bunch more frames. I like to do my HDR's with no less than 8 frames, from blown out to almost completely underexposed. It only takes a few more seconds onsite and maybe 2 more minutes in processing time.

[drg]

Greg,

I believe you need several more exposures to build into you HDR shot to get the full effect. The range of the tonality looks somewhat limited here. That also seems to be crimping the contrast. More shots will let HDR do its magic. I usually find at least 5 or six shots to be a minimum to really start to see the full effect.

This is well composed image, and I like the 'low scudding' clouds! In this 'look' it needs a bit more punch either through contrast (and it may have to be selective) or extra sharpening to use the trees to the fullest advantage in this photograph.

[Greg McCary]

Jaedon, Drg,
Thanks for the tips. I will keep that in mind. I have tried more exposures but for some reason the more I add the more likely I am to get very bright spots in the sky, but I will keep at it. I am going back to this one once the trees start to come out.
Greg

[Don Schaeffer]

This is a very conventional vantage point. When you re-shoot, look for a shot with a little more novelty or a zippier composition.

[Greg McCary]

Thanks Don, I agree. I shot this thing from every angle including under it. I intend to go back soon. Thanks for you input.
Greg

[GB1]

Greg- I agree with everything that's been said. However, I would also try not to crowd the bottom of the frame there, for somehow, it looks unbalanced. The covered building's entrance is also too close to the center of the pic. Not sure what the answer is, but I agree with Don that the camera angle is too 5'10" (average height) above the ground. I think I would have climbed up the embankment and taken it more head on into the opening. The darkness is way too much IMO but I also see a possible scary scene here, maybe that is what you were shooting for eh?

GB

[Greg McCary]

Thank GB you have the wheels in my head spinning, nice critique. I did take an approach more as you stated before. But after finding a smalll gallery of local prints here in Rome I was disappointed that all of the pictures of thie bridge were the same angle including mine. I feeI the need to do something different than the others. That's why the ominus clouds and low angle. I wanted it to look as though you were looking at a old newspaper.
I would imagine on all of the other pictures all of the photographers tripods were in the same spot, maybe higher and shoot slightly down? I think an HDR would be different as well.
Greg