Wedding HDR

[Anbesol]

I had the privilege of shooting a wedding last weekend, I went actually to assist a friend of mine who was the main photographer. During the ceremony she wanted me on balcony assignment, this is my favorite shot from that, it is HDR but I think its not really noticeably hdr (or, do you notice it?). Any other thoughts for improvement before I print and send?

Thanks in advance!

[SkipT]

It looks blown out to me, you have lost alot of detail in the alter. And I think it would look better with the couple not in the picture.

[Pose]

I agree that it looks overexposed. Also, my eye tends to go to the couple rather than the alter, and they seem pretty soft/out of focus. Perhaps if you could get some detail back in the bright areas, it'd help with that.

I do like the picture though. And I'm assuming the couple wasn't meant to be the subject here?

Jared

[LeeIs]

good use of HDR and not overdone imo. I don't think it's overexposed. but having said that, the main focus now is on the decorated wall (sorry don't know the terms) because it's much brighter than the bride / groom.

[Anbesol]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I've made some changes to the image now and I like it better this way - the whites were not blown, but VERY close to being blown. I brought them down a notch to show detail better in the brightness.

I intentionally made the exposure difference to match very closely what it looked like in real life, the seats were very dark compared to the altar, if I had made the altar much darker it would have been an obvious HDR and look fake. So, I just pushed slightly for the HDR.

The couple sort of was meant to be the focus here, but more then the couple themselves is the ceremony that they are in. I think the context of the image sort of implies the importance of the two people front and center, so while they do not dominate the image in the same sense that the main subject usually does, I think they do in context.

[Coastal Flyer]

I think you did a pretty nice job. I do think the white columns are a smidge overdone but not terrible. The entire picture might benefit if you have been able to tone them down a hair. I think the shot could use a push of sharpening; it does not appear to be as sharp as it could be. Overall, I think you did a nice job. As you were shooting a wedding, an image with the bride and groom at the alter is required. If you took one without them, all the better, but is a wedding after all.

[Greg McCary]

I think the upper portion in over exposed. I think moving a hair to the right and centering the shot better would have helped. As is it looks off center and leaning. Also portions seem out of focus. Maybe from the HDR?

[Lori11]

Having been to many a Catholic weddings, the bride will love it! I didnt think it was over blown, and being its a wedding, the couple is the focus. I think its a great example of what photography is, it tells a story. Beautifully.

[PhilF]

I like it... steps are leaning to the left a bit.

[jetrim]

The exposure is good on a calibrated monitor, the only clipping being at the tippy tops of the stained glass windows flanking the alter. I do think it would be a good idea to use photoshop's edit>transform>skew command and bring the left side up to level out the alter steps.