White Sands HDR

[GB1]

Not sure this one really needed HDR ... will post the normal middle exposure image later. C&Cs appreciated.

g

[rylan]

Seems a little tilted to the right? Maybe im seeing wrong lol

Nice shot though, not over done at all!

thumbs up from me!

[armando_m]

I think this is a fantastic HDR

I like the contrast of the dramatic clouds with the sunny dunes and the shade of the foreground dune

[LightBright]

Most of the photo is filled with a light sand color so I think HDR works great in this shot. I always like HDR photography when done with muted colors opposed to an already saturated scene. Nice work!

[yetishot]

I love the look! Maybe even a touch underdone but Im not sure cause Im on the laptop ATM. Is that a shaft of sunlight coming in from the top left or a play in the clouds?

[Greg McCary]

Killer shot GB. This is one of your best shots. You use an HDR for what it was made for. It is also tack sharp. Sweet.

[n8]

I'd be curious to see the middle exposure, but what you posted looks really good.

[daq7]

Very cool palette.

[draymorton]

Excellent!

[Frog]

I'd like to see that middle one too.
You've got the hdr thing down for making it look natural.

[GB1]

Thanks, everyone! They way this one came out is a mystery to me, even considering that it's an HDR, but I don't know that much about them. Photomatix does wonders ... I think I may have adjusted one thing off from their preset/defaults. I guess the software developers who tuned it are on the same page with most viewers as to what looks good.

Examining the originals, I see that they came out sort of 'blah' With a little tweaking of the original I produced what I think is pretty decent, definitely bluer .. I post the unedited middle exposure and the edited one (in that order). All I did was sharpen the unedited one.

As for me, I think the HDR is definitely different looking. Maybe it's me, but it almost gets me dizzy looking at it .. why, I am not sure. It's relatively sharp given the situation (blowing wind, moving clouds, unstable ground) but it also seems to be somewhat fuzzy/surreal looking. Maybe someone slipped some drugs into my water?

Ryan, thanks, but what tilt? Hard to really say at this place

Armando, I got real lucky! I've been to White Sands many times and have never caught clouds like this. I was hoping they would hold on the drive up from El Paso - they did.

Yetishot, I think it's both clouds and perhaps a bit of sun glare, but mostly clouds. I go to great pains to block sun flare but it's tough: I have one shot that I love but you can see a dark object on the far side where my hand is just visible (ahhhhh...)

Thks everyone else too, for your feedback.

G

[daq7]

I read you comment just now about HDR. Honestly it never occured to me that this was and HDR. It has huge dynamic range, so I guess I should have realized it. But still I guess it does seem like it might fit with a single exposure if chosen well. But whatever. It is very cool however it is done.

[Frog]

The hdr seems better to me. Not as much contrast which is good in this case.
More even light and I think better detail

[janicee]

great!

nature is one thing I like shooting, because of something like this
where did you shot it?

[BlueRob]

That is a fine looking HDR GB! Just the way I like ´em! you can see the boost but keeping the natural look at the same time....I honestly hate those HDR that aim for a cartoon world.

You did a damm fine job on this one :thumsbup:

[DLB1973]

Wow, the HDR version is spectacular. Thanks!

[GB1]

Thanks all. You're too kind. I thought this one would draw very mixed reactions (50/50 or so). Maybe very large, printed out, would look neat?

This is White Sands, New Mexico, near Alamogordo and not far from El Paso Texas and Las Cruces, NM. Largest gypsum sand deposit in the world, or so the story goes.

GB

[Frog]

I can see it big enough to fill my 19 inch screen without much distortion using a program I forgot I had until recently. Picture viewer exec. I keep getting pop ups to buy something better but haven't had to.
This to let you know that it looks very good BIG

[shootme]

OK, I didn't read all the comments above and guess I'm way to late to add but my 2 cents. The first shot on the top is just great in HDR, I'd like to see the horizon levelled, (based on the distant mountain range) and the light part of the clouds top left a bit darker for me it distracts. Else great shot.