This shot was taken at Tuscania during our tour at Southern Tuscany, Italy. This is a highly difficult scene to photograph due to the very contrasty lighting condition. However, it is amazing how the modern digital camera can do. This is the most Natural look of the scene, taken using my D700 then worked in Nikon Capture NX2 to lighten the shadow and darken the highlight.
This one is an HDR image using three different shots with three different exposures. The images were merged and tone mapped by Photomatix Pro. This is the most Natural looking imaging that I can get from the HDR. Actually for me, to get a natural looking image from the HDR is much more difficult than to create the more dramatic HDR image.
As I said that I was not too good at HDR and on how to use the Photomatix Pro. After seeing a partner in the photo tour on how he used the Photomatix Pro, I realize my program was very much outdated. After back to the US, I updated my program and it now consists of several presets that I can choose from as a starting point of manipulating the HDR image. This is the "default" setting that I worked a little bit more with Capture NX2 for contrast and saturation.
This one is from "Painterly" preset. It got this more Unnatural look, almost like a painting.
This one is from "B&W" preset. Either the Natural look or the Unnatural look, I like them all. Which one do you prefer?
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10 comments:
Gorgeous captures of a beautiful place, regardless! Always enjoy your photos and I do love Tuscany! Hope your week is going well!
Sylvia
whatever the angle and lighting is... this is just awesome.. so beautiful..
My ABC Wednesday here
all of them are lovely, but esp the 1st and last
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Just looks like magnificent paintings...
Impressive rendering of a stunning sight! Some of these photos look like paintings! Just beautiful...
HDR is notoriously difficult to get "right", if by right you mean a natural look. I have used it from time to time, but always come back to the original version. So also this time.
good results from your experiemnet. Looks like I am due for a new camera.
Hard to say which one I like best but I think the "Painterly" one makes a really interesting shot. Bravo for having such successful experiments.
I too like them all. Can one go wrong with a Tuscan scene?! I did go "ooooh" at the painterly one with its vibrant colors. I am impressed and inspired by your "experiments" with this lovely scene.
Thank you for always delighting our eyes!
Helen Mac, ABC Team
I love the second one - all bring different mood.
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