MY first try at HDR

[koticphoto]

both of these shots were shot in RAW at night. i used a single raw file in photomatix pro. and then just tone mapped each image. feedback please.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/...2be83cd5_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/...423157de_b.jpg

[starsong1966]

I love the first one.
The second one isn't as interesting.
I think the HDR images are incredible and I've started learning how to make them myself. I see that you just tone mapped but you should try to take several different exposures of one scene and the use HDR. It will blow you away!

[0lBaldy]

koticphoto, Welcome to RetouchPRO!

I would suggest a much longer exposure so the highlights are not blown out.

The very nature of High Dynamic Range images is to capture and record a greater dynamic range of luminance between light and dark areas of a scene than normal digital imaging techniques. With up to 96 bits per pixel, it can have millions of brightness levels instead of the more usual 256, so the intention of HDRI is to represent the wide range of intensity levels found in scenes ranging from the brightest to the darkest in the deep shadows so nothing should be blown out or blocked.
Even if just using one exposure there should be enough information recorded at both ends and middle of the spectrum to facilitate bringing out most of the full range of brightness levels.