More realistic HDR shots. What do you think?

[DSutherland]

I just uploaded about 20 before and afters of some HDR photos I did for my previous employer. These were eventually used by Hilton, Hyatt, Fairmont, etc (whoever the client was)....
What do you guys think? I don't work for that company any more and I would like to try my own thing within this realm. Is this a suitable portfolio to seek out solo work or is there anything else you think I should include?....I have lots :P

Images can be viewed >here<

[pixeljar]

the images are awesome, did you take and stitch the photos together as well?

[DSutherland]

Originally Posted by pixeljar

the images are awesome, did you take and stitch the photos together as well?

Thanks allot, I certainly stitched them myself. Each image has anywhere between 3-7 bracketed spares (sometimes flashes were included but there were strict rules about usage of the flash), I would stitch them first and then process them in Photoshop...
Unfortunately I was strictly an "Image Technician" at the company I processed for so I wasn't on the road shooting the photos myself...although I would love to have had the opportunity to go some of the places the photographers I had worked with did.

[pixeljar]

Nice one! I tried taking HDR photos once but I did't have a tripod with me at the time so the photos didn't come up quite well, however, it's a very powerful technique worth
exploring more, just need to find a good spot and take my time with it.

[designer74]

great balance of color and light. love it!

One suggestion: Because there's so much going on in your images, having the before and after on top of each other is a bit distracting to the eyes (almost a kaleidoscope effect).
My suggestion is to have a rollover before and after gif image.
I can show you how to make if you're not already familiar with it.

Did I mention I love the color and contrast?

[_ManWithNoName_]

Nice work.

What's even more confusing as I thought I started this topic but don't remember. You see, I am another D Sutherland.

Spooky...

[madclark]

I agree with everyone's comments. Beautiful work! It really doesn't look like HDR, and that's a compliment. These are great examples of using the technique the right way, using it to expand the dynamic range rather than overprocessing for artistic effect.

Bravo!

[isaac_magana]

Whoever says HDR is stupid and horrible... Well, they haven't seen these photos
They are amazing. Real HDR! well, depends on what the photographer wants to achieve, sometimes I want something a little bit more cartonish or comic like.
The photos are so great. Nice work (:

[helvetes]

Great work!!! I usually shooting HDR for my job and tried so many software.....now I feel very good with LREnfuse.Are u agree with me? Do u use another software? dont tel me u use only CS5....I cant belive it,I never have this great result with Photoshop :-(
Again.....great pictures :-)

[DSutherland]

Thanks for the great feedback everyone, lets hope there's a market for retouching this stuff...real estate photographers don't put this in their budget.

Originally Posted by _ManWithNoName_

Nice work.

What's even more confusing as I thought I started this topic but don't remember. You see, I am another D Sutherland.

Spooky...

That is quite a coincidence, do people call you Sudsy as well?

Originally Posted by helvetes

Great work!!! I usually shooting HDR for my job and tried so many software.....now I feel very good with LREnfuse.Are u agree with me? Do u use another software? dont tel me u use only CS5....I cant belive it,I never have this great result with Photoshop :-(
Again.....great pictures :-)

Thanks for the nice comment.
To answer your question, this stuff was in fact made only in Photoshop (but stitched in PTGuiPRO). I tried almost every third party program out there but honestly couldn't find one that works to the results we needed. Just keep practicing with blending your layers and eventually you'll get it, nobody masters the processes in their first tries, it took all of my colleagues months to get it right. (I promised in a different thread that eventually I'll get around to making some videos to help, don't expect anything soon though)