The Landing, a photo from British Columbia, Western

Photographer's Note

I know most photographers here on TE are not in favor of HDR. And i can understand why, as people believe it does not represent the true photograph - i actually think the opposite - HDR can show us the true scene in most cases.

I will post a WS photo to show one of the actual photo's from this scene, and you'll see how HDR can be so effective in bringing out the shadows and highlights in one scene.

The only way i could have came up with any photo here was using HDR, or perhaps Lightroom. Here, the light was SO bright coming through the Large window, and the rest of the scene was SO dark.

As for the scene itself, this was taken from The Landing, a building in Gastown. I wanted to show you a new POV for the Colored Sails - can you see them? They are a bit off into the distance through the window, but they're there. My plan was to photograph this in the sunset lighting with the sails in Color! But the Concierge working the Front Door of the building would only allow me 15 min to photograph my scene, then I had to leave! Argh!! My plans were ruined!

The large window is beautiful, it caught my attention right away, and the Piano is quietly sitting there covered in a brown drape just begging to be played.

Hope you enjoy it.
Cheers
Craig
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this one is obvious, but for John (y)

PecoBud, Sonata11, Graal, CLODO, timecapturer, kennyblack, lregoli, worldcitizen, Hansaphotos, npecanhuk, Budapestman, ChrisJ, SnapRJW, Didi, RhodieIke, patdeph, krzychu30, MLINES, tatadalou has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

SWEETFREEDOM (18417) 2012-05-04 9:42

Hi Craig,
an interesting hdr shot, good compo excellent colors.
regards
Alessandro

jjcordier (62344) 2012-05-04 10:38

Craig
Voilà effectivement un cas où le traitement HDR s'avère très efficace et me semble très intéressant, mais ce n'est pas toujours le cas quand l'effet est trop poussé.Très bonne réalisation permettant de voir aussi bien intérieur qu'extérieur. Belle démonstration!
Amicalement
JJ

chrisvek (5483) 2012-05-04 12:19

Hello Craig

Very nice shoot with great composition and very nice background.Very nice figure of this classic and amazing musical instrument.Well done!

Have a great weekend
Chris

PecoBud (3778) 2012-05-04 12:42

I am teaching myself Photoshop and working with HDR. I have to admit that I wasn't a fan of HDR, but when used and presented like this, there are so many benefits and like you said, it is the true photo. My question if you don't mind, is, that when I merge three photos over to HDR and come up with one good photo, the size is abnormally large, going from 5mb to 90mb. Is there a way to compress the photo without losing the clarity or size? Or is it more simple then that, like I'm missing a step or doing something wrong?

Anyway, I love this photo and what you have accomplished here. It is stunning in its clarity and perfect with the light management. Such a beautiful setting to take a photo and your POV has enhanced this photo, just as much as Photoshop has. Excellent job Craig, I am impressed!!

TFS.....Your Friend from California........Buddy

Sonata11 (28341) 2012-05-04 23:13

Hello Craig,
Wow!!! what a great captured of this beautiful room from fantastic POV with great management of splendid colors, sharpness, perfect clarity, great DOF too. An amazing tranquality and impeccable atmosphere in this photo. This is very nice view we can see though the window. Wonderfully executed. Thanks for sharing.
All the best and have a wonderful WE,
Barbara

emka (58152) 2012-05-04 23:29

Hi Craig, us usual, it depends how you use the tool. Sometimes it gives wonderful results, enhancing the scene, but often it is exaggerated when you see at once - this is HDR. In the last case I do not like it. Excellent composition, with the big window just in the right place, nice view behind it, and the piano giving a bit of nostalgia.

WArm regards

MAlgo

Graal (88908) 2012-05-05 1:23

Hi Craig,
pp with the HDR gave fine result. Nice interior, good presentation. Image well composed. Good photowork.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

CLODO (24726) 2012-05-05 1:35

Hi Craig

I appreciate your demonstration and the fact that, if you don't tell us that it's a HDR, we won't think of it. HDR shots with some noticeable artefacts are horrible. The usefullness of this technique is to allow to print dark and bright hues that can't be taken on only one picture, and mix 2 or more picture with different settings in order to get what you've seen but cannot record in one shot.
regards
CLODO

timecapturer (30334) 2012-05-05 3:51

Hi Craig
I agree totally with you on this one, HDR done like this is effective, distinctive and quite beautiful. An exquisite example of control and of course the eyes to see how this tool can ehance an images appeal. Top marks Craig, I love this!

Have a great weekend - best wishes Brian.

kennyblack (4139) 2012-05-05 5:05

Hello Craig
Beautiful POV and superb, full of wonderful details, colors, lights and shadows with the piano in the foreground. Photos to be admired. You did a great job and thanks for sharing. The best regard's, have a nice day .... Marino

Miguel82 (7820) 2012-05-05 5:55

Hello Craig
A superb decoration with this piano
Excellent sharpness and fine colors
regards

lregoli (423) 2012-05-05 6:46

Hi Craig,

Actually I think the processing is perfect. I think that most people don't like HDR either because most of the HDR photos out there are just over-processed, or just because it seems to be kind of "trendy" not to like it. Still, a scene as the one you captured here would be just impossible without some processing like HDR, or just the merging of two images using layers in PS. So, I think you made a good choice while processing this one. Well done!

Regards,
Leonardo

worldcitizen (4858) 2012-05-05 12:21

Hello Craig,

I like the feeling of this space. There is an airy and light warmth that comes out beautifully because of your HDR treatment. It was interesting for me to see the two workshop photos. My shots usually look like the bright one with normal exposure. I also like the softness in this photo.

BTW, don't feel obligated to write a return critique. I know you usually do. It's certainly nice, but you don't have to if you don't feel like it. :-)

jga (1062) 2012-05-05 21:24

Hi Craig,

Nice HDR work.
I also think HDR can be a wobderful tecnique if used properly.
I am just experimenting this technique these days, hoping to get good results.
TFS
Julien

dkmurphys (36819) 2012-05-05 22:17

Hi Craig,
This is great! A splendid place with a superb view. Well seen, enjoy a fine day.

Daniel

Hansaphotos (5433) 2012-05-06 2:17

Hello Craig

A great indoor shot. An interesting and informative WS. The result here is great and brings out spendid details. Fine balance between the grand piano and the architectural details. Wonderful:) TFS. Enjoy your Sunday.

Best regards, Erling

jhm (122458) 2012-05-06 4:12

Hello Craig,

Indeed I am no favor of HDR, but sometimes have to once use a little bit more colors is good for the picture, never exaggerate.
This is a very difficult picture through it back light of the big window.
I like these lovely interior picture.
Composition and presentation are nice.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice Sunday,
John

npecanhuk (53909) 2012-05-06 4:58

Hi Craig!
Wonderful interior details!
Beautiful picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, chosen pov, vertical format, slim black borders and composition really pleased me!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

sacimar (25957) 2012-05-06 5:21

Hello Craig,

I agree with you about HDR, I think in some images can be a useful tool to get a better light balance and improve the picture quality. You did very well showing these ones, I like it,

Best regards,

Sergio

Royaldevon (17791) 2012-05-06 11:01

Hello Craig,

I think that, as with most tools, if used well, HDR is advantageous, but equally, if miss used, creates colours that are unnatural. The people who are not in favour of HDR have probably been exposed to the latter.
This is a fine composition, with the elements well placed. I like how the scene through the window helps to draw the viewer right through the shot.
The textural details of the polished floor are a real asset.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

tyro (13101) 2012-05-06 14:44

Hi Craig,

Thank you for that - but this time I would have guessed right!

I think this kind of picture is the sort for which I would really like to try HDR - like in a dark church with bright light coming in through stained glass windows where you always seem to have blown-out details in the windows.

HDR has worked magnificently here - we can see perfect detail outside through the window depsite the great difference in light levels inside and outside.

Wonderful details and sharpness, lovely colours and perfect exposure.

I presume, in a case like this, that you must have quite a big difference in your separate exposures - perhaps 3 or 4 stops difference rather than just one or two?

Brilliant!

Kind Regards,

John.

Silvio1953 (98183) 2012-05-07 1:23

Ciao Craig, great view of fantastic interior, splendid light, excellent clarity and wonderful perspective, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Budapestman (82620) 2012-05-07 2:03

Hi Craig,
a superb photo of this view with attractive POV, I like the atmosphere of the photo and the soft lights, great impression, Tfs! Have a nice week! Kellemes hetet kívánok!
György

mkamionka (24537) 2012-05-07 2:58

Hi Craig,
beautiful composition. Really interesting interior which you have captured with an interesting atmosphere here. The arched window looks very elegant and the piano, the plant, and the reflecting wooden flood well go with it. Interesting play of the shades.
Very well done!
M

ChrisJ (86876) 2012-05-07 4:07

Hi Craig,

Excellent graphism of he dark window frame against the lighter, bg sky. Good shadow detail & superb colour & saturation. The piano adds a good focal point. Nice sharpness & use of diffused & available light. Tfs!

yquem46 (32271) 2012-05-07 6:38

Hi Craig
I usually do not like HDR, not because as you say it does not represent the reality, but simply because it is usually handled with so little care and so much excess that it usually leads to images that look very artificial
On the contrary when handled with care and subtlety like here, it is much welcome since it allows to cope with extreme light situations, such as here the shade areas inside of the house, and the high lights out of the window in the sky
Bravo Craig, a nice example of what can be done with HDR
Patrick

SnapRJW (18752) 2012-05-07 6:49

Hello Craig - I am not a fan of HDR when it is used in a 'gimmicky' kind of way, and one often sees poor quality work being jazzed up with this technique. Here though I can see and understand the value of the technique, in a sense a digital version of the zone system perhaps? Or dodging and burning in the darkroom? I shall have to learn the technique, although I know the theory and have experimented a little. I have some landscape shots where the tonal range is just too broad to manage with one exposure and I wish that I had bracketed when I took them ... then I would have a good basis for an HDR. Oh well.

As to this shot, it looks very proficient to my eyes. I love the fact that you have brought the outside detail in exactly as our eyes would naturally adjust for the interior and exterior light conditions, it gives an immediacy to the composition and I feel as if I am standing in the room. Super well composed and managed shot. Best regards Rosemary

marcan44 (6223) 2012-05-07 15:25

Hi Craig,
I totally agree with you.
The HDR used without frills and especially to increase the dynamic range is more realistic.
In fact, the human eye can see better than the camera in the difference between shadows and lights.
The application of HDR shows almost exactly what the human eye sees.
Good and elegant shot!
Congratulations
Regards
Mario

Didi (48930) 2012-05-09 9:47

Hi Craig
Very good lights management good balance between oputside and inside exposure.
Very interesting frame quality.
Best regards

RhodieIke (9207) 2012-05-09 10:09

Hi Craig, Love this scene with the grand Piano and window view, the HDR, works wonders here, Super management, Wonderful, Trust you are keeping well, Cheers Iain.

serp2000 (29206) 2012-05-09 11:09

Great!!! My compliments, Craig, outstanding composition with wonderful FG and an interesting BG!!! I really like this photo, just one of the best photos that I've seen today.
Serghei

Fis2 (73114) 2012-05-09 12:27

Witaj Craig!
Interesting interior,
Curious window and view.
Good frame and colors.
Well done.
Best regards
Krzysztof

patdeph (35738) 2012-05-10 12:31

helllo Craig
I totally agree with your note, HDR can help to show the reality, at the condition that the picture seems natural, like here. But generally, HDR gives a unreal aspect,like a kind of painting.
Here, you have done this HDR perfectly, and it's impossible to see it. And the room with the piano and the large window is superb.Congratulations, this is magnificent.
Regards
Pascale

krzychu30 (8879) 2012-05-11 3:55

Hello Craig,
perfect use of HDR technique.It´s not "overdone",it looks simply beautiful,so soft.We can enjoy here every detail you were able to bring out.Both in the FG as well as in the BG.And when it comes to the subject of your picture.I really like this scene.You had a fantastic concept for this shot.
Best Regards
Krzysztof

Angshu (51174) 2012-05-13 21:14

Hello Craig
HDR, when done well & judiciously provides excellent results. When I saw the two WS posts, it is easy to understand the work which has gone in & yet the result is close to what you might have seen with your eyes. The subtle light & the subtle shade it created comes out beautifully.
Impressive work...congratulations!
With Regards
Angshu

jmdias (45804) 2012-05-24 18:30

craig

the piano looks like an alive animal or personage here. very nice framing with the big window and perfect details and framing. a compo very beautiful and well done.

hugs

jorge

tatadalou (3273) 2012-06-05 12:44

Hi Craig,
I dislike HDR pictures when they look exaggeratedly unreal. It is not the case in your picture and I totally approve your choice. I like the angle of the shot, I find it gives movement to this static scene.
Regards,
Delphine

thebest (3370) 2012-09-11 16:37

Hi Craig,

Excellent POV I love the fact that you have the old Piano surrounded by the modern world - the arched window is wonderful - very nice image well done!

Kind regards,
Dawn.