I like your HDR shots. How many wrecks are they and where abouts in Fleetwood are they?

What do you use to process you HDR's. Photoshop CS2 or other software? I like this, but really liked yesterday's shot.

I prefer this to yesterdays image. Thee seems to be a slight bit more colour which makes the image more pleasing. For me, not overly competent with my use of photoshp, no, don't find it therapeutic. I have little time and it feels for me like a snag between shooting the image and posting it.

My favourite point in photography is being out there, engaging with my environment and trying my best to capture it. Photoshop is frustrating as there seems to be no end to its boundaries. A year I have partaken in the photoblog world and even now I look back at the post processed images of as little as a few months ago and they look really off, in so many ways.

I really like this, even though the object doesn't look "all that much" I think it really is.

this series really makes me want to find a shipwreck! anyone know of one near Brooklyn, NY? This one is cool but not my favorite- the first few of the series from a few months back were much starker in their lighting and coloring. This one in particular lacks a focal point for me.

PS- i just noticed the bike- funny.

You have been exploring! And on your bike. Not so sure about this one Dave. I agree about Photoshop to a degree. But I find it too tempting to just keep on wandering through all the possibilities and usually end up getting lost. Much prefer to set out with a clear objective in mind.

Mark: there are about six wrecks, and some bits, behind the fish docks on the banks of the river.

kurt: I use Photomatix to tonemap the originals and CS2 for further post-processing.

mooch: if you're looking back at work you produced a while ago and not liking it in comparison to your more recent stuff I'd say that indicates that you're making progress.

Neil: no, the lighting wasn't ideal, and yes, there isn't as clear a focal point in this image. I still like it though ;-)

Alistair: often, I do have a clear objective in mind, but sometimes, this one for example, the objective emerges as you go along.

Nice post-processing, but for my tastes, is a tad over done. In fact I think it would look much better as a grayscale image, with much more character and texture. And speaking of texture, I'd think there'd be a wealth of great abstracts in that hulk to be mined with your 105 macro.

Great work again Dave - for some reason though (and it's something we have discussed) there seems to be a lack of sharpness which I'm sure is a lens issue as opposed to a post processing issue.

What are your thoughts on this ? It happens in my images a lot, even though I am confident I got focus spot on. Of course it might just be my take on what I consider to be suitable sharpness.

Also Dave, I think John above makes a good point. I think it's time to get in close and develop a small project based around macro shots. You've got to do it before this area gets regenerated.

But as always - a good piece of considered photography.

John: I did try a B&W version, but didn't like it as much as this version.

John W: the original is a bit soft, but, in this case, I think it's to do with the original images used for the HDR not being correctly aligned. They're as close as they're going to get, but I think that they're a fraction out in this one. Also, I could have sharpened this one a bit more thoroughly but I'd rather an image looked a bit soft rather than over-sharpened. This is probably just a question of personal taste, but I really don't like images with sharpening artefacts.

And yes, a series of macro shots would probably work well.

There does seem to be a lack of sharpness but I think it stems from the fact that everything is sharp. The DOF covers the entire scene so there is nothing for the sharp areas to contrast against, if that makes sense.

Or it could just be what Dave said. Whatever :)

Jamey: yep, that sounds plausible too.

I've had some frustrations with using HDR on multiple exposures, mainly due to the slight misalignment issues that you mention. In my own experience today's image looks like the kind of effect I've had from time to time.
When it works though the results are absolutely perfect for the kind of interior/exterior views I need to illustrate house interiors. On the whole I'm a complete convert to the technique, as long as it's used with care, and I find that Photomatix used on a single exposure via the tone-mapping plug-in for CS2 really can lift a low contrast scene.

David...

What do you recommend? I need to digitize my slides...yes its an archiving ? So...I have a lot and I am torn between buying a high ppi flat bed scanner & a dedicated 35mm scanner like a PLUSTEK OPTICFILM 7200...which scans at 7200 ppi ...but since its not a flat bed it can't scan prints. I really need the best choice since I plan do be doing a lot of archiving in the future...for friends and family or customers who will more than likely want me to restore their vintage prints...! What do you recommend? I really appreciate your opinion.

I don't think this one's overprocessed at all. Actually, I really like the PP work. And the HDR works wonderfully with these types of photos.

Dave...

One more thing whats a High Dynamic Range image? Is that when you layer a series of photos in photoshop & then flatten them into one? I like the richness of the colors although some seem poppy...its soft focus right? Sorry too many ?'s

I like it :-)

Thanks Dave: Good explanation of the sharpness issue, and like you I dislike oversharpening artefacts. Get the Macro out soon .

djn1: Yes, I agree, doesn't make it any less frustrating though. My mother is a watercolour artist and she feels the same. It is a good thing, progress but it makes most of the work you once cherished seem obsolete. I cringe when people say "Oh, that is lovely" and I am thinking "Yeah, except for the blown sky, soft focus and over processed tones!" Makes me feel embarrassed like I'm a fraud.

In my extremely humble opinion Dave, I think you've already got teh best out of this kind of shot of these wrecks. I might have found this good if I hadn't seen so many of the wrecks already, and for me this doesn't add anything to that collection. For me you got the best out of these wrecks in this post:http://www.chromasia.com/iblog/archives/0608191939.php,
but sure whatever floats your boat...or sinks your wreck.

As some people mentioned above, I'd like to see your take on some macro work case it's something that you haven't posted a lot of.

That should read "cause" and not "case" by the way :)

Thanks everyone.

Felipe: I'm sorry, but I don't have any experience of scanning negatives so can't really advise you. As for HDR's: this is a good explanation.

mooch: you're making progress and keeping ahead of your audience. What more could you ask? ;-)

Steve: that's my current favourite too, but I'm sure that there are at least a few more shots worth taking.

The tones in this shot are fantastic. I'm looking forward to view the rest of your pictures. Thanks.

I too enjoy the post processing phase. I am commenting before I see the previous image. This looks quite artistic for an HDR result. (I have seen some bad usage of HDR)

I like the bike on the left, it adds some scale to the image. Is it yours?

That is an awesome shot!

brilliant! i love this shot!