This is a shot of Norbreck Castle Hotel on Blackpool's North Shore. It's an HDR, constructed from three originals – one and two-thirds stops apart – tone-mapped using Photomatix Pro.
I've included the EXIF data for the normally exposed shot below:
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
1.21pm on 4/12/07
Canon 1Ds Mark II
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
200mm
f/5.6
1/50
aperture priority
+2/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
Photomatix Pro
2x1
comment byJustin at 06:59 PM (GMT) on 4 December, 2007
I really enjoy that this is HDR, but that it doesn't instantly scream HDR when I look at it. Love the muted colors too. Great work!
comment bydjn1 at 07:15 PM (GMT) on 4 December, 2007
Justin: some of the HDR shots I've put up do have that typical HDR look, but I prefer to use it more subtly now – to add local contrast to what would otherwise have been a dull, flat shot.
comment by Si Goodchild at 07:27 PM (GMT) on 4 December, 2007
Dave, would have to agree with Justin. Indeed, at only 1/3 and 2/3 stops apart it I have to ask why bother taking 3 photos as surely there would have been enough dynamic range in just one RAW exposure to carry out the tone mapping. It's good to see that the Norbeck Castle looks as bleak as I remember it!
comment bydjn1 at 07:37 PM (GMT) on 4 December, 2007
Si: sorry, I didn't put it very clearly. There was 1 and 2/3 stops between each exposure; i.e. 1/3 stop short of two stops.
comment by Si Goodchild at 07:58 PM (GMT) on 4 December, 2007
Aaaahhh... right. Gotcha. Still looks bleak.
comment bydjn1 at 08:01 PM (GMT) on 4 December, 2007
Si: it was bleak ... and windy, and wet. I enjoyed the walk though.
comment byTim at 08:26 PM (GMT) on 4 December, 2007
Phew. For a moment there I though you were going to make Norbreck Castle look attractive. It really is an awful place, inside and out. Keep up the good work, etc. I love these HDRs.
comment byjelb at 12:01 AM (GMT) on 5 December, 2007
comment by jkm at 12:13 AM (GMT) on 5 December, 2007
When I first looked at this photograph the fences jumped out at me and I thought 'prison', so I thought the mood of this picture was nicely captured. Then I read your description of the shot and I laughed out loud. Glad you enjoyed the walk ;-)
comment byvasa at 12:35 AM (GMT) on 5 December, 2007
Tone mapping is awesome....maintaining the natural feel....i actually like the fact that the sky is without any clouds...i dont think clouds in the background would go well with the foreground here.....
comment bydjam at 12:56 AM (GMT) on 5 December, 2007
I like the composition in 3 parts and the old's tone of this picture :)
comment byNavin Harish at 05:13 AM (GMT) on 5 December, 2007
Nice shot and nice building. The building looks quite modern and I think it is just made to look like a castle. Or is it a hotel in a real castel?
comment bydjn1 at 10:14 AM (GMT) on 5 December, 2007
Tim: I did my best :-)
Jutta: though it looks like a fence it's actually the posts for the electricity cables for the trams.
Navin: it is a modern building.
comment by kate at 12:05 PM (GMT) on 5 December, 2007
Its awesome
comment bydjn1 at 07:08 PM (GMT) on 5 December, 2007
This is a shot of Norbreck Castle Hotel on Blackpool's North Shore. It's an HDR, constructed from three originals – one and two-thirds stops apart – tone-mapped using Photomatix Pro.
I've included the EXIF data for the normally exposed shot below:
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 1Ds Mark II
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
200mm
f/5.6
1/50
aperture priority
+2/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
Photomatix Pro
2x1
I really enjoy that this is HDR, but that it doesn't instantly scream HDR when I look at it. Love the muted colors too. Great work!
Justin: some of the HDR shots I've put up do have that typical HDR look, but I prefer to use it more subtly now – to add local contrast to what would otherwise have been a dull, flat shot.
Dave, would have to agree with Justin. Indeed, at only 1/3 and 2/3 stops apart it I have to ask why bother taking 3 photos as surely there would have been enough dynamic range in just one RAW exposure to carry out the tone mapping. It's good to see that the Norbeck Castle looks as bleak as I remember it!
Si: sorry, I didn't put it very clearly. There was 1 and 2/3 stops between each exposure; i.e. 1/3 stop short of two stops.
Aaaahhh... right. Gotcha. Still looks bleak.
Si: it was bleak ... and windy, and wet. I enjoyed the walk though.
Phew. For a moment there I though you were going to make Norbreck Castle look attractive. It really is an awful place, inside and out. Keep up the good work, etc. I love these HDRs.
Bonjour,
Nice muted colors...Beautiful exposure..Bravo!
When I first looked at this photograph the fences jumped out at me and I thought 'prison', so I thought the mood of this picture was nicely captured. Then I read your description of the shot and I laughed out loud. Glad you enjoyed the walk ;-)
Tone mapping is awesome....maintaining the natural feel....i actually like the fact that the sky is without any clouds...i dont think clouds in the background would go well with the foreground here.....
I like the composition in 3 parts and the old's tone of this picture :)
Nice shot and nice building. The building looks quite modern and I think it is just made to look like a castle. Or is it a hotel in a real castel?
Tim: I did my best :-)
Jutta: though it looks like a fence it's actually the posts for the electricity cables for the trams.
Navin: it is a modern building.
Its awesome
Thanks all :-)