Glacier National Park, a photo from Montana, West

Photographer's Note

I am trying out HDR for the first time, any help and suggestions are more than welcome. This is an HDR merge of three bracketed shots. Taken in Glacier National Park, as the early rays hit the right cliff but not the ones to the left. There are actually two shorelines, they don't meet.

I have posted the original shot as WS for you to compare.

dareco, yogi32, goodwill, Dpbours, Wandering_Dan, gracious, hispic, Dyerco, JCG, feather, polpo56, paura, mvdisco, zeca, jafadabret, siolaw, ChrisJ, isabela_sor, stelli, bakes888, Tue, wishlist, stego, noborders has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

carmia (5482) 2008-07-28 8:11

A beautiful scenery, a picture full of light and color. good framing and edition. Greetings. Carme.

rgarrigus (0) 2008-07-28 8:23

Hi Shaeri,

Your composition is great and your chosen exposure settings have captured that wonderful glassy water brilliantly.

I have to be honest with you though, 'cause I respect you, and tell you that I personally am not a big fan of HDR like this. The two things that I find distracting are a rather "cartoony" color and the halos that develop around buildings or where sky meets land (as you can see between the mountains and sky). HDR can work but I think that it takes a very subtle hand. This is only one guy's opinion but I prefer combination of multiple exposures in post-processing for exposure latitude but only the subtlest of HDR if at all. I sure hope I haven't offended or discouraged you from more experimentation as that is not my intent.

Cheers!

Bob G.

dareco (17136) 2008-07-28 8:28

This is a gorgeous picture!! Superb colors and detail and an absolutely beautiful scene. A work of art! TFS and have a happy day!

brandstaetter (15915) 2008-07-28 8:28

Hi Shaeri,
it愀 impressive how this technique can avoid the contrasts which are to strong for the normal photo technology. Only thing that seems too artificial for me is the bright line between the mountains and the sky.
Compliments, Chris

RPoole5552 (1822) 2008-07-28 8:45

I agree with with Brandstaetter. With all due respect this is too much. It doesn't look real.

goodwill (4248) 2008-07-28 9:17

You are brave girl, Shaeri.
You clicked a beauty wiht a perfect horizon and a nice panorama.
Then you made experiments with HDR.
If you don't put the chemicals together how can you come to know the resultant, but you need to put the right amount of molecules.....and that takes time and persistent eforts.
The colours look unnatural, and the contours over exposed.........but for a student of photogaphy...this is acceptable.
In a day or two you can't creat magic but you have taken a bold step...........step of experiments.........and I am sure this will add variety to your skills, in the making of the shot and in the PP of the shot.

Photography is an art......not a science.

Cheers for the attempt..................but learn fast and post eye appealing shots in HDR.

Kind Regards,

Rajeev

Gustaw (21670) 2008-07-28 9:33

Hi, my friend!
It is very interesting and oryginal view about nature. I like your reflections in water. Very interesting and strong colours.
Marek

Dpbours (222) 2008-07-28 9:36

Hello Shaeri,

I like the effect of the HDR up to some extend. The only thing is the halo around the mountains that seems a bit plastic and the colours are a bit harsh, but the different toning left and right is very pleasant. Interesting to read that the shorelines do not meet.
I'm just wondering if you actually do need to use HDR for a composition in this light.

Greetings,
Dennis

Wandering_Dan (3449) 2008-07-28 9:37

Bi, Shaeri -

I'm afraid I have to agree with the others: It's a brave attempt, and the scene was worth an effort, but it didn't work this time. And unfortunately I don't know anything about HDR (yet), so I can't help. I think we'd like to see one of the original shots, perhaps with the incorrectly exposed part cropped out? The setting is certainly impressive enough that you might have something to show us.

Best,
Dan

berek (50518) 2008-07-28 10:24

Hi Shaeri,
its like a dream. I like vivid colours and reflections. great nature.
Have a nice weekend.
Burak

Barkan (187) 2008-07-28 11:27

Hello Shaeri,
Wonderful colours and reflection of nature in the water. Great management of light. Tfs.
Regards,
Barkan

tiempie (77) 2008-07-28 11:43

Hi Shaeri,

This scenery is very nice, but the colors are a little bit too much I think. I agree with Bob G. that if you take a close look you can see that some adjustments have been made. But anyway for a first HDR I think it's a very good result and I wish you a lot of success with the photo's that will be next!!

regards Timo

scalerman (26900) 2008-07-28 14:42

Shaeri: for your first experiments in HDR - you've gotten some amazing first results. Fine work. regards, c

zmey (7335) 2008-07-28 14:44

hello shaeri

the water reflection is absolutely gorgeous! but, as others pointed out, the halo around the mountain/sky edge is quite bothersome; same about the bottom of the slopes (by the treetops on the left). the color of the sky seems rather unnatural to me too. however, i stress again: those reflections... excellent! keep experimenting ;)

cheers,
kristaps

Clementi (52514) 2008-07-28 16:47

Ciao Shaeri,
very beautiful this experiment. a piece of advice in the blue hdr is a colour very difficult to be managed. he uses the brightness control to avoid the haloes.next time he will use less Micro-smoothing for a more real result
compliments for this one
Giorgio

leo61 (0) 2008-07-28 21:42

Hi Shaeri!
A good result for your first try,I like it.May be the colors(especially yellow) are too strong.I would like the original version,to compare.
Regards,Leo

nirvana73 (0) 2008-07-28 22:10

Hi Shaeri,
great atmophere
i like colors tones
nice composition and presentation
tfs
regards
Ozhan

gracious (20025) 2008-07-29 1:01

Hello Shaeri,
Very good effect on your first try on HDR!
very rich colouration with a awesome reflection!
many thanks for the sharing
best regards
Tony

hispic (9658) 2008-07-29 2:08

Hi Shaeri,
Beautiful landscape, the depiction of the right cliff and the swaying reflection is really amazing.
Regards, Hisashi

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-07-29 2:24

Ola Shaeri ,
Os reflexos ficaram magn璗icos gostei muito da montanha em v , s� foi pena o c徼 ter ficado um pouco forte com um azul falso :(,parab幯s!!!
Um abra蔞 Gon蓷lo

P.s - When I bought mine nikon D40X came with it a simple program the Picture project has a function the D-Lihting HS very good to clear the dark zones makes the same function of the HDR you can download fron the site Nikon.

npecanhuk (79329) 2008-07-29 3:54

Hi Shaeri!
I really like the picture, specially for the reflection: perfect!
But I also do agree with some of the others that have commented on it, about the sky and the "halo" between its blue and the edge of the mountains!
Anyways... no big harm done to the beauty that the eyes can see in this one!
TFS - Congratulations!
Greetings from Brazil,
Neyvan Pe蓷nhuk

Dyerco (10185) 2008-07-29 4:52

I've only tried this once and I didn't like the result much. I think there is some PP that still needs to be done here but I don't know what to tell you. Good for you for experimenting but then you are a scientist? Anyway keep trying. I have an article that I can try to email you but you probably have something like it already.

sayanwithsenice (758) 2008-07-29 8:10

Hi ,
The place was a exotica but i wish if you would have kept more originality .. You see the carves of rays along the lines of the mountains looks unnatural and sky too .. The contrast seems to be over done ...
just my point of view .. Keep posting, sayan

jmdias (99652) 2008-07-29 8:29

shaeri

a dramatic work, colors are very interesting. I liked the pov and the lines created by this marvelous landscape.

hugs

jorge

JCG (35153) 2008-07-29 11:53

Hi Shaeri,

A first HDR which gives an atmosphere quite particular to this mountainous landscape, I like much the limpidity and the clearness of this reflection. The bright colors are appreciable. I like also the photograph in WS, one would have needed just a little more clearness. Interesting work, thank you Shaeri.

With all my friendships, a very good evening and with soon after my family holidays in Brittany

Jean-Charles

bracasha75 (24591) 2008-07-29 13:22

Hi Shaeri
Wonderful image al\moust like paint colors
Great present
TFs
cheers,Braca

baclama (19176) 2008-07-29 13:24

hi,
very nice reflexion with wonderful colors
TFS
vero

feather (51130) 2008-07-29 13:52

The scene is beautiful but I don't think it was the perfect candidate for HDR treatment. You already know what the faults are here so there is no sense in repetition. HDR is something I never tried but from what I have read the best results are when there are big differences in the shadows and highlights. Night shots supposedly work well. The exposure of the original in the WS looks good and therefore not in need of HDR. I was just playing with your original for my own benefit to see what I could do with it. I thought I might as well post it and let you see. It's not perfect by any means nor as bright as your version, but have a look and see what you think.
Kath

[workshop] [compare] +

polpo56 (15146) 2008-07-29 15:08

My dear Shaeri,
you never do not end to surprise me... your first HDR is fantastic, there is a superb management of shadows and lights.
Great composition, with the double "V" for this amazing landscape. I'm waiting for your second...
Ciao
Ludo

sandpiper (6788) 2008-07-30 0:10

Hi Shaeri

I think its a great result. I don't find the colours cartoony as one critic put it. I cetainly think its gives more depth to the image than the orginal and the colours look good to my eye. Many of the critics have nevber tried HDR so I wouldn't take too much notice of their negative opinion. Perhaps the sky could have come out better, but I would not give. Keep practicing, HDR is an artform itself. Anyway, I think its a beaut scene and I think you did a good job.

Chris

dvlazar (6662) 2008-07-30 4:07

Good try with HDR - something I havent done - and i think the problem is in the sky. Otherwise its a very dynamic shot and really exciting. But the 1st thing I saw was the halo effect around the mountain.
Looks like there is potential, tho!
Dave

paura (25802) 2008-07-30 12:41

Shaeri,
A very beautiful landscape in this well composed photo. There are lots of vivid and interesting details. Well done.

Abra蔞

Paulo

trekks (14348) 2008-07-30 18:14

hi Shaeri

I am not against HDR but I am not a fan in that department. Some HDRs are done nicely to give a good effect. For your 1st attempt, I can only say you have done a good experiment but the natural beauty of the landscape (in the HDR process) is lost. Just my opinion.

That point aside, the composition is great, and the view is really very impressive for this lakeside.

tfs, bill

sacavem (18620) 2008-07-31 7:31

Ol� Shaeri,

Is a pretty postcard of this place.
Great place,good job,i like the reflexion here.

Well done�
Regards,
Filipe

mvdisco (17798) 2008-07-31 17:31

Bonsoir Shaeri,
Lovely composition on HDR. for the firt time, Excellent POV. and details, I love the reflection and the wanderful colors, Excellent done.
Michel

Angshu (56760) 2008-07-31 20:45

Dear Shaeri
HDR promises to produce great results, but I think the process is not that easy. I haven't tried it so far. I guess some good PP can also do wonders as I can see from Kath's WS. The colours, especially the yellow jumps out of the screen here, which I find attractive. I was asking Philip (testmaniac) about how to improve shots taken in low light (like my last Rishikesh post)& his answer was HDR. Seeing his pictures, I understand why. Coming to this picture, I do find the distinct halo disturbing. But this is your first attempt...keep it up & we can surely see some fine results soon
Best Wishes
Angshumanda

Angshu

zeca (19762) 2008-07-31 21:37

Hey Shaeri! Its not bad for your fist HDR! I just can see some little problems at the edge of the sky and the mountains. The water looks good! I've never tryed HDR so I can愒 help you. Its something I must learn as well..
Regards,
Zeca

jafadabret (56501) 2008-07-31 23:25

Shaeri bonjour.
Cette photo a de tr鋊 grandes qualit廥 mais l� je trouve que le HDR est trop pouss�, il aurait fallu arriver � un r廥ultat proche de WS de Kath. Ce qui me g鋝e le plus c'est le liser� bleu clair que fait le ciel au dessus des montagnes. La partie inf廨ieure (le reflet) est superbe.
Amicalement.
Jacques

siolaw (38294) 2008-07-31 23:41

Hi Shaeri,
The place it self is a majestic one! Then the treatment, even though the colors look somehow surreal, gave a pleasant result...
Greetings
Laurent

danyy (0) 2008-08-01 0:55

Bonjour Shaeri,
trs� tr鋊 fort retravaill嶪, mais quel charme fou et puis c'est bien et honn皻e d'avoir post� l'originale dans le WS. Un endroit magnifique et nul doute que l'oeil voudrait le voir de cette mani鋨e.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

marietom (34611) 2008-08-02 4:50

hello Shaeri,

Wonderful colors in these reflection ! Very nice picture.
Bonne soir嶪
Marie

ChrisJ (156719) 2008-08-04 1:41

Hi Shaeri

I may see this from Calgary in October depending on the weather. Maybe a bigger feather in the pp work? Wonderful color & reflections. Tfs!

isabela_sor (47748) 2008-08-04 7:33 [Comment]

Show Comment

stelli (3009) 2008-08-05 8:07

This is an amazing scene! Excellent reflections and wonderful colors! Thank you for sharing! Regards Stella

toto (0) 2008-08-07 0:44

Bonsoir,
belle photo de ces glaciers, de leurs reflets dans l' eau limpide de ce lac magnifique.
Je trouve que le HDR a bien fonctionn� et que ces couleurs sont vraiment magnifique et attire le regard.

Amiti廥 Thomas

bakes888 (18499) 2008-08-10 0:27

Hi Shaeri. You struck perfect conditions to capture this shot, wonderful light and reflections with a little ripple to add movement to the scene. The HDR has opened up the shadows and given this shot a painterly effect. Well captured and thanks for sharing.
Have a good week, Paul.

Tue (79470) 2008-08-11 2:11

Hi Shaeri,
What a gorgeous view over the lake with such beautiful colours and a great light, that also helps to create a dramatic effect in combination with the dark blue sky. The reflections are also beautiful and very nicely distorted. A breathtaking view, thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

wishlist (4133) 2008-08-11 7:12

Hi my friend, how are you and how are things?
I'm not a big fan of this tecnique which I used a couple of times, because everything looks too unreal and sometimes "fake". If it wasn't for the halo around the edge of the mountains it would look nice though, with the "digital effect" on the water and the great reflections.
Thanks for sharing it.
Regards,

Igor

stego (24132) 2008-08-14 20:22

Hi Shaeri,
The result is stunning, even if it shows signs of some excessive and unreal PP. However, in this case I find that the excess is acceptable as a sort of "artistic freedom".
While the light and saturated colours seem to be the thing that stand out the most at first sight, I think that most of the great attractiveness of image comes from the compo/POV, that takes excellent profit of the awesome beauty of landscape, enhanced by the reflection of the gently waving water. Maybe what I like less about it is the white on the base of the mountains on the left. The halo on the horizon don't bother me much.
As Kath shows with her WS, the subject doesn't really need HDR, but I still find that it is a very worthy experiment.
Regards, Jos�.

noborders (1010) 2008-08-25 2:54

The colours are splendid and magic that way, the only thing that disturb me a bit is the halo along the edges of the mountains... I'd like to learn HDR, although for persons it could have a surprising effect I guess... Feather's WS is more quiet and less interesting but still beautiful : please carry on, I like this kind of expreriment !
Best regards,
Cath.

itamarberman (137) 2009-05-31 1:10

Hi Shaeri,
This could be a beautiful shot but it is simply, in my humble opinion, way over-processed.

Maybe you could re-upload it in a more natural version?

DannyJ (292) 2009-09-08 12:16

I like the water, but the sky is just not real. I think nature could be taken at face value in such a beautiful area. But, as a first try at HDR, it's not bad at all! You have been quite well received, it just ain't my cup of tea! ;) Look forward to more shots in the future!

mikolaj_kawa (0) 2009-10-24 9:28

Hello Shaeri! Excellent landscape. Wonderful POV and capture. Perfect exposure. Superb colours. Ideal frame. Splendid effect. Well done!

johannita (385) 2009-10-27 7:54

Hello Shaeri,

congratulations for this photo. Amazing place
and excellent presentation. Reflections are just wonderful.

Regards,
johannita

guillaumejm (0) 2009-11-03 12:35

Hello shaeri
No!. Sorry result is not good (for me). Picture is well framed but what is not good is essentially thelimit between sky and mountains. Colours are over saturated but remains pleasant (even if not really natural). I'm convinced this picture could have been much much better with standard processing specially if you were starting from raw mode picture.
Was is technically good is the assembling of the 3 pictures : it shows you did'nt move (or have a pretty good hdr processing software :)).
What gives good result in hdr is to start from one opicture raw mode and then after simulate from it the delta exposure to generate the 3 pictures commonly used in hdr process. By doing this way you avoid moving!.
Warm regards
JMarc

jasimjawahir (1) 2010-01-19 21:02 [Comment]

Show Comment

photoray (13981) 2010-01-19 21:11

Hello Shaeri,

This art image is well composed with good depth of field and details. The low side lighting brings out the features and the beautiful mirror water image.

I personally am not a fan of HDR nor over color saturation if the purpose is to present nature as it is. I do enjoy artistic non nature art. As for the future, I can change my mind and will continue to be observant.

Thanks for sharing,
Ray