HDR Images - What program to use?

[Jamie1982]

Ok, so I went out the other day and got some rather nice pictures of the sun rising behind my local lighthouse. The pictures look really nice, but I was hoping to be able to create it into an HDR image.

I only took one image from each angle and the HDR effect is an afterthought so I did not do any bracketing, but I do have camera RAW and can easily adjust the exposure for several different ones.

Can anyone suggest to me a good program that I can do this in?

I have Photoshop CS5, but don't think you can do it in there (or if you can, I have no idea how to). lol

[paulsaz]

http://www.photowalkthrough.com/photowalkthrough/2010/4/30/pw123-photoshop-cs5-features-how-good-is-hdr-pro.html

Vid showing cs5 doing HDR from a single image amongst other things. Photomatix is the standard software used for this though, create 3 tiff's at -2,0,+2 and feed them into that.

[AndyWilson]

You can do it CS3, so you must be able to do it in CS5.

Personally I'd suggest using the Recycle Bin or Trash can, depending on your OS preference, for HDR images :)

[GarethH]

Photoshop CS5 has a new enhanced version, which I've yet to try.

I found the previous versions of photoshop were pretty limited. Photomatrix is the best.

[t00thless]

photomatix is the best for doing in, there is an option in Photoshop, just go to File, Automate, Merge to HDR, but i have never had any decent results with photoshop.

Just remember not to overdo it as everyone seems to when they first do HDR. The key is to make it NOT look like an HDR, but just subtle so that all the range is there :)

[Shoei]

These 2 images are HDR

http://forums.thedigitalfix.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=9072158&postcount=2376

http://forums.thedigitalfix.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=9070406&postcount=2369

7 shots, -2 to +2 then run through photomatix.

I dont like the overdone hdr, some looks comical in appearance

[driver8]

aah, good work, Shoei - so how did you create these ?

[Shoei]

aah, good work, Shoei - so how did you create these ?

Fairly easily.
The GF1 has a bracketing mode, mine is set to 7 shots, -2 to +2 as i mentioned.
Take the pic, then use photomatix to import the 7 shots and combine them.
Followed by tweaking in photomatix of the sliders and a final run through in LR to crop.
I just adjust things till i like the look. Not keen on the real over done HDR, just looking at grabbing as much detail and colour as possible.

[driver8]

I see - great work, and not obviously HDR'd at all.

[the ghost]

some use this http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/index.html