Apr 30, 2012

Before and After Monday

As I mentioned in the original post, this was my first cell phone HDR. It was taken with a Samsung Epic 4G Touch (8MP). I had to manually go through and change the exposure for each shot, but later I found an HDR app that will actually do it for you. Just click the screen to take a shot, and it takes 3 photos that I can use to make an HDR. I think this will come in handy for those places that I can't carry a big camera. The only drawback to using the cell phone is not being able to use a tripod, but that's one of the challenges I like. I've had several good chances to try it out, but I keep forgetting about it. Hopefully I'll get in the habit soon. They actually have apps that will take the 3 photos, and even convert it to an HDR in the phone. I have tried this and I don't like. One, you don't have many options as far as settings, and two, they just don't look good. Anyway, here's my after, and the 3 originals straight off the phone.

The After

The Befores



Once I downloaded these to my computer I processed them just like any other HDR photos. In Photoshop I just had to get rid of some of the noise. It was pretty bad in the sky. I then cropped the bottom just a little, and applied a very light vignette to everywhere except the top. Finally, I used Unsharp Mask only on the road to bring out some of the detail.

I thought it turned out ok considering it came from a cell phone, and it's my first one. It just goes to show that you don't need thousands of dollars in equipment. Just a cell phone, which most people have these days, and a $100 HDR program. (Photoshop helps too, but I could actually do 90% of the stuff I do on here with a free photo editing program that I used to have.)

7 comments:

  1. The drama of your finished image is just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
    Stay inspired!

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  2. That's amazing to see the before and after.

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  3. After seeing the other three, the final image is incredibly good.

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  4. I love seeing the before and after. Very cool!

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  5. Amazing results from a cellphone pic! Guess you learn something new every day.

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  6. Whenever I see your 'befores,' I'm so amazing at the 'after.' One day I will get a program and try this! Very cool!

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  7. Wonderful. I'm so glad you found my blog because that in turn is how I found yours. I'm really enjoying looking at your work. You've taken a lot of amazing photos and the processing you do makes them fabulously artistic!

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