Thanks very much Mike.

Anything else up your sleeve??!!

Peter

Jeff,
You only have yourself to blame, was you who started this HDR stuff, remember? 

I've had a quick go with a number of images and it works very well in the right circumstances.
It works for any high contrast image where exposure was for highlights and a good level of Fill is required - not just for back-lit cloudy skies.
See attached below for a simple example. Filled to give detail in the dark foliage  then HDR to bring back the detail in the water ripples & fountain.

Terry

When you get to my age one has to get up early, time is short and a lot to do

I have just taken a shot direct into sun through Poplar tree metered for sky.

5 minutes quick work with Ultimate.  The new HDR slider did a good job I think.


Camera created jpeg


Raw image Ultimated

Jeff g
 

Yes I do remember, I did not think it would have such a quick effect. Must congratulate Mike on such a simple (for us that is) additional feature.

Jeff

Jeff,

Wow, nice shot!  I've found that the ones that have the sun in the picture are the most difficult.  Most of those are so extreme that they actually need multiple exposures to do HDR well.  That sample is actually quite nice, although for something that extreme (with the sun itself in the photo), I might have opted the more difficult route of multiple exposures.  Our of curiosity, what camera?

One comment just from looking at the shot: be careful not go to too high with the HDR.  Some of the clouds near the horizon level might benefit from less HDR.  The HDR slider is designed so that if you go beyond about 20 on the slider, it does a different sort of DR compression: one that tends to smooth out the boundary between shadows and highlights.  That method takes care of any halos or sharp transitions.  If not used carefully, it can make some areas look pasty though if there's detail you want in that section of the curve.  I wonder if backing off on the HDR slider a little would bring back some of the clouds near the horizon.  That may brighten the brightest clouds a little but that's OK: you don't want those too dark anyway and you can often brighten them quite a bit without actually losing detail on them.

It's a delicate balance actually that takes a little getting used to.  I've been working on this for 2 weeks over many dozens of shots.  I'd welcome you emailing me that shot if you like.  I'd like to see what I can do with it.

Regards,
Mike

Hi Jeff,
Nothing arrived here. It's 5:30 am at my house EDT right now.

I think you said it was a new or different camera. Were the Raws too large to email?

Fred

Jeff,

Thanks for sending the image.  Looks like you did a great job.  I can't improve on it much.  Most of what I did was a matter of taste.  Here's your rendition (repeated from above) and then mine:




Comments welcome of course.

Mike