Congratulations Morkel Erasmus
Quiver Tree Sunrise (HDR) - more natural look
Based on mixed opinions over my previous post of this composition (http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=42382), I decided to do a bit of research on making the HDR from Photomatix look more natural. I tried a manual exposure blend in CS3 as well but it just lacked colour and depth overall.
I created this version by running the 3 exposures (-3, -1, 2) through BOTH the 'Details Enhancer' and the 'Tone Compressor' algorithms of Photomatix, and then blending the 2 results in Photoshop to do away with the strong halo and compensate for strong saturation of the tone-compressor.
I still like the other one as an impact shot, and as a more photo art specimen, but I think this one has come closer to achieve the end-goal of HDR without looking that surrealistic. I couldn't extract the same colours from the sky, but will work some more on it.
Your thoughts will be highly appreciated...
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Morkel Erasmus
"Discernment doesn't involve knowing RIGHT from WRONG, it involves knowing RIGHT from ALMOST RIGHT..."