Warning: Additional Tone Mapping Could Add Drama and Improve Your HDR Images

Have you been experimenting with HDRsofts’ Photomatix and having fun with HDR? I have been browsing Flickr Galleries more and more these days and I strongly notice that HDR images are the ones JUMPING out at me. Sometimes it feels as if I am wearing 3d glasses. I know that there are still a lot of people and photographers out there that are not fond of it; however, I believe they will come around.  Maybe once it’s done more in camera.  I don’t know but seeing what others are achieving with HDR makes me excited with potential.   The point of this article is to show you a step in your HDR processing that may add drama and improve some of your HDR images.
I used the technique you’ll read about in this article to create this image below.  It’s one of my favorite images and, in my opinion, really adds to the drama of the scene.  The building was set fire and later demolished.  Merging the images into an HDR image really helped out a lot but the dramatic improvement came from the steps I’m going over.

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but have you tried to push your results a little further? Exploring HDR software to try something different and push the envelope even further with your Tone Mapping.

Tonemapping doesn’t have to stop after one run! With Photomatix you can click “Tone Mapping” again and again if you want after each processing.
Why would you do this? I have a few ideas:

• You’re wanting something you may not be inclined to do right away
• You want to experiment with your photography
• You want to add more grunge! It’s awesome
• You were impressed with the image, yet felt something seemed to be lacking.
• You wonder what an extra tone Map process would do but think it’s not possible
• Simple curiosity! You never know what might come of it when you explore curiosity
• More contrast!  Your image still feels flat
• You are looking for results that are more surreal and fantasy
• HYPER-REAL! You desire a bit more of an illustrative feel
• Need a more dramatic scene to accurately portray the feeling or situation

These are reasons I would come up with that I might want to see what happens if I try and process an already tonemapped HDR.  You might even stumble upon multiple tone mapping because you forgot if you already ran it through the tone mapping process or not.

I want to show the transition from one image in the 5 bracketed photos into the final image.
My intention is to show how the scene can become a more dramatic and add more grunge or feeling to the message you are trying to get across to your viewer.
I wanted to give a feeling of sadness and hopefulness in a buildings time of need. The building was under debate for demolition or  be saved as a historic building in my city of London, Ontario.  It was set fire, I am not 100% sure of the story so I will avoid the game of telephone here, and this confirmed Demolition.  I had to get out the day before it was set for demo.  I believe my processing, the use of HDR and tonemapping, added to the story and feel for the soul of the building.

Let me elaborate on the 3 images.

Photograph 1 in the HDR Transition

This is one of the Raw Photos from the series of 5 brackets I shot handheld as the sun was leaving us.  It is to show you that while the image is fine to me overall, I didn’t think it gave the overall situation the true feel it should.  As I was around the building, I felt more emotion that what was being caputred from a single shot.  I also felt different around it because of the burnt and broken areas of the building. It felt way more grungy and important at the time I was there because I knew it was going to be gone the next day. This is where HDR and Tone Mapping will transition it into photograph 2.

Photograph 2 in the HDR Transition

This is the image after I ran it through Photomatix and applied tonemapping settings.  The settings are not anything crazy, but they seemed to work for my eyes. I wanted to show a shot of them for you incase you were interested. They are straight from Photomatix and below.

Photograph 3 in the HDR Transition

This was my final image! It’s also included at the bottom. I felt that after the first tonemapping of the HDR, I wasn’t satisfied and the image needed more punch.  I experimented to see what another run through the tonemapping would do for me.  I didn’t even have to change too much with the settings.  Sometimes you’ll have to lower the saturation a bit or the strength and Microcontrast.  This time, I liked what it did and I increased the microcontrast, and temperature a little.  It added the grunge and warmth that I felt needed to get this feeling across.    The image is not the sharpest due to being handheld, but I still love it.  The yellow tape really adds to everything about the fire and demo. It really feels like I recall.  It is a bit fantasy and surreal, but it adds the drama of the story I saw in my mind.

Encourage HDR Creativity

I fully encourage you to take your creativity to the next level and bring added life to your urban exploration and photography.   You’ll know when the results are right to you because you’ll feel good inside, almost like you’re on the right track!  Don’t worry about what others will think.  People will love it and hate it.  If you love it, that’s all that matters and you’ve explored your creativity.  Now sharing it with the world is an added bonus.  Maybe you want to try a 3rd or 4th pass though Photomatix? I don’t know.  But I encourage experimentation and without it, we might know know the possibilities out there for us.