Moraine Lake Reprocess

A reprocess of Moraine Lake. The image was degrunged, perspective was corrected and color corrected. The blue of the reprocessed image is accurate.

sorry, but this image does not demonstrate HDR capability, I don't see any difference between the 2 images. It seems to me better that without process that shows more detail and greater reflections in the water

@pandarino HDR imagery is high dynamic range imagery, meaning that the tonal range is expanded to what the eye can see. At this time camera sensors don’t exist that can capture the highest highlights and the deepest shadows and demonstrate all the detail that exists at either end of the range at the same time with a high degree of accuracy. Hence HDR techniques that capture a series of bracketed images that are compressed into a single image and those tones extracted to either give an accurate interpretation of what the photographer sees or some artistic interpretation of his expression (ie grunge effect etc). The purpose of this contest was to reprocess a previous image ( in this case the non HDR image ( as defined in the rules of the contest ) that is on page 13 in my gallery. The first image certainly does show greater detail and reflections but was more of a grunge effect that resulted from poor technique on my part and really grossly inaccurate. The second image more accurately reflected what my eye actually saw. I believe I captured all the detail in the sky and all the visible detail that my eye could see in the darker areas with a good deal of accuracy and balance which was really the intent of the HDR technique. Other changes that were made were mostly correcting perspective. I would encourage you to Google Moraine Lake and view the many images that are there. Most are just point and shoot images but will demonstrate the intense blues that exist. The water really does have a creamy effect that is produced by rock dust suspended in the water from the grinding of the glaciers as they slowly moved over the rock and melted producing the lake. The overall blue tone of the image was because in the early morning the only light to reach the shadow areas was reflected from the sky. This is similar to the blue hour in the early evening after the sun sets. Visit other imagery that you can find on line and revisit these two images. In my opinion the first is actually horrible as I don’t think the grunge effect is appropriate in landscape photography. I think the second actually accomplished the intent of the HDR technique. If you do view on line images you will also note that the water color can move from blue to an emerald color. Both are accurate. As the sun rises and the sky warms in color or the sun directly hits the water yellow is added. Yellow and blue make green ( or emerald in this case ). Some of my other images of that day have both color tones as the sun gradually hit the lake directly. I guess one needs to be there to really see it. The Canadian Rockies are truly beautiful and worth the trip.

I suppose you would have had to show the Original Zero (0) Exposure for Leo to see the HDR effects in BOTH image. His eyes are comparing your first HDR post to the reprocessed here. Which in fact shows only maybe a bit sharper in the reprocessed and the image in a different tone of White balance overall. I do however see a very different cloud layer height between the Original Post and the Reprocessed plus a bit less reflections in as well. I prefer water color and sharpness of the reprocessed to the Original post. Best of luck in the contest.

I agree with Steve , the more "natural" HDR processing used here truly suits better IMHO this beautiful landscape scene . The colder blue tones are truer to reality , as well as the green of the trees . Definitely a much superior reprocess for me .

@digicam I had reprocessed the bluer tone about a year ago and tweaked it a little more by cloning a few clouds over. I suppose for this comparison purpose I shouldn’t have. A little photochicanery lol. One thing I did do when I reprocessed it was decompress the tones a little. Sometimes I’ve noted that when we push that slider too much it flattens then image by reducing the overall contrast. It can lose some of the depth and drama sometimes. I’d like to go back there sometime in the winter.

The reprocessed image is way not so good as the first one I see a Lack of reflexions and contrast This picture is also too cold for me I just want to say that HDR is definitely not necessary here I don’t understand why People use this technique without examining the scene before

@Steve and marcstephaneblais: my idea of hdr (high dynamic range ...) makes me think less of colors and more of better readability in shadows and highlights. no problem.

I think Steve over-processes his pictures That is not necessary because the pictures are basically good HDR and Topaz make them. Mostly bad

@Steve... read carefully the topic of the competition ..... The subject Take any of the pictures you previously posted on HDRcreme and reprocess it! Please include the old processed images as "non HDR version" if you are a PLUS member. If you are not just post the link of the old image in the description or as a comment.

@pandarino You said: “better readability in shadows and highlights” that is the point!

@philta22 as far as I’m concerned this is almost a flawless HDR. The first was actually gross. To get every detail and reflection is always over the top and is akin to the first HDR’s that were common 10 years ago. I’ve done over 10,000 HDR’s and the goal is always to achieve balance. Now if this was a rusty car the sky is the limit. I find that HDR in landscapes should be subtle. As far as Topaz goes, I may use a cloud filter in topaz clarity in a layer, add a mask, then with soft brushes, highlight a few areas. This scene required HDR because it was sunrise and the shadows on a single image would have too much noise. As far as cold? It was. Probably about 40 degrees. Also the blue is the rock flour in the water in suspension that is reflecting the sky. the the color remains blue until the sun hits it and will then take an emerald hue. Google Moraine Lake. If you look at the morning shots you will see mostly blue water. However all of us have different tastes but this is as I see it.

@pandarino , Leo the description to post previously posted HDR image is to use the "non HDR version" box to post the Original HDR image for the purpose of the Contest only. Not to post a 0 EV of the image. Only by posting the Original HDR image into the "non HDR box can you compare the First from the Reprocessed. Hope you understand my explanation. Any other time the "non HDR box" is to be used for "0" EV image.

[comment deleted]

@digicam, yes i know

Well Steve you have sparked quite a discussion. I feel that your images are second to none on this site, you know just how far to push the processing. This reprocessed image is flawless and exceptionally well done. Good luck in the contest, just don't boot my engine 2645.

@kitfox I love your engine and hope to get up your way probably in August when they open stuff up. Thanks for the appreciation too!!

@pandarino Hi Leo, I get your point. go back through my galleries and I usually really push the HDR effect especially with rusty cars or urbex photography. The landscapes a try to hold back. I think I can overdo those too many times. Sometimes with HDR the colors can get out of hand. So many times I will pull them back

This is a flawless HDR image in my book , and considering the discussion it has sparked it definitely deserves to be awarded HDR of the day ;-)

Congrats on POTD.

Quite a discussion, I like both of them!

Congratulations on POTD Steve.

The new version is more natural but the shadow is too bright for me.

Wow! Discussions like in old times on HDR Creme. :) I like the reprocessed image just a bit more. I think it is close to natural perception and gives better 3D effect to me. I am just checking it on my tablet pc. It looks so beautiful. Nice shot and processing as ever, Steve. Congrats on POTD, HDR Guru. :)

Congratulations, Steve a very fine POTD.

reprocessed image way better