White House II
More HDR learning trials from the white house that I showed a few days ago, this time around back of the house. It was interesting for me to compare HDR on the brightly lit front and the shady back. I espeiclly like the shiny oil tank and delicate bright leaves in the first shot.
Once again, the tilt shift lens is complicating my life and the photographs. I could have done a lot better with the chimney shots in particular, if I had got everything in sync – all those knobs on the lens, and the ability to rotate the shift and tilt directions – too much of a 3D puzzle for my brain.
I am learning that one of the features of HDR processing is the ability to make things seem much grottier than they really are – more gritty and textured. Which I like, but which is a bit unfair to the owners of this place as the photo below (combined with the tilt shift focus) makes it look quite different than it really is out back. Even so, this is probably my favourite (can change from one minute to the next) shot of the white house – it would be complete for me if it had the texture of the cedar shingle roof as seen in the last photo.
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Canon 5Dii, Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L, ISO100, +/- 1 EV, first two images made from 3 brackets, bottom image from 8 brackets at about 0.5 EV increments.
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burnt embers 
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Outstanding work here, Ehpem!! Seriously! I just love the feeling you create with your work in this genre! You’re really pulling tons of great details out of the scenes, and illuminating some of the mystery held in the shadows. Not too much so it looks surreal, but just enough to answer a few questions on behalf of the viewer while leaving the juicy bits a mystery!!
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Hi Toad – no question HDR pulls details out. Its great that way. It am learning about the compromises in the shadow areas, sometimes you just need to get the most detail out of them. I did not feel compelled that way with these shots. Glad you like them 🙂
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Tilt/shift require hours of patience and practice before you can get a good idea of what the controls are capable of. This is probably the most difficult lens to work with on interchangeable lens cameras. Stick with it, there is a big payoff!
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Yes, so I discovered. I gave myself a day to learn before putting it to use on the project I am documenting. In the end I found I could use more conventional means (found a way of getting a good vertical view of the floor I am photographing) and did not really need the tilt shift features. Just as well since one day was not nearly enough to come to terms with the lens. I will probably rent it again. Its a nice lens.
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They look other worldly and kind of spooky. I like them though!
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Thanks David. For me the spooky part is a free standing chimney that tall in earthquake country. Fingers crossed that it won’t be put to the test.
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