The Weekly Photo – August 22, 2011
I have said it before on this blog but I will say it again, I am really liking Oloneo photoengine for doing realistic HDR images. Royce Howland introduced to me to this software and showed me its potential. I am glad he did, it really does a great job!
Watch for an article by Royce in an upcoming edition of Outdoor Photography Canada on how to make realistic-looking HDR images. Below is a finished image from photoengine. To me it looks the way I remember the scene. Of course the camera can’t record such a high contrast range so I made 5 exposures at 2 EV intervals to record the entire dynamic range in the scene. Below you can see my RAW captures at 1.60 s, 1/15 s, 1/4 s, 1.o s and 4.o s all at f11.
©Darwin Wiggett - click to see a bigger version
©Darwin Wiggett - the RAW images
Darwin Wiggett 
August 22, 2011 at 4:04 AM
That’s really interesting, as so many HDR’s produce bizarre effects.
How easy is it to use?
How about a blog tutorial?
August 23, 2011 at 8:20 AM
I find is really intuitive and easy to use. I find Photomatix a bit clunky to use. Watch for Royce’s article which comes on in September in Outdoor photography Canada, he will have the tutorial info you need about Oloneo and Photomatix for realistic HDR photos.
August 22, 2011 at 8:10 AM
Really love this shot Darwin! Reminds me of being a kid standing in my Grandfather’s workshop.
August 22, 2011 at 8:24 AM
Finally some software that makes me wish I had a PC. Its a shame that they don’t produce a Mac version. They would certainly benefit.
August 22, 2011 at 3:59 PM
the final hdr-image looks nice, but it’s difficult to make judgement because of the small size.
I use photomatix for realistic hdr-photos, what do you like better Oloneo?
also: I am just having some days off and do have a tilf-shift lens from a friend to use and it would be the perfect time to learn about it. I remember you mentioned an e-book about filt-shifts arriving very soon (in june), but couldn’t find it in the shop. Will it soon be available?
August 23, 2011 at 8:18 AM
If you click on the image, it goes to a larger version so you can see more detail.
In my opinion Oloneo is much easier to use than Photomatix (a big plus for most people who are overwhelmed by the controls of Photomatix). Oloneo processes the images faster (at least on my machine). And I prefer the look of the ‘realistic’ HDR on Oloneo versus what I can get in Photomatix. There is no right or wrong here, I just prefer the Oloneo software. IF you are thrilled with what you get from Photomatix, then stick with that software. It’s like cars, who cares what brand as long as it gets you there! Send a link to your HDR work, we would love to see what you are doing.
The tilt Shift eBook was on hold for summer assignment work. I hope to get back to it and put it out in October.
d
August 24, 2011 at 7:01 AM
thank you very much for the additional info.
its a pity about the delay of the book … I don’t get this stubbern thing (tilf-shift) manually focussed correctly, expecially when tilted for max. depth of field 🙂
August 23, 2011 at 12:54 AM
Nice HDR software..
August 24, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Hi, Darwin.
Only reason I use HDR is overcome narrow dynamic range of image sensor and make images more like negative film look. So this software may suit my purpose. Also I should look into PTgui as well. Expense never ends.
August 27, 2011 at 7:39 AM
Hiro,
Yes, expense never ends!! Damn.
d
August 24, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Hi, Darwin – wonderful pic. Can you comment on why you now seem to prefer the Oloneo PhotoEngine to Photomatix?
August 27, 2011 at 7:38 AM
Photoengine on my computer is much faster to use (processed the same photos in much less time then Photomatix). Photoengine in my opinion is much more intuitive to use. And finally I can get ‘realistic HDR’ with Photoengine easier than I can with Photomatix.