Castle Tower

[DigiDiva]

Would appreciate any critique you have on this photo. I'm mainly wanting critique about the composition and post processing, as I know the photo is not sharp, as I took it hand held and I'm not that great at hand held! A silly mistake I regret now. Cheers guys.

[MattUK]

Is this HDR Chris? I see halo glows around the building...

[DigiDiva]

Originally Posted by MattUK

Is this HDR Chris? I see halo glows around the building...

I did apply a 'mimic HDR' effect to it. I just can't decide if I love or hate it, hence the critique post. Is there a way around the 'halo' effect as I have noticed a lot of people who post an HDR shot have this.

[GeoffWessex]

I wouldn't want to be too critical but when you start to see the halos around areas of contrast (usually against a sky), it just feels that it's been 'over-cooked'.

It's still not that bad, but real HDR can actually be more subtle than the 'pseudo' or 'mimic' versions, and real HDR means multiple exposures to cover a wider dynamic range. If the details at the extremes of the light range (highlights and shadows) aren't recorded in the first place, then the 'pseudo' filters can't really invent them, so they come up with the halos and that odd cartoon look.

[alfbranch]

What did you process it with and what technique did you use?
Can we see the original so we can help from that?

It almost feels like it was shot on film with what look like scrathes and blotches from being handled roughly.

I would be tempted to burn in the shodaws on the building and add a grain filter but I like the composition.

[ianpinion]

The composition is great, but I don't like the processing as those halos are a distraction. Have you been doing a bit of dodging to the stonework and gone over the edge, whiting out the sky? I'd be tempted to take it back to an earlier stage and have another go, as I think the shot itself has potential.

[DigiDiva]

Heres the original. Like I say, I know it's not sharp and I could kick myself for not using the tripod.

[DigiDiva]

I don't have photoshop etc and only use pixlr to post process. I only have a wee netbook too, so the screen for pp is small. I think it's time to upgrade.

I really appreciate this critique but a lot of it I will need to'look up' as not sure what some of it is/means (as you can tell, I'm fairly inexperienced). In fact this has been the most useful critique I have had so far.

Thanks again.

[rbarry]

If this is the unprocessed image straight out of the camera then you've exposed this image very well, no blown highlights and no darkened shadows with a good composition. Well done.

[DigiDiva]

Originally Posted by rbarry

If this is the unprocessed image straight out of the camera then you've exposed this image very well, no blown highlights and no darkened shadows with a good composition. Well done.

Because I don't have a proper post processing programme I have to get the best of what I can out of the camera. PIXLRis very basic, as is my PP skills lol