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This HDR image was taken from the Big Four Bridge in Waterfront Park Saturday evening just after sunset. I shot my usual three frame bracket set of +2, 0 and -2 EV which I merged in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 to create a HDR image. I started with the balanced preset and from there I built my own preset for this image as well as several other bracket sets that are from the same shoot. After merging the three images I adjusted contrast and exposure sliders. I then added a  -2 stop gradient filter to the sky to lower the brightness level there. I then returned the image to aperture 3 where I made a few small adjustments to contrast and adjusted the red, yellow, blue and magenta color channels. Finally I applied sharpening and cropped it to give it a more panoramic feeling.
You have a very good technique, but most importantly, eagle eye to find the right point shot at the right time.
Artistically, Pascal B.
Thank you Pascal I really study the composition to get it right. Thank you for noticing that aspect and commenting.
You know, I am a young photographer who did 28 years of shooting behind him ….. and when I see vo work I say “respect! (In french)” I think as you thoroughly explain your technique, some have thought that it is easy to do the same using the recipe. But I know that beyond the HDR and other tools, if you have not basically the sense of composition and light, in the end, the image of a missed something. You, nothing is missing.
You are too kind Pascal. Thank you again for your words of encouragement.
Simply lovely!
Splendid shot and thanks for giving an insight into the various stages of processing.
Splendid shot and thanks for giving an insight into how it was processed.
Thanks Calvin I’m glad you like my processing tips as well as the image itself.