Rick McEvoy Architectural Photography Blog

Rick McEvoy Architectural Photography Blog - Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth

This is the edited version of the HDR composite that I posted previously.

This image comprises of three separate images, all taken on my Canon Eos 5D, with a 17-40mm F4 L lens and an aperture of F16, ISO 400. I like to use AV (aperture value or aperture priority) mode on my Canon EOS 5D. By having to set the aperture myself, I have to consider the depth of field, and also to a lesser degree pure image quality. Generally on pro DSLR lenses the middle apertures give the best quality, and I tend to favour f8 for most shots. For this image however I chose f16 because I wanted the foreground detail to be sharp. In architectural photography shutter speed is only an issue when it comes to camera shake, not a problem on a sunny day with a well lit outdoor scene such as this one.

The three separate exposures were achieved by using auto-bracketing, which in AV mode means that the shutter speed is changed. The three images were exposed at shutter speeds of 1/100^th of a second, 1/200^th of a second and finally 1/50th of a second.

The three exposures were then selected in Adobe Lightroom, and using the plug-in for Photomatix 4.2, selected to merge in for HDR Photomatix 4.2. The next step is that 3 No Tiff files are generated, one for each RAW file, which are then merged in Photomatix 4.2 to form a single Tiff file. In Phototmatix you are presented with numerous different effects, I tend to go for the most natural looking result unless I am after a specific effect.

The previous image I posted was exported from Adobe Lightroom as a Jpeg for publishing. For this image however I have performed further editing on the Tiff file before exporting as a Jpeg. The original RAW files remain unaltered in Adobe Lightroom, as new Tiff files have been created of each image. Photomatix then produces a further tone mapped single Tiff file, which is the merged HDR file.

After such processing the adjustments in Lightroom have to be relatively minor, so all I have done is minor tweaks to the image. When working with tone mapped images, anything but minor tweaks look unnatural. Sometimes I do minor corrections before the HDR merge, especially white balance and any necessary lens corrections.

For more information about the Spinnaker Tower visit

http://www.spinnakertower.co.uk/

For more information about Adobe Lightroom visit

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html

For more information about Photomatix 4.2 visit

http://www.hdrsoft.com/download/win.html

Rick McEvoy Architectural Photography. Rick is a professional photographer based in Poole, Dorset, specialising in building, property, architecture and construction photography.

Visit my website for more information and photographs at

www.rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth – Rick McEvoy HDR Photographer

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth – Rick McEvoy HDR Photographer

This is the merged HDR image. This is a combination of the three images, one correctly exposed, one deliberately underexposed by one stop, and the third image deliberately over exposed by one stop.

I have done no further processing to this image other than the HDR processing, no adjustment of levels, contrast, sharpening etc. I will work on this image and the three images used to produce this HDR image, and post the finished image later this week.

All images were taken on my Canon Eos 5D, with a 17-40mm F4 L lens, aperture F16, ISO 400, and exposures of 1/100^th of a second, 1/200^th of a second and finally 1/50th of  second.

I use auto-bracketing on my camera to produce the set of three images.

I exported the images as Tiff files from Adobe Lightroom into Photomatix 4.2 and produce a single HDR (High Dynamic Range) image.

For more information about the Spinnaker Tower visit

http://www.spinnakertower.co.uk/

Rick McEvoy Architectural Photography.

Visit my website for more information and photographs at

www.rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk

Rick McEvoy Dorset, Hampshire, South East, South West, London

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth – Rick McEvoy HDR Photography Blog

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth – Rick McEvoy HDR Photography

This is the third image image of the Spinnaker Tower. 

The first image was taken on my Canon Eos 5D using my 17-40mm F4 L lens with an exposure of 1/100^th of a second at f16, ISO 400, the second image was taken using an exposure of 1/200^th of a second, f16, ISO 400. This image was taken with the same settings but a shutter speed 1/50th of  second. By reducing the shutter speed by one stop from the correct expsoure I have doubled the amount of light reaching the sensor, resulting in an over esposed image, capturing the detail in the shadows lost on the other two esposures.

I use auto-bracketing on my camera to produce a set of three images, the first one the correct exposure, the second photograph one stop under-exposed and the third shot one stop over exposed. The reason for this is that quite often it is not possible to capture the whole tonal range in a scene.

What I am going to do is merge the three images, identical apart from the exposure. I am going to export them from Adobe Lightroom into Photomatix 4.2 and produce a single HDR (High Dynamic Range) image.

For more information about the Spinnaker Tower visit

http://www.spinnakertower.co.uk/

Rick McEvoy Architectural Photography.

Visit my website for more information and photographs at

www.rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk

Rick McEvoy Commercial Photographer in Dorset, Hampshire, South, London

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth – Rick McEvoy HDR Photography

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth – Rick McEvoy HDR Photography

This is the second image of the Spinnaker Tower. The first image was taken on my Canon Eos 5D using my 17-40mm F4 L lens with an exposure of 1/100^th of a second at f16, ISO 400. This image was taken using an exposure of 1/200^th of a second, f16, ISO 400. By increasing the shutter speed by one stop I have reduced the amount of light the sensor receives by one stop, achieving an underexposed image.

I use auto-bracketing on my camera to produce a set of three images, the first one the correct exposure, the second photograph one stop under-exposed and the third shot one stop over exposed. The reason for this is that quite often it is not possible to capture the whole tonal range in a scene.

What I am going to do is merge the three images, identical apart from the exposure. I am going to export them from Adobe Lightroom into Photomatix 4.2 and produce a single HDR (High Dynamic Range) image.

For more information about the Spinnaker Tower visit

http://www.spinnakertower.co.uk/

Rick McEvoy Architectural Photography.

Visit my website for more information and photographs at

www.rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk

Rick McEvoy Commercial Photographer in Dorset, Hampshire, South, London

 

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth

The stunning Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth is 170 metres high, and overlooks Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent. It is taller than London Eye and Big Ben. It can be accessed on foot from Guwharf Quays.

The tower has three viewing decks, Deck 1 has a glass floor, Deck 2 has a cafe and Deck 3, The Crow’s Nest, is open to the elements. Views extend up to 23 miles on a clear day.

The tower opened in October 2005.

I will be posting photographs taken of the tower, all from ground floor level around Gunwharf Quays. In the first photograph I was trying to capture the entire structure and convey the overall size of it. This photograph was taken on my Canon Eos 5D using my 17-40mm F4 L lens, with an exposure of 1/100^th of a second at f16, ISO400.

This image has not been edited, and was taken using the correct exposure suggested by the camera, using aperture priority mode.

I like the composition and the way that the eye is drawn into the photograph and the tower itself by the jetty on the left. The sky is interesting, and adds to the drama of the image.

I will post the under and over exposed shots, and finally the merged HDR image.

For more information about the Spinnaker Tower visit

http://www.spinnakertower.co.uk/

Rick McEvoy Architectural Photography.

Visit my website for more information and photographs at

www.rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk

Rick McEvoy Commercial Photographer in Dorset, Hampshire, South, London

Rick McEvoy Photography Blog

I am posting a selection of photographs taken in Bournemouth, Poole and further afield in Dorset

The first photograph is of Bournemouth Bay, taken from Undercliff Drive looking west towards Bournemouth Pier. Above the end of the pier to the left you can make out the entrance to Poole Harbour, and if you follow the land to the left you can see Old Harry Rocks and Swanage Bay

The photograph was taken in the summer of 2011 on my Canon EOS 5D with 24-105mm f4 L lens. The exposure was 1/1000 second at f8, ISO 400. I used aperture priority mode for the shot as I wanted optimum quality and was confident that the scene could be correctly metered by my camera.

This is one of my favourite images of Bournemouth Bay, which has only been slightly enhanced in Adobe Lightroom 4. All I have done is basic corrections, dust spotting and boosted levels, contrast and colours.

The clouds and the reflection of the clouds on the sea along with the blues, greens and aquamarines make this image for me.

You can see more photographs taken in Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset and further afield on my website. My home page can be accessed from the following link

www.rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk

Rick McEvoy Photography Bournemouth