Aristodog (HDR)

[ChrisLumix]

The more I look at the original, the more I see that due to the dog's being in the shade, with bright sun around, the more difficult to rescue it is. Even applying Gaussian blur to the background hasn't helped.

 

So, in PhotoDirector 4 I have applied an HDR preset, then gone into Manual mode and adjusted the settings until I was fairly happy. The dog has certainly been vastly improved, though at the expense of the grass he's sitting on.

 

But, compared to the original version posted, do you agree this is much better (of the dog)?

 

[pdcpic]

I actually prefer the other photo,.. the reflection in the grass shows on his lips and nose

Maybe I notice these things more because I constantlly Take photos of dogs and draw them too.

,.. if you could kinda exclude those bits in the HDR and then combine both photos together is should be better

 

[ChrisLumix]

I actually prefer the other photo,.. the reflection in the grass shows on his lips and nose

Maybe I notice these things more because I constantlly Take photos of dogs and draw them too.

,.. if you could kinda exclude those bits in the HDR and then combine both photos together is should be better

 

 

Ok, but this is positively my last attempt! I seem to have spent HOURS on this. What's your verdict?

 

[pdcpic]

That works much better!  background is less distractive, focus on dog with grass.

[ChrisLumix]

Thanks! It seems that Gaussian Blur (c/o PSE) and HDR (c/o PD4) have done the trick to rescue the shot

[Leon]

sorry but not for me..

[ChrisLumix]

sorry but not for me..

 

That's ok Leon - the subject itself, or the way it's been processed?

[Leon]

the processing, the dog is lovely, I liked the original

[pdcpic]

I did prefer the original too,.. but as CL was not quite happy which is most important I suggested this.
I did not like the FULL HDR one.

[ChrisLumix]

the processing, the dog is lovely, I liked the original

 

 

I did prefer the original too,.. but as CL was not quite happy which is most important I suggested this.

I did not like the FULL HDR one.

 

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. Actually, the original is not the original as I spent quite a bit of time in PSE adding Gaussian blur to the background. The "full HDR" here shows the unblurred version. The final version is a bit of a compromise I admit - the blurred "original" had the dog's head too dark and HDR appeared to be the only way to lighten it. Oh well, goes to prove the old 'adage' that you can't please everybody! I'm glad to have had the discussion though - it has spurred me to try something different.