Comments on: HDR Images For Real Estate Photography http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/ Tips and Techniques for Real Estate Photography Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:47:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: larry http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1386 larry Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:47:16 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1386 @Mike, See my post from back in March of this year on how to do HDR panoramas with Photomatix: http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=62 This post gives two examples done with Photomatix: http://lohrman.com/qt/KevinLiving.htm as I recall each of the 3 shots had -2EV, 0, +2EV And one stitched with one just the 0 EV images http://lohrman.com/qt/MyNormalPano.htm I'm not sure what the Photomatix parameters were because Kevin created the HDR pano and I created the non-HDR pano. On this use of HDR I like the non-header version better because the HDR version had the "grungy" look. @Mike,
See my post from back in March of this year on how to do HDR panoramas with Photomatix:

http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=62

This post gives two examples done with Photomatix:
http://lohrman.com/qt/KevinLiving.htm
as I recall each of the 3 shots had -2EV, 0, +2EV
And one stitched with one just the 0 EV images
http://lohrman.com/qt/MyNormalPano.htm

I’m not sure what the Photomatix parameters were because Kevin created the HDR pano and I created the non-HDR pano.

On this use of HDR I like the non-header version better because the HDR version had the “grungy” look.

]]> By: Mike Martin http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1385 Mike Martin Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:05:51 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1385 Larry, I have experimented with interior HDR and panoramas of same. I have no acceptable results. Anything you can offer or refer me to would be appreciated. At the same time, I feel I'm getting great results for exterior shots. So how do I create more "dymamic range" for interior photos? Larry,
I have experimented with interior HDR and panoramas of same. I have no acceptable results. Anything you can offer or refer me to would be appreciated. At the same time, I feel I’m getting great results for exterior shots. So how do I create more “dymamic range” for interior photos?

]]> By: larrylohrman http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1346 larrylohrman Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:46:28 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1346 Mike, When I stitch 3 different panos with identical images (except for exposure) and identical control points with PTgui I get 3 identical panos. Mike,
When I stitch 3 different panos with identical images (except for exposure) and identical control points with PTgui I get 3 identical panos.

]]> By: Mike Martin http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1341 Mike Martin Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:49:52 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1341 Larry, Understand. But the process is laborious. For example, after doing three stitches (one for each exposure), I’m still not ready for HDR processing. The resulting images aren’t exactly the same size. Photomatix doesn’t like that. I have to resize them to exactly match. After that I can combine them in Photomatix. I’d like to have one program that combines the best of pano stitching and HDR development. I’m hoping its PTgui PRO. Larry,
Understand. But the process is laborious. For example, after doing three stitches (one for each exposure), I’m still not ready for HDR processing. The resulting images aren’t exactly the same size. Photomatix doesn’t like that. I have to resize them to exactly match. After that I can combine them in Photomatix. I’d like to have one program that combines the best of pano stitching and HDR development. I’m hoping its PTgui PRO.

]]> By: larrylohrman http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1337 larrylohrman Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:09:43 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1337 Mike, No, you don't have to use RAW file with PTgui. Matt was just saying that you get better results if you shoot RAW because you are able to adjust things like white-balance, exposure before you start stitching. PTgui will take jpg as input. Also, you don't need PTgui PRO to do HDR panoramas. All you need to do is to do 3 stitches of your images: one on each of -2 set, normal set and +2 set resulting in 3 panos then use Photomatix on the 3 panos. I've done that a lot with blending and masking but it will work with Photomatix too. Mike,
No, you don’t have to use RAW file with PTgui. Matt was just saying that you get better results if you shoot RAW because you are able to adjust things like white-balance, exposure before you start stitching.

PTgui will take jpg as input.

Also, you don’t need PTgui PRO to do HDR panoramas. All you need to do is to do 3 stitches of your images: one on each of -2 set, normal set and +2 set resulting in 3 panos then use Photomatix on the 3 panos. I’ve done that a lot with blending and masking but it will work with Photomatix too.

]]> By: Mike Martin http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1344 Mike Martin Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:44:23 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1344 Larry, Using RAW files currently isn't an option for me. I'm very interested in your review/opinions about PTgui PRO. I'm confused about whether its OK to shoot everyting as jpg files. Or is it really necessary to start with TIFF. Larry,
Using RAW files currently isn’t an option for me. I’m very interested in your review/opinions about PTgui PRO. I’m confused about whether its OK to shoot everyting as jpg files. Or is it really necessary to start with TIFF.

]]> By: Matt http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1345 Matt Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:46:20 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1345 We did quite a few direct comparisons between HDR and RAW when working on the tour at http://www.esitetours.com/27188302/ and found that we wound up getting the best results with the RAW files. We just weren't able to tweak the color and lighting enough in Photomatix to get realistic enough coloration. The main exceptions would be for exterior tours at twilight where you capture the interior lights through the windows or rooms with large windows that could be potentially washed out in sunlight. In the future, we will most likely be using RAW for 90% our 360s. You can always adjust the exposure in a raw converter and throw them into Photomatix after the fact. We find, however that lowering the exposure and bumping up the fill light in the raw converter typically will create a similar, more accurate look. We did quite a few direct comparisons between HDR and RAW when working on the tour at http://www.esitetours.com/27188302/ and found that we wound up getting the best results with the RAW files. We just weren’t able to tweak the color and lighting enough in Photomatix to get realistic enough coloration. The main exceptions would be for exterior tours at twilight where you capture the interior lights through the windows or rooms with large windows that could be potentially washed out in sunlight. In the future, we will most likely be using RAW for 90% our 360s. You can always adjust the exposure in a raw converter and throw them into Photomatix after the fact. We find, however that lowering the exposure and bumping up the fill light in the raw converter typically will create a similar, more accurate look.

]]> By: larrylohrman http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1338 larrylohrman Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:59:30 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1338 Mike, I can tell you more after I upgrade my 3 year old version of PTgui to PTgui Pro (probably this weekend). Kevin at esitetours.com that I did a post on a few days ago uses the HDR features in PTgui PRO to do his tours (for example: http://www.esitetours.com/27188302/ as well as all the other examples on his site is done with PTgui PRO). Kevin says he likes it but it doesn't have as many option slides as Photomatix. I believe you can get a trial version of PTgui Pro. Mike,
I can tell you more after I upgrade my 3 year old version of PTgui to PTgui Pro (probably this weekend). Kevin at esitetours.com that I did a post on a few days ago uses the HDR features in PTgui PRO to do his tours (for example: http://www.esitetours.com/27188302/ as well as all the other examples on his site is done with PTgui PRO). Kevin says he likes it but it doesn’t have as many option slides as Photomatix.

I believe you can get a trial version of PTgui Pro.

]]> By: Mike Martin http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1336 Mike Martin Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:18:11 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1336 I have been using Photomatix Pro and think it it great for external shots. I have not been able to combine it well with panoramas for external or internal shots. I'd like opinions about the virtues of PTgui Pro. Will it really do HDR of panos? By this I mean: I want to take three shots of each frame at different exposures. Then I want PTgui Pro (without much help) to do the stitching and HDR tone mapping and give me a great result. I have been using Photomatix Pro and think it it great for external shots. I have not been able to combine it well with panoramas for external or internal shots. I’d like opinions about the virtues of PTgui Pro. Will it really do HDR of panos? By this I mean: I want to take three shots of each frame at different exposures. Then I want PTgui Pro (without much help) to do the stitching and HDR tone mapping and give me a great result.

]]> By: joe noel http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1343 joe noel Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:17:41 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2007/11/27/hdr-images-for-real-estate-photography/#comment-1343 I like many others have fallen into the deep hole of HDR its almost like an addiction making me see in HDR most of the time. this technique is especially useful for exteriors. once i figured it out and got some decent software it is the only way to shoot especially pairing it with raw files converted to .dng in lightroom. i have used it inside many times but do not always get great results. but shooting for a decent exposure and then processing it as a single file HDR is always helpful too. I like many others have fallen into the deep hole of HDR its almost like an addiction making me see in HDR most of the time. this technique is especially useful for exteriors. once i figured it out and got some decent software it is the only way to shoot especially pairing it with raw files converted to .dng in lightroom. i have used it inside many times but do not always get great results. but shooting for a decent exposure and then processing it as a single file HDR is always helpful too.

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