archaeological HDR

womble
Posted 15/01/2010 - 16:04 Link
As an archaeologist I am always taking photographs to illustrate lectures or publications. Often, it has to be done on the hoof with minimal facilities or time. One problem has always been photographing inside dark contrasty places such as neolithic tombs where ideally some sort of off-camera multiple flash set-up would be used but neither time or equipment has been available. On a recent trip to West Kennett long barrow (near Avebury) I bracketed the exposure and then used Photomatix Pro to create a HDR composite. Although not a beautiful image one would frame and put on the wall, it has done a marvellous job (IMHO) of creating a useful image for lectures and the Arch Soc newsletter! The only thing that annoys me is the puddle on the floor which looks a bit harsh. I feel a session with the clone tool coming on...

Best wishes, Kris.

Comment Image
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
robbie_d
Posted 15/01/2010 - 16:17 Link
Looks good!
If you can't say something nice about Pentax, you won't say anything at all.

Apparently.
womble
Posted 15/01/2010 - 17:06 Link
Actually it looks a bit flat here than it did in Lightroom. I should up the contrast a little.

K.
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
thoughton
Posted 15/01/2010 - 17:08 Link
Looks good, even if it's not supposed to

Not sure if cloning things out is necessary though! Wouldn't you normally leave this sort of photo unaltered?
Tim
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snappychappy
Posted 15/01/2010 - 17:26 Link
Thats a fine shot IMHO.
womble
Posted 15/01/2010 - 19:40 Link
If the aesthetically objectional thing was archaeological, then I wouldn't clone it out, but a puddle on the modern gravel floor doesn't really count!

One of my colleagues in Southampton used to set an assignment which was to remove all the modern features from a photograph of a stone circle and replace the missing stones

K.
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
Prieni
Posted 15/01/2010 - 19:44 Link
I think you found an excellent use for HDR here. I can see also some artistic merits in this shot.

Prieni
How inappropriate to call this planet earth when it is quite clearly Ocean. - Arthur C. Clarke
Prieni's PPG page

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