Dialicious Boiler

[fotugraphy]

Hi, going forward on my photography venture I stopped and clicked another shot. Can you please review it and let me know what exactly is missing for it to reach position Perfect?

It is an HDR and I deliberately gave it a grungy & dreamy look. This time i have diverted the light source in the post processing and brought out very fine details and texture out of the old dirty 35 years old engine boiler without much sharpening. Also, I have added a dual mood to the image i.e on a warmer side and on a colder side.

It was the challenge for me to post process it because of fine details everywhere and i got the exact processed image what i have thought while clicking.

EV Range: -2 0 +2

Thank You

[Stagecoach]

Raj,

Was your idea to achieve 'spooky', because you have achieved that in my opinion. Another great image, thanks for sharing.

Grahame

[fotugraphy]

Raj,

Was your idea to achieve 'spooky', because you have achieved that in my opinion. Another great image, thanks for sharing.

Grahame

thanks for the review and appreciation.

[jordand]

Perfection is something you can strive for, but you’ll never achieve, Raj. Just imagine what would you do, once you’ve become perfect ;-)?
I like HDR when done with expertise and I certainly like this one.
My attention was attracted to the two groups of bolts and nuts in the lower third – vertical at the right hand side and horizontal to the left.
Had they been more visible the entire image would have looked more “techno” in my opinion.
This means less vignetting, but do not accept this as criticism.
Good job!
Will you share some details about camera, lens, lightning and PP?

[John 2]

This works for me. My only thought I that you tone down the blank dial top left a little more. I like the fact that the HDR is reasonably subtle.

[fotugraphy]

This works for me. My only thought I that you tone down the blank dial top left a little more. I like the fact that the HDR is reasonably subtle.

Thanks for your kind review. Here is the one in which i have toned down the left dial.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rbb4bubski...alicious.png?m

[fotugraphy]

Perfection is something you can strive for, but you’ll never achieve, Raj. Just imagine what would you do, once you’ve become perfect ;-)?
I like HDR when done with expertise and I certainly like this one.
My attention was attracted to the two groups of bolts and nuts in the lower third – vertical at the right hand side and horizontal to the left.
Had they been more visible the entire image would have looked more “techno” in my opinion.
This means less vignetting, but do not accept this as criticism.
Good job!
Will you share some details about camera, lens, lightning and PP?

Thank you for your valuable review & Appreciation. The question was too good about imagining once i have become perfect Really nice.

I will surely try to process with the lower left bolt more visible.

Here are the details about this image:
Camera : Sony A57
Lens : 18-55mm Kit lens and clicked with 26mm.
No flash fired and it is a natural light, more from the right.
EV Range: -2 0 +2

I have used Photomatix 5 Beta and tonemapped it in Contrast Optimizer mode in photomatix. Then did some quick global adjustments in lightroom for shadows, highlights, white and black points, contrasts etc. Then in photoshop i played with Curves, levels, burn and dodge only for local adjustments.

[Manfred M]

Another well executed shot and HDR conversion.

Just a couple of thoughts. The well let gauge at the top of the image seems to be "the subject"; but the series of three bolts just below it are rather bright too. How would the image work if you toned down the highlighted bolts just a bit (maybe 1/2 stop). The image might be a bit more effective (or it might not work at all..).

[fotugraphy]

Another well executed shot and HDR conversion.

Just a couple of thoughts. The well let gauge at the top of the image seems to be "the subject"; but the series of three bolts just below it are rather bright too. How would the image work if you toned down the highlighted bolts just a bit (maybe 1/2 stop). The image might be a bit more effective (or it might not work at all..).

Thanks for your valuable review. Here is the toned down image as suggested.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2s4sb876xw...licious1.png?m

[Manfred M]

I like the new version better; you might want to try going even a bit futher to figure out where the "sweet spot" is. Frankly, that is personal taste and what looks balanced for you may be too much or too little for someone else.

[fotugraphy]

I like the new version better; you might want to try going even a bit futher to figure out where the "sweet spot" is. Frankly, that is personal taste and what looks balanced for you may be too much or too little for someone else.

Thanks for your suggestion. I think this is the sweet spot, going further down bolts are loosing the value as i processed the image by making the bolts as the leading elements to draw attention to the Dial.

[Shadowman]

Very nice, spooky was the first thought that came to me also.

[fotugraphy]

Very nice, spooky was the first thought that came to me also.

Thanks for the appreciation