12 Bit Photo
We Deliver
Posted by Twelvebit (Victoria, United States) on 15 September 2007 in Cityscape & Urban.
This photo illustrates why I often find hdr processing to be a good choice. The original image is flat. The windows are opaque black panes. Nothing is visible through the glass. If the intent is to isolate or highlight this woman talking on her cell phone and smoking, perhaps the original capture is a better choice. However, if the intent is to place this woman more in context, the hdr version reveals activity and information beyond the glass. In this case it shows that the restaurant behind her is a sports bar and tells us that the lunch hour is either over or just beginning, as the staff is busy at various tasks and the restaurant is empty of customers (a little easier to see with a larger image). And I think this background detail is still subtle enough not to take away from the subject.
The original capture isn't bad, and in this case, it is actually probably closer to what I saw when I took the photo. I saw the woman on the phone --I didn't notice the other detail behind the glass. Sometimes I try an hdr version to see the effect, and in this case I discovered it revealed additional information and a tonal balance I like better that the original.
There is a cost here though. The windows were nearly black so the view through the glass was very underexposed, and the extra detail comes at the prices of greater noise --or "grain."
