[HDR-photo] HDRI Book and Jpeg brackets

[listmail at mab3d.com]

On Nov 27, 2007, at 10:41 AM, Bernhard Vogl wrote:

>> - Some of your camera's processing/ JPEG creation cannot be
>> completely controlled. (ie: saturation, sharpening, tonal curves,
>> compression amount, and other things done "to make a nice image")
>
> ...even worse, some of the "extended" camera models like Fujis S3/ 
> S5 even  modify parameters like overall dynamic range based on the  
> scene captured...
> Still tough, such behaviour can be switched off in every reasonable  
> camera.

Yes, this is true. Most DSLRs allow you to set many (but sometimes  
not all, especially response curves) of the processing options for  
the JPEG output, but most Point-n-Shoot cameras do not. Among DSLRs,  
I think the Pentax K10D even has configurable "in-camera RAW  
processing" to get JPEGs the way you want them without needing to use  
software later. Not sure how useful that is in the field, but then  
again...

>
>> Okay, there *is* one glaring reason to shoot multiple JPEGs instead
>> of RAWs (and I think this applies to more photographers than would
>> admit): you don't fully understand *how* to process RAW files outside
>> of the presets in the software that came with your camera or using
>> the "Auto" buttons in ACR.
>
> Just curious: Did you ever work/play with DCRaw's linear RAW  
> conversion option?

Yes, but I tried it when the function was first added, and the  
results weren't really "linear" as Dave Coffin admitted later on. I  
believe it was fixed, and *I think* this is what Photomatix uses when  
using RAWs to make HDRs. Plus, I need to set my WB visually or I'm  
lost! (I keep thinking I should shoot a grey card before each HDR,  
but I don't even have one...)

>
>> Truly, it took me about 6 months and thousands of images (and the
>> help of lots of people) to figure out just what RAW processor
>> settings to use for my "technical" HDRs, [...]
>
> This makes me recalling the German slang term  
> "verschlimmbessern" (~ enworsehancing) which describes the hours of  
> grim attempt to enhance an image - just to discover that the  
> original untouched version was the best of all... ;-)

Ha - absolutely! Like searching for your hat everywhere, except on  
your head. I like "enworsehancing"... when I was a retoucher I was  
paid to do that on many occasions.

-Mark