DCL Picture of the Day - Part 3

[MMitchell29]

Come on woj68, you work for DCL right? I can keep a secret you can tell me.
I wont let let no one else know (wink wink)

 

[disneynewbee]

I was a little bummed with these cars in front of the Magic at first. But I like how they give a perspective to the size of the ship.

I'm going to have to show this one to my girls tonight. We've never cruised and I've been trying to explain to them just how big the ship is but they don't seem to get it. They keep thinking of their poppy's fishing boat. And I keep telling them all the stuff it has on it and they are looking at me like I have 3 heads.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Woo hoo. We booked another cruise, so I'm back lurking on the DCL side of the DIS.

We took alot of pictures during our 2008 Mexican Riviera cruise, so I thought I would start posting a few.

Here's my favorite shot from the sailaway party.

 

[Grandma4ever]

Woo hoo. We booked another cruise, so I'm back lurking on the DCL side of the DIS.

We took alot of pictures during our 2008 Mexican Riviera cruise, so I thought I would start posting a few.

Here's my favorite shot from the sailaway party.

Welcome back to the other side of DIS Tom. Can't wait to see more of your pictures. Lois

 

[cdfl30]

I love your HDR photos! If you don't mind me asking, I have a few questions about your techiniqe. How many exposures do you usually compile into a single HDR photo? Do you shoot in Raw or JPG? Are you using Photomatix pro or basic? I have played around with HDR but have never had results as nice as yours. Thanks!!

 

[cdfl30]

This was taken while on the DCL sponsored excursion "Blue Lagoon Island Beach Day" in Nassau.

 

[woj68]

I love your HDR photos! If you don't mind me asking, I have a few questions about your techiniqe. How many exposures do you usually compile into a single HDR photo? Do you shoot in Raw or JPG? Are you using Photomatix pro or basic? I have played around with HDR but have never had results as nice as yours. Thanks!!

Hey Candis...thanks and welcome back. I see you were on the cruise right after ours.

Anyway, I shoot three auto-bracketed shots (tripod mounted) in RAW (-2, 0, +2 EV) in AV mode with a timed release.

I just upgraded to Photomatix Pro 3.2 a couple months ago and found my results to be better than the previous versions. I think it comes down to more flexibility with the new slider controls and better reductions in ghosting. Also, knowing when you've gone "too far" in processing a photo. I've seen a lot of bad HDRs (myself included) and I try to make mine a little more subtle and not over-processed if you know what I mean.

The pics still come out looking a little flat and dull and full of noise after being run through PM but then I can clean them up in Photoshop and season to taste with adjustments using curves, contrast, color and sharpening. Good noise reduction software is a must have too. I have had some good results using Topaz's DeNoise software so far.

With 3.2, I've also had some success with single RAW photos converted to HDR which I never tried before. Here's an example below I shot in RAW of one of the massage cabanas then converted into HDR with PM.

Original Single RAW file

Final Result - processed with Photomatix & CS4

Sorry to bore everyone with my techno babble...I guess I'm over my one pic per day limit now. Hope this helps...looking forward to seeing more of your pics.

Kevin

 

[cdfl30]

Hey Candis...thanks and welcome back. I see you were on the cruise right after ours.

Anyway, I shoot three auto-bracketed shots (tripod mounted) in RAW (-2, 0, +2 EV) in AV mode with a timed release.

I just upgraded to Photomatix Pro 3.2 a couple months ago and found my results to be better than the previous versions. I think it comes down to more flexibility with the new slider controls and better reductions in ghosting. Also, knowing when you've gone "too far" in processing a photo. I've seen a lot of bad HDRs (myself included) and I try to make mine a little more subtle and not over-processed if you know what I mean.

The pics still come out looking a little flat and dull and full of noise after being run through PM but then I can clean them up in Photoshop and season to taste with adjustments using curves, contrast, color and sharpening. Good noise reduction software is a must have too. I have had some good results using Topaz's DeNoise software so far.

With 3.2, I've also had some success with single RAW photos converted to HDR which I never tried before. Here's an example below I shot in RAW of one of the massage cabanas then converted into HDR with PM.

Original Single RAW file

Final Result - processed with Photomatix & CS4

Sorry to bore everyone with my techno babble...I guess I'm over my one pic per day limit now. Hope this helps...looking forward to seeing more of your pics.

Kevin

Thanks so much for all the info. I really need to dust off my tripod and try experimenting again with HDR. I do have the Topaz plugin and I can start with the Photomatix freeware. When done right, the results are just amazing as is proven through your shots. Keep up the great work, I look forward to seeing more!

Candis

 

[Nette]

Outside of PALO at sunrise

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

 

[mmouse37]

In Cape Canaveral by Grill's Restaurant 9/18/09.....they were on all the light posts.



MJ

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

You never know WHAT you will find when you return to your stateroom in the evening.

 

[cdfl30]

A beautiful morning in Castaway Cay!!

 

[woj68]

I'll stick with the CC theme with this one of the Heads Up Bar

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I guess since the Wonder is gonna be doing the Mexican Riviera cruises in 2011, I can include pictures from those ports. Here's our favorite picture from Cabo San Lucas taken at The Giggling Marlin:

 

[bevtoy]

 

[Grandma4ever]

awesome!!!!

 

[cdfl30]

 

[cdfl30]

I'll stick with the CC theme with this one of the Heads Up Bar

Love the unique angle and perspective!

 

[woj68]

Love the unique angle and perspective!

Thanks...I got a lot of use out of the 10-22mm this trip.

Very nice. I see you don't like other people in your shots either.