Now first of all lets get one thing straight. I'm no technical waller and don't care much for the physics of how HDR works or indeed how the software does what it does. However I have a basic understanding of what High Dynamic Range is when it comes to a digital image. Consequently I don't want to get drawn into a pointless argument about the best way of doing this or that.
I have been playing around with CS2 to try and get its Merge HDR command to work with a series of pics taken from the same raw file. I was obviously doing something wrong cos it wouldn't do it coming up with the error message that there was not enough dynamic range to create a useful HDR image, very frustrating. I have also played around with a program called Photomatix. Suffice to say if I can't suss a prog within about half an hour I am inclined to give up
Now at this point I have to give a lot of credit to PollyG. We have been communicating recently and discussing this very subject, and it was her that put me onto a different method which I am now offering to peeps here on a take it or leave basis
The photo below is one I essentially have never been happy with the end result using my usual method of balancing foreground and sky. I exposed the shot originally at a sort of compromise setting and this is how the shot looked converted from Raw without any adjustments in PS ie As Shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../CS_asshot.jpg
The next shot is the same file adjusted to plus 0.75 EV which was what I felt was OK for the road and foreground but obviously burnt out the sky
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../CS_plus75.jpg
Now often Adobe Camera Raw does a pretty good job set to Auto but in this instance although the sky was much better the foreground was far too underexposed. This version then is the Auto conversion setting, and is the one that I would normally use for this shot and then work on it in my usual way, Curves, etc etc.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...tosettings.jpg
The final version uses the auto version above and then using the HDR technique it is adjusted to a more pleasing point before finally some basic tweaking in PS
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...SarahsHDR1.jpg
So whaddya think so far?
Basically the technique involves converting the 8bit file to 16bit then to 32bit which becomes available to the 16bit file.
The 32bit file is then converted back to 16bit. At this point a dialogue opens up called HDR conversion. In the drop down menu choose Local Adaptation and open up the Curve in the same dialogue. Using Curves adjust the image to suit and also play about Radius, I haven't noticed much difference adjusting the threshold slider, but you may. When you are happy click Ok and the file is converted. You can then adjust the file to suit in PS. I simply put a gradation in the sky. For me though the whole process has given a better result than I ever got before. As I said take it or leave it