Test of Aurora HDR 2018

Saw information about Aurora HDR 2018 software.  Since most of my landscape photos are shot and processed as HDR, I was anxious to check out the software.  I have been processing most of my HDR photos in HDR Darkroom 2 Pro with some in Photomatix Essentials 4.0.  I have tested many other HDR packages, most had problems with aligning the images (I mostly shoot handheld).  Aurora HDR 2018 did a good job aligning my handheld images.  I am pleased with the results with Aurora HDR 2018.  The colors are more vivid.  Be aware, the resulting files are large.  With HDR Darkroom 2 Pro, files were 10-14 MB.  With Aurora HDR 2018, files are 25-27 MB!

HDR Darkroom 2 Pro

Aurora HDR 2018

Black & White Outdoors Challenge

When any Black & White Gurushots challenge comes up, I have a problem selection which of my photos to enter.  I honed my skills as the publicity officer and photographer for the VFW in New Hampshire.  Any outdoor photographer aspires to me like Ansel Adams.  There are my "All-Star" entrees in the Gurushots Black & White Outdoors challenge.

NiagaraFallsBW                          Niagara Falls from the Skylon Tower

TetonView-bw                      Grand Tetons from the bicycle trail to Jenny Lake

EndlessTrail                           Paseo del Bosque south of Central Ave in Albuquerque, NM

JennyLake2-bw                        Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park

BaylissPark

Continuing the comparison Black & White (grayscale) and color HDR photos.

Bayliss Park with central fountain viewed from the Northeast radial walkway.  July 29, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/6.3 at 1/250 sec    Aperture Priority  50.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV)   Processed from RAW by HDR Darkroom Pro 2

Historic100Block

A study in color versus grayscale photography.  Some things just lend better to "B&W".

The historic 100 block of West Broadway in Council Bluffs, IA   July 29, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/6.3 at 1/400 sec    Aperture Priority  38.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV)   Processed from RAW by HDR Darkroom Pro 2

PeaknValley

Peak and valley along US 550 in the San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado   May 7, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/5.0 at 1/250 sec   Aperture Priority  18.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW and HDR Darkroom Pro.

ChollaGarden

Cholla Cactus "garden" in Joshua Tree National Park, Southern California   January 30, 2015


Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/8.0 at 1/200 sec   Program Mode  28.0mm  ISO 200   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW and stylized by Photomatix Essentials 4 

CutonSanRafaelSwell

I-70 in Utah cut in the San Rafael Swell       January 28, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/9.0 at 1/200 sec   Aperture Priority  18.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW  by Photomatix Essentials 4 

ColoradoPlainsElevator

Abandoned (?) grain elevator in the plains of Colorado    May 17, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/8.0 at 1/400 sec   Aperture Priority  42.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW by Photomatix Essentials 4 

JoshuaTreeGrove

Grove of Joshua Trees in the Mojave National Preserve, near Cima, Caligornia   January 29, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/8.0 at 1/200 sec   Aperture Priority  50.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW and stylized by Photomatix Essentials 4 

CimaStore

I first saw this store about 20 years ago.  Had to witness some locomotive tests.  This store was also the area Post Office.  Cima, California is located about 75 miles South from Las Vegas in the Mojave National Preserve.  The store is at the top of "Cima Hill" well known to Union Pacific railroader.   The store was closed.   January 29, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/8.0 at 1/200 sec   Aperture Priority  22.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW and converted to grayscale by Photomatix Essentials 4 

MountainCabin

Abandoned cabin in the San Juan Mountains near Ouray, Colorado  May 7, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/5.0 at 1/500 sec   Aperture Priority  31.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW by Photomatix Essentials 4 

DowntownRedRiver

Highway 38, downtown Red River, New Mexico   May 16, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/10.0 at 1/250 sec   Aperture Priority  18.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW and stylized by Photomatix Essentials 4.

AngelPeak

Angel Peak in Angel Peak Scenic Area, New Mexico  May 8, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/9.0 at 1/320 sec   Aperture Priority  91.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW and HDR Darkroom Pro with stylizing by Topaz Glow

AlongtheBosque

Black and white photo taken on the Paseo del Bosque (river trail) in Albuquerque, NM   May 11, 2015

Canon PowerShot S95  f/6.3 at 1/125 sec   6.0mm  ISO 100  Three bracketed exposures (+2.33, 0.33, -1.67 EV) Processed from RAW by HDR Darkroom Pro 2.  Converted to grayscale with Photoshop Elements 11.

CBVisitor

Crested Butte Visitor's Center  May 4, 2015

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/5.0 at 1/320 sec   Aperture Priority  18.0mm  ISO 100   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW and stylized by Photomatix Essentials 4 

Colorado Crossing

Pedestrian and bike bridge over the Colorado River just out of Moab, UT.  October 14, 2012

Canon PowerShot S95  f/5.6 at 1/500 sec   6.0mm  ISO 100  Three bracketed exposures (+2.00, 0.00, -2.00 EV) Processed from RAW by HDR Darkroom Pro 2.  Stylized by Topaz Glow

Arches Lean

Entrance to Arches National Park.  Rode the road bike to this point from downtown Moab.  October 14, 2012

Canon PowerShot S95  f/5.6 at 1/640 sec   6.0mm  ISO 100  Three bracketed exposures (+2.33, 0.33, -1.67 EV) Processed from RAW by HDR Darkroom Pro 2.  Stylized by Topaz Glow

Hillsboro Main Street

Storefronts on Main Street Hillsboro, NM    January 25, 2014

Screwed up with the camera settings - leaving settings from previous photo.  Thanks to ACR, I was able to pull out the files for HDR processing.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i with Tamron 18-200mm lens   f/5.6 at 1/4000 sec   Aperture Priority  31.0mm  ISO 1600   Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW by HDR Darkroom 2 Pro and stylized with Topaz Glow

Gano Elevator

Abandoned elevators are common sights along the main roads of central Kansas.  January 20, 2014

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens  f/6.3 at 1/500 sec  Aperture Priority  57.0mm  ISO 100  Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, -0.0, -2.0 EV) processed from RAW by HDR Darkroom 2 Pro, cropped from the original and stylized with Topaz Glow

Santa Fe Station

Railroad Depot - Santa Fe, NM  Bicycles are welcome on the RailRunner.   May 17, 2014

Canon EOS 60D with Tamron 18-200mm lens  f/9.0 at 1/80 sec  Aperture Priority  18.0mm  ISO 100  Three bracketed exposures (+2.0, 0.0, -2.0 EV) Processed from RAW by HDR Darkroom 2 Pro with finishing with Photoshop Elements 11  Stylist with Topaz Glow