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

GoPro Hero 2

Since I started cycling, I have been looking for a video camera to record some of the trails I ride.  I tried mounting a regular video camera - its to heavy and the mount would move.  Tried using my Canon Point&Shoot camera.  I was met with limited success.

Most successful have been the "lipstick" cameras.  I have had 2 - a "Tony Hawk" camera and one from Oregon Scientific.  Had the best luck with the Tony Hawk camera.  The video file size was good for posting on my web site.  My problems was getting the camera aimed, the battery life, and memory card limitations.

I started to concentrating on my still shots.  My Canon PowerShot S95 will record both JPG and RAW.  It also does bracketed exposures (I am a believer in HDR Photography).

Over the last could years, more and more of my singletrack cycling friends have purchased GoPro Hero POV (Point of view) cameras.  This Spring, a friend of mine was looking to sell a GoPro Hero2 that he had as a demo camera.  We agreed on purchase of the camera and included mounts.

I have added the back screen and a handlebar mount.  Topped off my purchase with a hard case by UKPro for the camera.  GoPro cameras and mounts are available as several "big box" and local stores.  I purchase my UKPro case from Breeze Cycle in Omaha.  The photo above is on my GoPro in the UKPro hard case.

A couple days later, we got some decent riding weather.  After a false start (did not bring all of the required bracket parts), I attached the camera to the bike and headed out for Lake Manawa.  A couple times, I had to stop and tighten the various connections of the mount.

Downloaded the video from the camera when I got back to the house.  Doing something wrong because I recorded 8 segments of under 2GB each.  Also there were regular "jumps" in the video. Oh, the photo here, shows the GoPro mounted on my hybrid, post ride.

With some research, I found out that i needed to convert the file in GoPro CineForm Studio.  This created a stable AVI video, though still had to piece together the sections.  Tried to do that in my Pinnacle Studio 11.  The software did not seem to like the process.  Went to Best Buy where I saw Studio is up to version 16 and (the version they had on the shelf) was much more expensive than Adobe Premier Elements.  Bought that bundled with Photoshop Elements version 11.

The lower photo is of the camera mounted on my hybrid bike.  Ended up with a flash video and AVI movie. 

Everimaging.com

Yesterday's posting gave a review and problems/concerns with Everimaging.com HDR Photo Pro.  Since then, the remnants of the forum have been removed from the company web site.  ABOUT has changed which the elimination of of mailing address and support e-mail addresses.

the ABOUT page ends with: 

"These products are backed by our world class technical support and expertise. Please check our site regularly for the latest information."

My question - WHAT world class technical support when you can't even e-mail to support.  No form to request support.  No snail mail address.  No forum.

For me, it looks like the Everimaging.com just wants to sell you their outdated software with no support.

HDR Photo Pro

Since December 2010, I have been using HDR Photo Pro by Everimaging for most of my HDR processing.  There are a couple of features of the software that I really like.

1)  In "Open Folder" you get thumbnails of all RAW and JPG images along the left side of the screen.
2)  It is very easy to create realistic photos, enhancing the photo but not giving the typical "over the top" HDR look.
3)  No separate RAW converter.  I shoot RAW and JPG at the same time with my Canon Rebel T1i.  All of the thumbnails display in the folder
4)  I can save in a variety formats and resolutions.

The problem has been that the support of the software has been lacking.

In the Spring of 2011, I purchased a Canon S95 "Point & Shoot" camera that handles bracketed exposures and records in RAW & JPG at the same time.   The HDR Photo Pro RAW converter in the software did not convert images from the S95.  I was able to get an "updated" version of the software that processes photos from the S95. So far, so good.

Later in the year, I started having problems with the software.  The "updated" software for the S95 is giving a version number of 1.1.0.  Eventually, I got errors loading the software with both Windows 7 on my laptop and Vista on my desktop (both 64 bit operating systems).  I had to remove the software, including the registry keys, and re-install the software.

At this time, I can use the software, but still get errors.  I can "continue" to process the photos.  Everimaging says they cannot duplicate my problem, even though I had sent error logs and screen dumps.

Now, it seems that Everimaging is giving up, or in the throws of collapsing.  Their software prices have been discounted.  The "Community" (forum) link on the web site does not work.  Any try to access the forum takes you to the "contact us" page.  (From the browser history on my computer, I was able to find the forum - there have been others asking if the company was still in business.)

As with most HDR photographers, I have a second piece of software i use for HDR processing.  My back-up is Photomatix Essentials (previously Photomatix Light).  I like it for the "over-the-top" processing and artistic treatment.

I do not like to have to use software that is out of date and buggy.  Looking for another primary HDR processing software to replace HDR Photo Pro - after all, the next camera I purchase will make the software obsolete.

Those of you looking at HDR processing software, I recommend you pass on HDR Photo Pro and HDR Darkroom by Everimaging.com.

Issues with HDR Photo Pro

As you look at most of my photos posted here, you see that they were processed by HDR Photo Pro,  This software is the high priced offering by Everimaging.com.  I like the results of the tome mapping.  The interface is easy to use.  But there is q problem with the software and the support from Everimaging.com.

Everimaging's software license allows installing the software on two cimouteer.  That works great since at home I work on a HP Pavilion desktop machine with 4GB RAM running Windows Vista 64.  On the road, my computer is HP Pavilion Entertainment Laptop with 4GB RAM running Windows 7. 

Everything was running well (except for the occasional "crash to desktop" during file saving).  That was until I purchased a new camera - Canon S95.  I purchased the camera so that i could shoot HDR photos when riding my bicycles, without lugging around one of my D-SLRs.

I prefer to process my photos from RAW.  Most times, I shoot both JPG and RAW at the same time.  HDR Photo Pro did not recognize the Canon CR2 files from the S95.  After some e-mail exchanges (and frustration), Everimaging sent me a trial version of the software which processed the files. 

Once again, the software worked well, for a while.  For some reason, I had to re-install the trial software.  When I did that, I started getting the above error message.  The error comes with BOTH the Vista and Windows 7 machines.  The difference is that with the Vista box, the software crashes to desktop.  With Windows 7 I can "continue" to use the software.

I uninstalled the software, tried to run the original version - same thing.  Back to the trial version - same problem.  It appears there is some registry atrifact that will not allow a clean install of the software.

HDR Photo Pro was released in December 2010.  I purchased my Canon S95 in May 2011.  July 2011 Everimaging sent me the trial version of HDR Photo Pro.  There is still no new version of the software.  I hate to think that i will have to purchase another HDR software (in addition to HDR Photo Pro I own a copy of Photomatix Light) package.

Since I purcahsed my Canon S95, Photomatix Light has released a new version which handles the S95.  Several Topaz Lab plug-ins for photoshop has released new versions.  Other HDR packages have released newer versions.

Everimaging - how about releasing a new version of your flagship software - HDR Photo Pro?