Pixiq

Macro HDR is the same as any other form of HDR. The only thing different is that the subject is small, the depth-of-field is very shallow and in order to avoid any movement between and during shooting, the need for a tripod is huge.

HDR provides a method for producing an expanded tonal scale for your subject which allows more detail in the shadows and the highlights of your subject. A single exposure will usually block up the shadows or wash out the highlights on most subjects.Without HDR technology, the image would likely require considerable burning and dodging of the highlights and shadows to look somewhat normal.

This image was processed in Photomatix Pro using three exposures of approximately + and - 3/4  EV. While the colors seem rich and there is a good amount of detail, the image requires some post processing in order to maximize the HDR effect, tame the saturation and reduce the color casts. 

There are several problem areas indicated above with red arrows that need some attention. Namely, the highlight on the top at the front of the image and the contrast and saturation in the background.

 

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Note: There are times when I will create several different results in an HDR package that I will layer together in Photoshop in order to create a different result. I usually create a rather flat HDR image and another that has been produced with a higher saturation and contrast.

When combined in Photoshop using layer blends I can have additional control over the final outcome.

 

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Transitioning the image to B/W

This image has been post-processed to correct the highlight detail in the front object as well as some dodging and burning to lighten the swirl in the top in the left back and the lighting coming through the lens on the right. It has also received some color correction to remove the magenta cast in the chromed surface on the right side object.

To produce the best B/W image from an HDR photo, it is important to work with the color exposures. Black and white  can best be controlled if the color scale is complete so that all three RGB channels are present and the image has not been reduced to grayscale. This way, the color can be filtered to produce a variety of tones which can produce separation once the image is finally turned into a black and white. Once the image is reduced to a grayscale, you will not be able to control the tones.

The color image is finally brought into Nik Software Silver Efex Pro to process it into a black and white. Here the image was modified using a preset that has been tweaked using color filtration and Niks U-point technology which allows certain areas to be controlled in a manner similar to dodging and burning in conventional photography or as might be accomplished in Photoshop.

By utilizing the color filtration in Nik Silver Efex, the color red in the image can be made darker or lighter by using an appropriate filter. Red filtration allows the red color to go lighter and the blue and green channels to go darker. Green filtration has a different effect. Green objects will go lighter while red and blue objects go darker in tone. A similar situation happens with Blue filtration where the blues go lighter and the reds and greens go darker. Playing with the filters in Nik Silver Efex will allow you to see these kinds of results.

It is important to use these filters to modify the color tones so that there is a separation between black and white tones. These filters allow you to produce contrasting tonalities between overlapping tones in the image.

It is important to think about your colors before you transition to a black and white rendition. Colors need to be reproduced  as convincing tones in black and white.  For instance, a red apple should appear darker than the leaves in a black and white rendition. Blue water might be better darker than the green hull of a boat. An orange would be more convincing if rendered lighter in tone than the leaves. When producing a black and white image you usually want the image to appear natural and as expected. You will also notice that other colors like yellow, orange, cyan and magenta will change tonal values as you move the sliders or choose filtration depending on the relationships of those colors to red, green, or blue.

This is the final Color HDR image that has been post processed in Photoshop.

Here is a final B/W image produced from an HDR original which was modified with color filtration, toned and contrast controlled in Nik Silver Efex Pro.