About HDR HQ
Short Bio
Hi! My name is Pongky (Pungkas Nataatmaja) and I have been an avid photographer since the early 1990’s, and with almost 2 decades of photography under my belt, the passion for creating awesome images is still with me. Way back then I had a Nikon 35mm setup, mostly snapped photos of my then-girlfriend Myta (now my wife) and the area where I lived – I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. Then I went to Perth, Australia to attend Curtin University in 1996-1998 then went to California for work in 1999. I have since moved to Las Vegas, Nevada since 2004 and am loving it here.
When I got my first digital camera, the Canon Powershot G1 (3.3mp 3x optical zoom) it was in 2002 and it cost $400+ used. I was so excited about not having to use film anymore (no more dropping off / picking up at Costco). The first few nights I had that camera, I slept with it — don’t laugh, it was really a great feeling holding something I had wanted for so long. Of course the G1 was top of the line of point and shoots back then. So I had the G1 for 3 years – getting some accessories for it like an extension tube and using my Nikon SB24 flash on it (it worked). It wasn’t until 2006 that I first bought my first D-SLR, the Nikon D70s. It was because I was attending CES in Los Angeles (for work) that I thought it’d be a good idea to get one at that time – and the company I worked for paid for half – so that’s always good.
After using the D70s (bought for $1050) for 2 years, I came across a used D200 on craigslist for a good price, so I picked that up for around $800. I managed to sell my D70s for $600 which was a decent price. Later in 2008 I found a great deal on a 18-200mm VR lens, and I was a happy camper (for a while) until I was bitten by the full-frame bug in the shape of a Canon EOS 5D. After pixel peeping the images at high ISO between the 2 cameras, the difference was night and day – the 5D’s images were sharper, more vivid, had more resolution and cleaner at ISO 800 and above.
Since mid 2008 – my weapon of choice is the Canon EOS 5D. Here is my lense line-up:
I am a web developer / designer by trade — as that’s is pretty much my career for the last 9 years – creating websites, interactive flash banners, e-commerce sites and even online games. If you would like to see my work portfolio: www.pongky.com/work
My photography portfolio website: www.f28photos.com
My flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/pongky
My HDRWorld group on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/hdrhq/
My fotografer.net (Indonesian photo-sharing site): http://www.fotografer.net/isi/galeri/index.php?page=1&searchid=3&katacari=223709
Why HDR?
Shortly after joining flickr in March 2008, I started seeing these incredible images that caught my eye, until now. These were High Dynamic Range images, or HDR which included more than one exposure of the same scene — merged in software like Photshop CS3 / CS4 or Photomatix Pro. For me, taking the actual photos is only half the process — the other half is in the digital darkroom. I started to explore good HDR photography and what set them apart from regular 1-exposure images is the “look” that is so unique. So I set out and decided to define an HDR style (processing) of my own.
So the passion for HDR has been planted — now I almost have to shoot auto-exposure-bracketed (AEB) frames on every shoot because I am just so hooked on the HDR look and process. I realize some people don’t like the over-processed extreme look of some HDR images, I prefer more subtle and natural style – unless it is a shot that warrants such a vivid or extra high dynamic range — such as a cloudy sky or sunset. Basically it’s up to the photographer (artist) to finish off the idea of the image in his or her mind, through post processing. When you get down to it, HDR is just another tool for the artist to use to get the desired effect.
Here is my HDR set on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pongky/sets/72157606207290889/
Some examples:
I agree which your comments above. I also have caught the bug myself.I am always Thinking about my next subject matter every place I go. And I’m always looking for the best technique on the web. I Hope some day after hard workI i Can create my own techniques.
Also thanks for posting this great website.
My motto is each one teach one.
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