I've been wanting to play around with HDR images lately and after cleaning the engine bay on Sunday I figured it would be a perfect opportunity.

I used my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3 with auto bracket between +-1EV (as wide as it would go). easyHDR BASIC was used for tone mapping.

Not sure what to think of the resutls. Some of them turned out, others were a dismal failure.

 

 

 

 

 

i love your engine bay, but those pics dont really look HDR to me...

 

i dont really know what hdr is but i have a question lol..

what did you use to plug where the stock sensor was on the top of the thermostat neck?

 

Lookin' real boss Aaron

 

aaron cake! haven't seen your name for awhile. =P

is the build done yet?

 

Are you happy with that heat wrap in protecting the fuel lines? I remember about a year ago you did a massive update and I had mentioned that. Looks like it should be OK now

Also, where is that turbo oil feed line coming from? Looks like some sort of filter being fed from... somewhere?

 

Yeah, I don't quite know what happened. I followed the instructions, took three different exposures and then combined them in software. The result was that the pictures showed a hell of a lot more detail and had a better dynamic range, but hardly HDR. Keep in mind I took many of these pictures in the shadows at 7PM. The process did bring out a lot detail but didn't create that super surreal look I've been in other HDR images. Maybe I need different software?

My car never had this sensor. It didn't have an aux fan.

Almost...I'll be posting an update thread in the next little while. Just need to get some interior details sorted out.

It's been fine so far, but I still intend to make a heat shield and add another layer of heat wrap.

The oil feed comes from the oil cooler, goes through a filter, and then connects to the turbo.

 

More exposure on each one.

 

That's pretty bad HDR I'm not gonna lie. If you have a manual mode, meter for the correct exposure then shoot. Then without changing the aperture, slow the shutter speed 3 stops, take a picture, then up 3 stops and take a picture. Then use a better program (qtpfsgui is the best free HDR software, but if you wanna pay for good HDR software that works better, go Photomatix). Those don't look HDR at all, they just look kinda overexposed.

 

eh, too much red for my liking...

the alternator looks good sans the pulley.

how big is your charge pipe?

 

why is your line for the washer fluid on the right of the bay?
cool pics BTW...

 

It does have alot of red but it still looks damn good.

 

That's odd.
As custom and nicely assembled as this engine bay is, that's the first thing I noticed as well.

 

The only thing is, if I adjust the exposure manually it's likely the camera will shift position slightly and the images won't be aligned. That's the main reason I used the auto bracket.

I can set the camera to aperture priority, no problem on that. But the auto bracket only allows me to go +-1. As it is, to avoid shake, I had to use the self-timer to get those images. If I pressed the button they would never align.

I'm downloading qtpfsgui now and I'll give it a try.

One thing I did notice about pictures is whatever I did, while not so much with the HDR, it did bring out all the detail.

2.5" all the way through. Then just before the throttle body it increases to 3" to meet up with the 3 1/4" Mustang throttle body.

Red is good.

Because my car is a proper 2nd gen in which the washer fluid reservoir is mounted on the drivers side and not stupidly in the passenger front fender.

 

wait.....(not to get off your engine pics subject) why is it "proper"?
every FC ive seen is mounted in the passenger front fender?
is it the same reservoir as in the passenger fender?
i need to make a extensioin off my turbo so its not (filter) cming directly off the turbo...

 

Does your camera come with software to be wired into a computer an remotely fired? If so all you have to do is set up on the tripod, wire in your USB cord into a laptop. physically set the camera to aperture priority and through the computer fire a shot, get the exposure off by as many stops as you can in both ends of the spectrum, and you're good. IDK about point and shoto cameras but I know that the Canon DSLRs have this software, it's called EOS capture and I think you can get it for free off Canon's website under "support" and "drivers and software" for the 20D. It'd be worth a try. Also check your camera's website for the most up to date supporting firmware, drivers, and software and see fi it frees up any options. It sounds like a mid level P&S. Good luck, I hope gtpfsgui (weird name, I know) helps you out a little. Just play around with the sliders until you get results you like.

 

looking good bro

take some exterior pics see if they are diffrent

 

The "proper" thing was a bit of a joke. Early 86s had the washer fluid reservoir mounted in the drivers fender, and the coolant overflow bottle near the fuse box. Later cars moved the washer tank to the passenger fender and the coolant bottle to the bumper.

Doesn't look like there's any such software available for my camera. It's a decent point and shoot. I'd have to say I'm happy with it aside from the fact that the low light kind of sucks (typical). I've also downloaded gtpfsgui and played with it a little. Has the typical open source issues but seems to do a much better job then easyHDR. This weekend I'll take a few more and see what the results are.

 

hey wt up homz..m new to dis fan club bt seein alot o rx7 lovers cheers me up...n dts 1 mean lukin engine u gt dre.....u givin me mo ideas...........
i gta 3rd gen rx7 n it tuk me 3 months to do it up....its pushin 520hp ryt nw...
peace n love t ya all n max respct for e love u gt for rx7

 

 

^ wow... lol. Beautiful engine bay Aaron. Even though your attempts at HDR didn't come out as planned the pictures are still good. I have yet to try HDR.... I'm lazy.

I'm going to be real sad when your photography is as good as your engine building....