AHDR imaging has been used to show rich detail in this
First World War Memorial Church.
Tikitiki is a remote village near East Cape, New Zealand. The Ngati Porou Maori Tribe built the church, under the direction of Sir Apirana Ngata. The carvers were Arawa tribe from Rotorua and they taught local boys such as Pineamine Taiapa, starting around 1924. Maori carvers were so hard to find for this church that Apirana Ngata had a school of Maori Arts and Crafts set up in Rotorua, where it still operates.
Sun shining through stained windows onto the red carpet is a problem in ordinary photography, but with HDR details are seen in both the dark and brightly lit carpet. At the same time, the very dark alter rail carving is visible.
The photographer has choices when making HDR images and the rail could have been made even lighter, but often at the expense of lower contrast in the rest of the image. However, even that "problem" can be overcome with selective image processing. That was not done here since rich, dark carving is a feature of this rail. HDR, used badly, can make a very unrealistic image.
A
(Note: Monitor images look different on Macintosh and Windows computers. Windows computer monitors have a higher contrast (gamma), which makes pictures look darker. These images were prepared by the author on the old graphics industry standard - a Mac. If you are using an LCD screen, the image is lighter if you tilt the monitor forwards.)
B
The magnificent alter has been photographed by a lower contrast and sharper HDR technique, which enhances details in the carving, but the effect is not so "rich". The more intense, darker version A, is closer to the emotional impact of the church. The real detail only comes out with the original, large versions of these images. But even stereoscopic HDR cannot give the full effect, so get ready for a journey to New Zealand's East Coast and experience it for yourself!
Wide angle view, 800 pixels, big HDR image of the front of the church.
Details of carved pew, pulpit stair, pulpit supporter.
Life in the Village Images of old New Zealand village activities
Old pulpit picture This illustrates old fashioned photography, without modern HDR.
