What do you think about HDR images?

[Tuolumne]

I've been interested in getting into HDR processing, especially for landscapes that have a high dynamic range beyond that of most digital cameras (or even film for that matter). In the few asides I've read here about it, most seem to look down on it. How do you feel about HDR images? Do you shoot any yourself? if so, what software do you favor for making them?

Thanks,
/T

 

[blackwave]

Resist the temptation! Set the acronym down and slowly step away.. 🙂

 

[dcsang]

Last time I checked, I don't believe there were any printers possible of capturing the HDR image in print form.

Has this changed?

If not, then I remain "uninterested" per se. I know people who do like it specifically for the purpose you are looking at, that is, landscapes but without being able to accurately print an HDR image it seems a bit of an exercise in futility for me.

That said, if a printer now exists, I'd like to see HDR images in print form before pursuing them. 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Curt Gerston]

I've been experimenting a little with Photomatix Pro. Here's a few examples. Each were shot as a single RAW file, then processed in LR for three different exposures levels ( -2, 0, +2 ) and then run through Photomatix, where I further tweaked it, and then back into LR as a TIFF with more adjustments made with curves and the local adjustments brush. Sounds more complicated than it is. As I said, I'm just experimenting and learning, but I do like how it gives me more dynamic range to play with.

 

[brainwood]

Hi T

I find the more extreme HD images that have become popular recently distasteful.the harsh tones and false colours remind me of bad 'seaside' oilpaintings the kind done by the thousand in the far east and shipped over by the container full.

Done as a tool to extend the dynamic range of the camera is capable of can produce pleasing results. In my recent photographic journey into Rangefinders I shot for a while with a Canon D60. In order to get the B&W results I was looking for envolved alot of HDR work. I would take a good average exposure in RAW and then using 'RawShooterEssentials' I would produce several tiffs which had good exposure for various parts of the picture these were then combined using photoshop and adjusted with curves and levels.

I then rediscovered film , HP5+ and XP2 inparticular and found the same results in B&W can
be achieved in a single exposure simply scanned in.

I have become a born again film user

At the end of day if the HDR appeals to you Go For it. Surely photography is about what Floats your boat not mine

Chris

 

[Curt Gerston]

And one more...

And one more...

And here's one more where I shot a series of five RAW exposures, two stops apart each, specifically to combine in Photomatix and see what I could make of it. This was purely for practice. I don't love the picture, but its interesting to see the way the details are retained.

As to the question of printing: I use an Epson 2400, and printed the Mt Baker shot above, and it came out beautiful. Printers can print beyond what you can see on the screen, and it shows in the print. The detail is breath-taking.

 

[brainwood]

To me this looks totally natural, pretty much the dynamic range the human eye can see. I think so many photographers a used to very flat images, maybe because they missed the Kodachrome bus.

Very nice use of HDR. It adds to the image something not all HDR does.

Chris

 

[sojournerphoto]

This prints nicely - 5 or 7 raw exposures, I can't remember.

Mike


PS Actually this looks much brighter on the web than in print!

 

[Benjamin Marks]

+1 on Nikonwebmaster's comment. I was going to reply that I generally don't like them. There are plenty of examples on photo.net that look awful. Curt's image though really is a judicious use of this technology. And maybe that's the point. If the tech helps you make the image you want to make -- so much the better.

 

[colyn]

Last time I checked, I don't believe there were any printers possible of capturing the HDR image in print form.

Has this changed?

If not, then I remain "uninterested" per se. I know people who do like it specifically for the purpose you are looking at, that is, landscapes but without being able to accurately print an HDR image it seems a bit of an exercise in futility for me.

That said, if a printer now exists, I'd like to see HDR images in print form before pursuing them. 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

The company I work for part time has printers that will print HDR images with the full range. You pretty much have to print on metalic paper to get it though..

 

[rogue_designer]

A useful technique, that like anything, is subject to overuse and abuse.

Invaluable if well done. Horrible when not.

 

[martin s]

I just went to the city I grew up in, it's rather small. There's this semi-regular photo competition, and somebody won with a hdr, fake tilt-shift, over-saturated photograph. I really try not to be a snob, but jesus...

martin

 

[Roger Hicks]

A useful technique, that like anything, is subject to overuse and abuse.

Invaluable if well done. Horrible when not.

Exactly. "Think" and "HDR" need to appear a lot more often in the same sentence before HDR is a reliable success.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Morca007]

I've yet to see one that I like.

 

[navilluspm]

If you have a newer version of Photoshop you should have an HDR program right there. One that I have and like is Dynamic PHOTO HDR 4.

It's default settings are a little harsh, but there are a lot of neat little things in this program that make me like it. Don't ask for examples as I am very new at this. I just like thr program for some other features (Like the orbs you use to make certain lighting adjustments, or it's simple post processing editor that can use photoshop plugins, the filter selection, etc. . .) all for a very good price.

 

[Keith]

I think they're like death and taxes ... inescapable and unlikely to go away!

 

[Warren T.]

Resist the temptation! Set the acronym down and slowly step away.. 🙂

LOL 🙂

I think it's fine if done well, but I personally decided to stay away from the technique.

--Warren

 

[f16sunshine]

Is this at the old fort near the Keystone ferry dock?

 

[MatthewThompson]

I've used HDR very successfully for architectural interiors with a 10D and Sigma 10-20. The key to HDR is not being able to pick it out. If HDR is done well, it looks like a very well exposed film shot, in my experience.

There are lots of people out there shooting in technicolor these days. Sad to see.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I exactly agree the overuse and abuse of this technique. I hate when I see flat images, looking completely unnatural with no shadows-depth feeling! and it seems everybody gives thumbs up for those flat images.

The images posted here attract my attention to hdr and I loved it...Such beautiful use of the technique...Thanks for those examples...