Is this HDR? Or just saturated colors

[ampguy]

<image removed, link below>

I was at this place recently, and will show my photos soon. I'm curious if this is considered HDR, or just saturating color levels? Although I'd prefer my flatter less saturated color photos of this scene, I think I'd like to try doing this for fun once or twice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raavi/4098826485/in/set-72157622458377419/

 

[Mablo]

I consider this HDR. Nice photo anyway.

 

[antiquark]

Appears to be HDR.

 

[Neare]

Yep that is HDR. I'm not a fan, makes everything look fake.

 

[martin s]

This is what could have been a decent photograph. I'd say it's also HDR.

martin

 

[elshaneo]

HDR most probably I'd say 🙂

 

[Steve Karr]

"kinda like Botox lips or B**bs, just looks weird.

 

[Roberto V.]

"kinda like Botox lips or B**bs, just looks weird.

Hahahah, couldn't have said it better.

 

[Alpacaman]

I can see how it would appeal to someone. It is a nice picture, just not quite to my liking. But that is probably more to do with the composition than the colours. My eye simply does not know where to look.

Edit: I realised that I had not answered the question. I couldn't tell at first, but looking at the rock face above where the river leaves the lake keads me to believe that it is an HDR. Also, the soft waterfall but the sharp clouds suggest a bracketing sequence, but it could just be a few second long exposure.

 

[AJShepherd]

I'd just say it was hideous and leave it at that.

 

[user237428934]

Not necessarily HDR. With one of my NIK packages comes one filter (Tonal Contrast) that increases contrast in details like in the photo above. But it's not my taste.

 

[Neare]

Also consider that the photographer tagged the photo with "HDR" and "Exposure Blending"... added to HDR groups as well. His entire photostream seems to be of this type of photography. Looks like something out of a video game, not the real world.

 

[squinza]

HDR, definitely innatural...

 

[gdi]

There outta be a law...

 

[Bobfrance]

What's that whirring sound?

Oh it' Ansel Adams spinning in his grave at 200rpm. 😀

 

[Vincent.G]

It's HDR but I prefer shots that are selective in details either in the highlights or shadows.

 

[kossi008]

It's both: HDR *with* saturated color.
Not my taste, but hey, it's a free world, right?

 

[RF-Addict]

Over-sharpened, over saturated over-everything. And yes, it appears to be HDR.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks all, to be clear, this isn't my photo, I found it in google images, then posted the flickr image and his info link below.

This isn't my taste either, but I'm still interested in trying this out. I guess one needs photoshop, and then a tripod to take a few exposures up and down?

 

[Ezzie]

HDR tone maps the different exposures. I'd have liked a tool to map several exposures with different focus points, achieving real infinite depth of field. However HDR can be used to enhance an image, bring out some shadow detail for instance, but most of the time the photographer goes overboard and overdoes it. At which point you get the bland result shown here.