Keith_W Posted April 10, 2018 Share #1 Posted April 10, 2018 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I was wondering what forum members felt about HDR images. Personally I can't stand it. This is one example that popped up on my Facebook feed: [image removed for copyright reasons] The other sin with this photograph is cliched use of a wide angle lens. I don't like over HDR'ed images, the pictures no longer look as if someone saw it. IMO it looks artificial, and they all look the same. Opinions? Edited April 10, 2018 by LUF Admin [Image removed for copyright reasons] 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 10, 2018 Posted April 10, 2018 Hi Keith_W, Take a look here Too much HDR. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pgk Posted April 10, 2018 Share #2 Posted April 10, 2018 Opinions? Yuk! I detest excess HDR but then again I struggle to accept montages, highly manipulated photographic images or photos substantially 'converted' to watercolour simulations or similar to be photographs. Digital 'Art' perhaps, photos no. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gobert Posted April 10, 2018 Share #3 Posted April 10, 2018 In the beginning when HDR became popular I liked it quite much. Nowadays, I dislike it to the same extend as I once liked it. Same with monochrome with color accent. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_W Posted April 10, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted April 10, 2018 Same with monochrome with color accent. Well said, that's really cliched too. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted April 10, 2018 Share #5 Posted April 10, 2018 AK! That picture brought on a flash back. Well, it's legal and cheaper than drugs. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUF Admin Posted April 10, 2018 Share #6 Posted April 10, 2018 Sorry folks, had to remove this image. Please post only image if you have the corresponding rights. Everything else can cause legal trouble for me - we are running here under German law. Andreas 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gobert Posted April 10, 2018 Share #7 Posted April 10, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sorry folks, had to remove this image. Please post only image if you have the corresponding rights. Everything else can cause legal trouble for me - we are running here under German law. Andreas I think the discussion is clear: (extreme) HDR processing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted April 10, 2018 Share #8 Posted April 10, 2018 Is it worse than draining the colour from a scene? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted April 10, 2018 Share #9 Posted April 10, 2018 Is it worse than draining the colour from a scene? Monochrome is color without hue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted April 10, 2018 Share #10 Posted April 10, 2018 (edited) The need for HDR seems to have waned as sensors have got better with wider DR ...... it was after all just a processing technique to compensate for sensor deficiencies. If used to lift detail out of shadows and avoid blown highlights then I cannot see what the problem is. However ..... the majority of HDR processors and algorithms that do this tend to produce pretty garish results. Almost all tend to create very artificial colours. The only one I have used that offers good control and produces 'natural' results is Oloneo PhotoEngine..... you would be hard pushed to tell it is an HDR image at all if used well. If you want a grotty example to criticise .... here's one .... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited April 10, 2018 by thighslapper Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/283574-too-much-hdr/?do=findComment&comment=3498077'>More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted April 10, 2018 Share #11 Posted April 10, 2018 something a bit less ghastly ..... but this church interior would be impossible to photo otherwise in natural light Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/283574-too-much-hdr/?do=findComment&comment=3498094'>More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted April 10, 2018 Share #12 Posted April 10, 2018 (edited) and something which to my eye doesn't look to unnatural ..... but there again it's all a matter of taste I only use HDR when the alternative image is a dead loss without it ...... and I'm far too lazy to use multiple flash or lighting set-ups ..... You are welcome to tear any or all to shreds in the spirit of 'constructive' criticism ..... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited April 10, 2018 by thighslapper 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/283574-too-much-hdr/?do=findComment&comment=3498099'>More sharing options...
Richardgb Posted April 11, 2018 Share #13 Posted April 11, 2018 <snip> I don't like over HDR'ed images, the pictures no longer look as if someone saw it. IMO it looks artificial, and they all look the same. Opinions? There is a perennial question about whether the goal of an image should be to look natural, which presumably means to recreate an impression similar to that experienced by the viewer of the original the scene. If this is the goal but the result looks artificial, then clearly it's a 'fail'. However, there have been many successful images which do not look 'real'... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted April 11, 2018 Share #14 Posted April 11, 2018 I do some interior photography for realtors and often have to do HDR shots. When shooting a room with a window I will use a three shot bracket. One exposed for the outside as seen through the window, one exposed for the shadow areas of the room, and one for the room mid-tones. The result is much like thighslapper's last shot above. With a single shot, exposed for the interior lighting, the windows will be blown out. To my mind that is far more unnatural looking. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_W Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share #15 Posted April 11, 2018 thighslapper I don't mind your shot. The colours look natural, and that is more or less what the eye sees. The shot I posted (deleted by admin) was quite unnatural. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gobert Posted April 11, 2018 Share #16 Posted April 11, 2018 something a bit less ghastly ..... but this church interior would be impossible to photo otherwise in natural light L8002164-HDR-2.jpg This one is a good exemple how HDR can be applied in a (very) good way. The other one, I don’t know. I’m not convinced. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted April 11, 2018 Share #17 Posted April 11, 2018 HDR can be used effectively - I do use it. The problem with many HDR shots is that they are about using HDR, not about producing an image. If a PP technique will deliver an image as envisaged/required that's fine. All too often though HDR images are taken simply to utilise the technique, and its shows. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted April 11, 2018 Share #18 Posted April 11, 2018 HDR topics were hot sometime ago. Many of us went through HDR back then. From making gross images to understanding what iPhone HDR funcion is the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted April 11, 2018 Share #19 Posted April 11, 2018 (edited) Yuk! I detest excess HDR but then again I struggle to accept montages, highly manipulated photographic images or photos substantially 'converted' to watercolour simulations or similar to be photographs. Digital 'Art' perhaps, photos no. What pgk said. @thighslapper, the #3 image that you posted looks natural; #1 and #2 of the church interior? Not so much. Many people in my photography club (150-160 members) have in the past have had a fascination with making HDR imagery. A few of the resulting prints have looked natural; the majority have been hideously over manipulated. Bluck! It is natural to have shadows, even dark places in a scene. Not every nook and cranny of a scene must be illuminated as if its being blasted with the landing lights of an Airbus A380. Edited April 11, 2018 by Herr Barnack 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmahto Posted April 25, 2018 Share #20 Posted April 25, 2018 (edited) something a bit less ghastly ..... but this church interior would be impossible to photo otherwise in natural light L8002164-HDR-2.jpg Better but still not good. For me the test of HDR (as natural) is very simple. The tonal values across the scene should not mess up natural order (example: direct sunlight scene should have larger tonal value than in shade). They can compress and expand in tonal range but not leave their space in tonal order. Otherwise it looks unnatural to our senses. Something seems off. In this church scene, the tonal value outside window (direct sunlight) is almost same (or overlapping) compared to some parts of interior tonal values (I am eyeballing it but it is easy to check with LR whether I am correct). This seems unnatural. Ming Thein wrote an article long time ago describing how tonal range can be compressed (but not overlapped) for good HDR. Edited April 25, 2018 by jmahto Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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