Zeipekis Photography-15_6_7_8HDR

HDR tends to get a bad rap on this site. Part of the reason I don't

come around much anymore. Personally, I love the texture and detail

that comes out in the process. Your thoughts are welcome.

HDR has many uses and appearances, from natural to painterly to the more extreme "Grunge"  And whilst I don't like all HDR images, particularly those that look completely over processed, my dislike of any particular one has nothing to do with them being HDR and everything to with some of them just not being aesthetically pleasing to me. Though I can't understand why anyone would object to the process itself. 

This one however I find to be tasteful and visually appealing, great colours! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

The problem that I find with many HDR landscapes is that the process kills the light dynamics-- often shadows are too lively and highlights are killed, and so many great images become flattened or unreal.  Here, the foreground appears like a flat mush of leaves on a canvas, and the background is competing too much with the main tree.  In real life, there are dark shadows and there are bright highlights.  I don't understand the crazy notion that we need to see everything in a photo on an even luminosity.  Only when I directly focus on one area can my eyes see deeply into the shadows or shade the sunlight.  When I look at a whole scene, I tend to see it more as the camera does.  And that's why, I feel, that composition is the most important element for landscape photography.  Personally, I don't use HDR; but don't give up on it and what you love to do!  Regards, Jeff

I really appreciate the honest feedback.

Jeff, I understand your point about light and shadow and I do try to balance them realistically in my photography. To me, this image is a more accurate representation of the actual scene than film or single frame digital. Often, I see the opposite. Unrealistic scenes lit artificially, or selective lightening and darkening of the photograph in PP. There are more ways to create depth and to isolate a subject than just light or an overbearing vignette.

Thanks for the comment!