I guess HDR photography (although I suppose that more accurately it should be called HDR processing) is one of those “love it or hate it” techniques. For those who may not be familiar with the term HDR is short for High Dynamic Range; you can read more about it here.
Far as I’m concerned it seems to be a way of expending a huge amount of effort to take a fairly reasonable pic and turn it into something quite gross, if not downright unbearable. I suppose you could say I’m in the “hate it” camp.
For some totally amazing examples of precisely why I can’t stand the technique check out the HDR group on Flickr. But be warned: you’ll probably need a pair of sunglasses… and maybe even some anti-vomit pills.
Ok, in fairness I’ll readily acknowledge that some folk actually like HDR-processed pics, and I respect their right to be of that opinion. Possibly they’re the same folk that have the colour on their televisions way over-saturated. It would sort of make sense.
However, I’m a fairly open-minded sort of bloke (except if Microsucks is involved!) and just because a pic’s been processed for HDR doesn’t mean I’ll simply refuse to look at it or automatically assume that it’ll be just more of the same. Nor, having seen a pic that I find quite appealing, will I dismiss it on learning that its been HDR-processed.
That latter remark is in fact quite interesting/revealing, and bears a closer look. For implicit therein is the very reason (or reasons) I can’t stand HDR. Far too often products of this technique look utterly artificial and contrived… and not in a good way. Extremely over-saturated, over-sharpened, over pretty much everything in fact. Apart from contrast; that seems, very often, to have become lost along the way somewhere. If someone really wants to produce one of these garish images wouldn’t it be simpler just to paint a picture?
Oh. I forgot. To paint (or even draw) something requires a certain artistic ability. (Heh heh. That’ll be my snide dig-of-the-day at all the pretentious “I’m an artist because I’m a photographer” types.)
And I thought HDR was supposed to be all about re-creating the tonal range of a scene as the human eye sees it cos a camera can’t (“If you ever wondered why the picture you took was different from the scenery you actually saw, then maybe it’s time for you to learn HDR photography” from the previously linked site)? So if that’s truly the way these HDR enthusiasts see things then perhaps, just conceivably, a visit to the optician may be in order. Or a psychiatrist.
The point is though, simply because a pic’s been HDR-processed doesn’t mean it has to look that way. And indeed, some subjects seem to lend themselves to it… providing it’s not overdone. And its the results of this more restrained use of the technique, that at first glance don’t necessarily appear to be HDR pics, that can actually work incredibly well. Hence my comment about not being totally closed-minded to it.
Mind you, examples of this calibre appear to be few and far between. Which is the whole reason for this post. For I’ve just come across some more!
The entire site’s well worth exploring, but whilst there make sure you particularly take a peek at “USS Clamp, ARS-33”. Now that’s the sort of stuff that could easily persuade me to try my own hand at this HDR lark. Maybe.
The other thing about HDR though is that, if used by a talented photographer, it can render images in such manner that they appear almost like the digital art one sees in some of the better on-line games, video games etc.
An artform that, if well-done, I actually do quite admire. The key words being “if well-done”. Because, so often, HDR isn’t well-done. In fact, a lot of it just seems to be a right old mess, presumably indulged in by followers of the “because I can” school, regardless of the presence or absence of any talent in that direction. But hey, they obviously like it so I guess its ok… for them.
And just to round things off nicely here are some more examples of HDR processing that really have impressed me. And interestingly, all of these have been selected from the aforementioned HDR group on Flickr as well!
[Edit 09.08.2010 - Just came across this highly relevant blog post... “Against HDR” that touches base with practically all the things I don't like about HDR. The comments also form a discussion worth reading.]
Hah! This was a surprise to read today. Thanks for the nod, Mike. I tend to share your thoughts on HDR overall. I like using it to bring out the scene to reflect more of what was actually seen with the eye, or use it as a base to bring a creative vision to life. I’m glad you like the Clamp. The final result of that image was pretty close to what I imagined it would be while I was pressing the shutter.
Hi Sean! Can’t remember now how I came across your site initially although I suspect it was probably browsing through WordPress tags. Anyway, once there I became totally sucked in. You’ve done some lovely work and it was a great pleasure to browse through it. So this post was in a sense a way of saying “thanks for sharing”.
And with that Clamp pic you did a great job of holding the camera steady. Respect.