HDR (High Dynamic Range – or as I prefer – Heedless Damage to my Retina) images are possibly the most frequently misused technique in the photographerՉs arsenal. Թ Թ The technique is capable of producing some of the most gawdawful, eye-ball poking, wildly emetic images in the world today. Թ It might surprise some of you to hear me say that – especially since IՉve taught HDR at SWMCC meetings, and have been an avid practitioner for some 7 years!
Historically, HDR has been around since the middle of the 19th century (thatՉs 1850 – surprised?) as a technique to extend the cameraՉs dynamic range. Թ This is a classic technique, and one that I still use frequently. Թ For example, would any of you suspect that the image below is an HDR? Possibly – if you thought about it. Թ In this image, the window is from one exposure while everything else is another.
Another Թ historical reason to combine exposures is to avoid noise in the shadow areas of a digital image. Թ This was more important 6 or 8 years ago when digital cameras produced a significant amount of noise in the shadows (and even mid-tones) of an image. Թ This goes hand-in-hand with the Expose To The Right (ETTR) philosophy that was also an important technique back in the early days. Թ The need to use either of these techniques has greatly diminished in recent years as camera technology has become more advanced.
But thereՉs a completely different goal of HDR, and that is to even out the shadows and highlights – to produce an oddly-surreal (and to me grotesque) image in which nearly everything is evenly lit. Թ It is this type of image with which I take umbrage. Թ I actually find it sort of repellent. Թ If everything is evenly lit – shadows and highlights nullified – where is the drama between light and dark? Թ What interest is there for someone viewing the image? Թ WhatՉs the point of doing this other than exercising a technique simply for techniqueՉs sake (something IՉve heard Josh Mitchell call – and quite appropriately, I think – nothing more than mental masturbation)?
Blacks define an image. Թ ItՉs far better to take a picture at the right place and time rather than rely on an over-hyped technique to try to save an image that is of poor quality to begin with.
IՉve kept fairly quiet about all of this until now – but felt it was a good time to express a few seasoned views. Թ Feel free to disagree with me, of course – discussion is one of the reasons the FB page exists (it seems to have replaced the ill-fated membersՉ forum we once had in place).
Also – before you try an HDR (in the classic sense), try using the ՉFill LightՉ control in Lightroom (or Adobe Camera Raw), or the ՉShadow/HighlightՉ tool in Photoshop. Թ In most situations, these will probably do what you need. Թ But donՉt forget the goal of your image – to produce a dynamic and vividly interesting image that contains a full range of shadows and highlights. Take advantage of your black space! Թ Remember – the best HDR is one that no one knows about!
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