HDR: Hi I am quite new to the hog and I have found myself getting more and more interested by HDR photography. Some people think this is a step too far and is not really photography at...

Mr T

Hi I am quite new to the hog and I have found myself getting more and more interested by HDR photography. Some people think this is a step too far and is not really photography at all. What do you guys think ? Am I diminishing my skills by perusing this type of photography. Thanks for your thoughts

TheDman Loc: USA

Are you diminishing your skills by learning a skill? No.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Mr T wrote:

Hi I am quite new to the hog and I have found myself getting more and more interested by HDR photography. Some people think this is a step too far and is not really photography at all. What do you guys think ? Am I diminishing my skills by perusing this type of photography. Thanks for your thoughts

I think you need to do what you enjoy. Isn't that the real reason you have photography as a hobby? Don't let others decide what is right for you. I have seen some HDR that is beautiful and artistic, and some that made me shudder. But you only have to please yourself in this regard. Go...have some fun with it. There is absolutely no reason not to.

Mr T

Thank you I am planning another shoot this weekend to shoot London landmarks and HDR them

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Mr T wrote:

Hi I am quite new to the hog and I have found myself getting more and more interested by HDR photography. Some people think this is a step too far and is not really photography at all. What do you guys think ? Am I diminishing my skills by perusing this type of photography. Thanks for your thoughts

The Hog has an HDR section you might want to visit. I think HDR is great, but some people go too far with it IMHO. I have Photomatix HDR program and if yo let it do it's job and don't fiddle too much with all the sliders, you'll get great results. The trick is to take at least 3 images that have the exposures correct for highlights, midtones, and shadows. If you have that, you should get an image that has a lot of dynamic range.

Mr T

Thank for the advice jeep daddy I have just brought photomatix great programme

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Even if you decide to move away from general HDR photography later, you can utilize your HDR skills for the occasional selective HDR on your (otherwise non-HDR) images, such as for specific elements within the image when dealing with difficult exposure situations. There is absolutely no reason you must be either neck-deep in HDR or completely non-HDR with your photography - HDR can be used as much as a useful selective tool, as a style on its own.

Mr T

Thank you for your thoughts much appreciated

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Mr T wrote:

Hi I am quite new to the hog and I have found myself getting more and more interested by HDR photography. Some people think this is a step too far and is not really photography at all. What do you guys think ? Am I diminishing my skills by perusing this type of photography. Thanks for your thoughts

For those who think HDR is a "step too far" don't really understand that even non-HDR photos are not real or true to life, as it were. In fact, I think HDR (done right) is closer to what we see than non-HDR photos.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Ansel Adams used multiple exposures and combined them in the darkroom. If it was good enough for him...

Mr T

Really good points guys

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

HDR is an ADDITIONAL skill to bring to the photographic table.

As with everything HDR is a matter of taste. I love it if it isn't too surreal.

:)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I like HDR (done well) and use it myself.
If you like it, that's all that matters.
Here is a link to the HDR section:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-107-1.html

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

dsmeltz wrote:

Ansel Adams used multiple exposures and combined them in the darkroom. If it was good enough for him...

No he didn't. His print involved expansion and contraction of tonal range through development, dodging and burning, and slight contrast changes to graded paper through print development.

However, Gustave Le Grey did use multiple exposures. His technique involved an exposure for the foreground and an exposure for the sky. This was due to the sensitive of materials at the time. The materials were far more sensitive to blue which meant that the exposure for the ground for instance would result in a white sky.

GC likes NIKON Loc: East Greenwich, Rhode Island

Mr T wrote:

Hi I am quite new to the hog and I have found myself getting more and more interested by HDR photography. Some people think this is a step too far and is not really photography at all. What do you guys think ? Am I diminishing my skills by perusing this type of photography. Thanks for your thoughts

I don't believe that you are diminishing your skills, but on the contrary.....adding to them. Yes, you can go too far with HDR (in some people's eyes) or it can be used discreetly to enhance details otherwise unseen in the shadows.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder !!