Bogin Bob Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

I'll call this post a 'Just Saying' post.

I approach and use HDR rather conservatively, meaning I do not create 'wild' art, over contrasted images or green sunsets with purple foregrounds. I periodically use HDR where I would like to mildly enhance an image to bring out a few features or highlights I recall from the original shoot. I recently shot a set of bracketed shots (3 RAW shots at -2.0 / 0.0 / +2.0 EV) and experimented with creating a mild HDR. I found that after all was said and done, the relatively newly released Macphun Luminar came out number one in my less than scientific comparison. All three did enhance the images, however the point and click operation of in Luminar and the ease of walking through the various presets (ones that came with Luminar and those obtained free online), and selecting an enhanced image 'close' to my liking was much faster and after returning to Lr CC for final touches, actually produced a more desirable final photo.

I am not suggesting Luminar is an end all solution for HDR or post-processing (at least not until they database photo management tools - that's coming) it is a nice option for casual HDR (maybe call it faux HDR) use and with their layers options there are great possibilities. Nik (unsupported by Google) and Lr CC both merge multiple images to create the HDR, where with Luminar you select the 'one' best of three images and post process that image.

Bob

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Google's HDR Efex Pro will perform the same "faux" HDR using a single image, or can be used to merge multiple images/exposures.

FWIW:

I often create additional multiple Virtual Copies in Lightroom, adjust exposure of each VC +/- and then can merge the original plus the VC's to get HDR effects within Lightroom or Photoshop.

BTW - I agree with mild HDR as well

Bogin Bob Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Hmm interesting - will try it.
"I often create additional multiple Virtual Copies in Lightroom, adjust exposure of each VC +/- and then can merge the original plus the VC's to get HDR effects within Lightroom or Photoshop."
Bob

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

My HDR software is Photmatic Pro. With Photomatix you can make the file as natural or as weird as you want. I aim to make my files as natural as I can.
I have been very happy with Photomatix.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

On my computer I currently have full Photoshop w/HDR module, NIK HDR Efex and Photomatix. While Photomatix is usually my go to, I have had times where I preferred the outcome of PS or NIK to Photomatix.

I have also, on numerous occasions, produced quite acceptable "HDR" effects simply by using the basic tools in Photoshop (saturation, vibrance, exposure, contrast/brightness, etc.) without having to resort to firing up additional software. I have frequently achieved results I been more pleased with using this method than I have achieved using dedicated HDR software.

Bogin Bob Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

I have experienced that also. If you have a Mac - try 30 day trial of Macphun's Luminar. Their offer of enhancing through presets is very acceptable and produces a mild HDR if so desired - then take it back into Lr or PS and finish.