Whatever happened to HDR: I’ve noticed in the last 6 months to a year that the number of HDR images being posted on various social media and other photography sites, including Ugly...

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

I’ve noticed in the last 6 months to a year that the number of HDR images being posted on various social media and other photography sites, including Ugly Hedgehog, have dwindled. We no longer see over cooked landscapes that have a cartoonish quality. Maybe the novelty has worn off, but I think there is something else at play. Modern mirrorless cameras, whether Sony, Nikon, Canon and even M43 bodies have sensors that have such improved dynamic range that HDR processing is no longer needed. With LR Classic and its new masking capabilities, it is possible to selectively brighten, saturate, bring out the shadows, and even selectively modify colors that there does not seem to be a much of a role for HDR processing anymore. Obviously, this is my opinion based on my experience, but I’m interested in what others think.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

To me it was a fad that wore off after my first HDR. OK, that was cool but let's get back to doing what I do. It was a lot of work to achieve what I could do with one exposure.
--Bob

scubadoc wrote:

I’ve noticed in the last 6 months to a year that t... (show quote)

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

rmalarz wrote:

To me it was a fad that wore off after my first HDR. OK, that was cool but let's get back to doing what I do. It was a lot of work to achieve what I could do with one exposure.
--Bob

My experience as well. I have even reduced my bracketing, since with mirrorless, it is easy to see the difference that changing the EV makes prior to taking the image. I still use the histogram when previewing the shot but what that now does is allow me to ETTR, see the histogram, and watch for the blinkies prior to pressing the shutter button.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Also many new cameras, phone and regular, have HDR set as the default and novices don’t even know they’re doing it.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes. and as I have said many times before, the good reasons for shooting raw become less and less every day .......
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rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've never bracketed. I use ETTR/EBTR and The Zone System 99.9% of the time. I rarely look at histograms when using the camera but use them as a guide during processing. I can seen the effect of changing exposure prior to looking through the view finder or focusing screen. That works for me.
--Bob

scubadoc wrote:

My experience as well. I have even reduced my bracketing, since with mirrorless, it is easy to see the difference that changing the EV makes prior to taking the image. I still use the histogram when previewing the shot but what that now does is allow me to ETTR, see the histogram, and watch for the blinkies prior to pressing the shutter button.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yea, the fad seems to have waned.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

scubadoc wrote:

I’ve noticed in the last 6 months to a year that t... (show quote)

I've never liked the garish look that is possible with HDR, but that garish look is a choice made in PP. It is not a necessary consequence of using HDR. Sharpening likewise can be over-done but we all use it. I frequently shoot using exposure bracketing when I notice high contrast in the scene and when I do I nearly always use HDR in PP, but my interest is in capturing a natural look. And I often kick myself later during PP when I realize I should have bracketed and did not think to do so.

HDR Merge of three bracketed images, edited for a natural look

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

pecohen wrote:

I've never liked the garish look that is possible with HDR, but that garish look is a choice made in PP. It is not a necessary consequence of using HDR. Sharpening likewise can be over-done but we all use it. I frequently shoot using exposure bracketing when I notice high contrast in the scene and when I do I nearly always use HDR in PP, but my interest is in capturing a natural look. And I often kick myself later during PP when I realize I should have bracketed and did not think to do so.

It does depend on how far people take it.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Longshadow wrote:

It does depend on how far people take it.

Like me.."all sliders to the right" is my motto.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

johngault007 wrote:

Like me.."all sliders to the right" is my motto.

ROFL!

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

pecohen wrote:

I've never liked the garish look that is possible with HDR, but that garish look is a choice made in PP. It is not a necessary consequence of using HDR. Sharpening likewise can be over-done but we all use it. I frequently shoot using exposure bracketing when I notice high contrast in the scene and when I do I nearly always use HDR in PP, but my interest is in capturing a natural look. And I often kick myself later during PP when I realize I should have bracketed and did not think to do so.

Wow

A Winter Wonderland

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

scubadoc wrote:

My experience as well. I have even reduced my bracketing, since with mirrorless, it is easy to see the difference that changing the EV makes prior to taking the image. I still use the histogram when previewing the shot but what that now does is allow me to ETTR, see the histogram, and watch for the blinkies prior to pressing the shutter button.

Same here.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Longshadow wrote:

Yea, the fad seems to have waned.

It was a relatively long fad, lasting 15 years or so.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

rook2c4 wrote:

It was a relatively long fad, lasting 15 years or so.

Wow, I didn't pay attention. I had no idea it lasted that long.