Lately I've seen a big increase in the number of HDR processed photos. I personally love the look of most HDR processed photos! Through my experiences of working with HDR I've discovered that sometimes a photo looks better in HDR while at other times the original is best. Let's look at a few and compare the originals to the HDR version. Which do you like best?
Well you may know that I do like "a bit of HDR" but entirely objectively, I have to say the HDR just tips it here by virtue of more detail in the darker areas, especially front left.
As you say though, some shots just work great with HDR, others just don't. And it's often surprising to see just which shots fall into which category. :)
@dejongdd I'm new to the world of HDR and haven't gotten a shot yet that I like better then the original. That being said, I've seen some AMAZING HDR photos out there. I think it really can add to a picture.
I do prefer your original shot to HDR in this instance.
I think it would better to judge the pictures without the black vignette. That being said, The HDR version does have more detail in the shadow areas as well as the highlights. As for specific elements in the picture:
Foreground snow - The non-hdr version's snow is blown out, not detail. The amount of detail on the hdr version of the snow is good.
Trees on mountain - The HDR version looks better in terms of detail. No adverse HDR effects.
Foreground pines - The HDR version is borderline in terms of appearing realistic. Definitely better detail in the HDR version .
Foreground stream - HDR version is better. Highlights not blow out.
To improve the HDR version, I would darken slightly the tree shadows.
Overall the HDR version has less contrast. The HDR version is a little flatter.
it depends on the shot for me often in getting the detail you loose some of the colour, sometimes the picture looses some of its depth by taking out its shadow, in the above original shot the snow appears whiter the sky is brighter and the trees are deeper and more wild looking because of the depth of shadow, in the hdr image the snow seems grey the sky seems more muted and the trees seem flatter from lack of shadow, this is probably because the image is comprised of mid range dynamics i.e. there are no over light or over dark areas. HDR works best where there are extremes of light, like these
I can't work out how to do HDR on PS CS5 but I tend to use shadows/highlights a lot which to me has a similar effect but takes a lot of playing about. HDR on Picnik was dead easy to use though and loved that but I'm determined to get using HDR again as some of my photos I feel need it.
@dejongdd - I really do prefer the original of this one (mountain scenery) although I might lift some of the shadows in Photoshop with the Shadows/Highlights feature
I think it totally depends on the scene, and even then it's subjective. I personally like whatever looks most "natural" -- that is, what it looked like to my naked eye. Not to say that it's bad to make alterations to intensify color or emphasize certain areas, but sometimes I think HDR goes too far, and it begins to look other-worldly. Of course, going way to the extreme deliberately, for the sake of creating art, is a whole different realm as well, so I guess it really is true that "anything goes" because any time we present our photographs, they are works of art, right?
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
As you say though, some shots just work great with HDR, others just don't. And it's often surprising to see just which shots fall into which category. :)
I do prefer your original shot to HDR in this instance.
Original...
HDR...
Foreground snow - The non-hdr version's snow is blown out, not detail. The amount of detail on the hdr version of the snow is good.
Trees on mountain - The HDR version looks better in terms of detail. No adverse HDR effects.
Foreground pines - The HDR version is borderline in terms of appearing realistic. Definitely better detail in the HDR version .
Foreground stream - HDR version is better. Highlights not blow out.
To improve the HDR version, I would darken slightly the tree shadows.
Overall the HDR version has less contrast. The HDR version is a little flatter.
As Dean said, it is subjective.
My $0.02
before
after
HDR:
Image > Adjustments > HDR toning