Is it just my eyes?

[Mags ッ]

Is it just my eyes or does too much HDR 'flatten' photos?

I have Irlen syndrome, which means I don't see in 3D and I'm over sensitive to light. So it could easily just be me.

But some photos, when HDR'd, seem to lose all their depth and character - they become a 'flat' surface. The eye doesn't know where to look - 'too much information'. So sky, sea, houses, foreground, background - all have fabulous detail and intensity. But the eye just wanders round, unable to settle. No real focal point.

Does this make sense?

I would give examples, but I think that would be rather rude!

[Lorraine]

@boogie Take a look at my albums Mags, find some examples there. You're more than welcome to share so we can have an understanding of what you 'see' : )

[Mags ッ]

@lorraineb That's really kind of you - I have searched but find no examples in your albums of what I mean!

The examples tend to be landscapes with water and sky., or grass/sky etc

(Hmmm - we could do with a PM system so that I can ask permission!)

[Lorraine]

@boogie did you look at my experiments in PSE album? There are a few HDR's at the beginning of the year.

[Paul]

Hi Lorraine, too much HDR definitely flattens the tones spread from blacks to whites. I like to bring a bit more true black back in to come back towards reality. I have a lot of HDR images

[Mags ッ]

@wardie May I use one of yours as an example of my problem?

[Lorraine]

@wardie Yes, I always add some black, and try my best not to got OTT, but can get caught out if I'm editing in poor light.

[Paul]

@boogie absolutely ;-)

[Alison]

@boogie I may have some examples June 7 and 9, but these are tonemapped from single Jpeg ~ if they display what you are referring to please feel free to use

[Mags ッ]

@wardie Thank you!!

This one is a fabulous photo with great composition and colours. But I'd love to see it without the HDR. My eyes wander all around it and never 'settle'.

I think I'm trying to say it's too good!

I often have my screen brightness low due to my scotopic sensitivity (I remember to put it up when processing etc!) but when I brighten the screen the 'uncomfortable' HDR effect is hightened.

[Phil]

I'm afraid I'm not a great fan of HDR for that reason - I think it can make pictures look very flat. I've seen some that come out looking like drawings, or paintings which I can appreciate as very lovely but I do know what you mean about losing their depth.

[Mags ッ]

@alisonp Thank you so much :)

Here is a perfect example -

[Alison]

@boogie you're welcome ~ I am here to learn so discussion/comments are not taken personally :-)

[Lorraine]

Going by your examples I would say its not your eyes, I can see the impression that you have described. This use of HDR has made a photograph of a real scene appear like a detailed coloured drawing, a little flat, yes, but equally beautiful in its own way.

[Mags ッ]

@lorraineb Agreed - thank you :)

[hueymilunz]

it does look strange... especially the second one...

[Dorrena Ortega]

The rich smooth colors are lightened to show the contrast more. So, in the case of these two; the first example has some smooth areas that are free of the lines, the second has lines everywhere. There is nothing to break up the detail so I can see how the eye is overwhelmed with detail. The eyes need a place to rest.

I find if it is overdone there is a halo effect. I've seen it on my own pictures. It's not always obvious until it's been uploaded. Maybe it's the programs used to display the images.

The best hdrs I've seen have been where it was just enough. Ansel Adams said he would push the edits and when they crossed the line he would back off from that point until he saw what he liked.

[Paula x2 Brumbe]

@boogie I have to say I do not disagree, but may want to preface that real hdr (or composite) of taking several photos at different exposures and merging them together really works for me. An example of a professional that really did a great job http://prints.artwolfe.com/#s=5&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&p=6&a=1&at=0

It is when people just use a program to enhance one photo that it tends to make unnatural colors, creates halos, turns a bit dirty looking and gray, and lacks depth.

So real HDR can really work, but a quick editing tool on one photo is one of my least favorite style of photos I have seen on here (but that is my personal taste)

[Paula x2 Brumbe]

Also this is another good example. http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/159412/washington-post-raises-eyebrows-with-composite-photo-on-front-page/

[Dorrena Ortega]

@brumbe --- Good point and that may very well be the difference. Merging the photos enhances the smooth areas and increases the color intensity.

@sparkle - Juliette - does some the best hdrs on this site. I never have any issues with looking at them. I believe she is merging photos as well.

[Paula x2 Brumbe]

@dmortega you cannot even tell that this is a composite photo. It looks as if it is just one.

[Mark Fioretto]

I agree... overdone HDR is hard on my eyes as well. This one from two years ago is just bordering on excessive to me. Live and learn haha

[mittens (Marilyn)]

For some reason, I never think of HDR as being flat and don't see that in pictures. HDR to me seems to give the photo more depth bringing out the details in the picture. I like both the natural ones and the more illustrated ones. That is just me, though.

[jerry plume]

I have to say its all in the processing. This is an HDR done with one photo and the 3 exposure shots were changed in post processing.

[Kelly Gareau]

Here's HDR done with 5 photos... I did it up to look like a painting...

[Caryn]

@orangecrush I would not have guessed that one to be HDR. Great work!

[Laura]

Here are a couple HDR's with one of the original shots for each one. I like both of the styles of HDR. Some days I feel like doing art and sometimes I like a more realistic photo. And of course sometimes the photo is so bad that I just have to ETSOOI.

This is a 7 shot HDR.


This is one of the original shots. SOOC


This is a 5 shot HDR


This is one of the original shots. SOOC

[Jeff Walker]

This is a 5 shot HDR that I did because I could not get a shot of the State Capitol from where I was standing without way overexposing the buildings nearest to me so HDR was the only way to go... that or move, but I wanted the buildings along the street in the shot.... but I didn't want this one having the painting effect (which I happen to really like when its tastefully done)

[Mike]

This one is a 5 image HDR.



3 image -

[Flagged]

@boogie Most HDR's should give you a greater DoF as the detail is captured in Highs and lows, DoF can be shown with careful contrast editing in non HDR images eg; Tone mapping a single image.

[Mags ッ]

@gareauk1 I think it looks great! (But I would love to see the original - I suspect I'd much prefer it!)

[Mags ッ]

@lstasel I prefer your originals every time! (But I DO love to ETSOOI photos!)

[Mags ッ]

I think it's about there being 'too much interest' in the photo - so layering several photos makes this even more pronounced - as the best of each tends to be chosen.

I'm sure my eye condition exacerbates this 'tho - and I am not complaining, we all have our preferences :)

@jsw0109 @orangecrush @spdfreak @dmortega @wardie @lorraineb @alisonp @flagged @hueymilunz

[Phil]

These are gorgeous - IMO I think the layering adds more depth, whereas the 'picasa etc' HDR effect seems to outline the detail/edges and make it lose depth. I've tried it a few times and undone it - but the 'proper' version can be lovely.

[Paul]

Hi Mags, its all in the eye of the beholder I suppose ;-) I like the extra pop, but can be guilty of overdong too. Here is another HDR, can I get yoir view on thi one ?

[Mags ッ]

@wardie This one is great in my view - nkeeps the depth but improves the clarity :)

[Paul]

@boogie thanks mags, its a fin line we tread ;-)