HDR or Post Edited Images

Hi There Peeps,

I have had many feature pix on Picture social using HDR and also Edited photographs, I have found that my experience of HDR through the years has been a good one although on the other hand a bad one also.

Reason being is that i have moved away from HDR due to feeling it's a bit of a cop out to be honest, this is only my opinion. Why can't Picture Social have twos sections, one section for HDR images; and the other for normal photographs?

The truth about HDR is that you can make plain Jane images look pretty good without really having to be a skilled photographer, i feel that it's a tool that really is over rated and draws to much attention away from real photography, I hope this does not offend any of you peeps as i have come to this conclusion through using HDR and i just feel that it's use is more of a gimmick and should not have any place in producing serious photographs.

Picture Social seems to feature to many HDR's these days??

Am i the only one with this opinion??

Si Mason :)

Tags: HDR

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin Wise on January 17, 2012 at 1:43pm

Normal, whatever is socially and morally acceptable at that present place and time. If you happen to be a headhunter in the jungles, guess what is normal :)

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Permalink Reply by Myles Bond on January 17, 2012 at 4:35pm

When HDR first came out I was so in awe of what it took to get this effect. As time wore on we saw the good hdr and the not so good hdr, which brought me back to the basics. What is it that effects us about "great" photography. What are we really trying to convey, beauty, emotion, excitement, drama, etc. So depending on that I'd say each story has its proper application and if its done " well " then you have accomplished somthing. For those who have the knowledge I say go for it, Im all eyes.

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Permalink Reply by Si Mason on January 18, 2012 at 4:14am

Thank you Myles, you seem to have come down the same path as myself. yes it has pushed me into focusing on improving my photographic skills. :)

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Permalink Reply by Greg maklae on January 19, 2012 at 7:59am

Your quote "The truth about HDR is that you can make plain Jane images look pretty good without really having to be a skilled photographer", takes away what HDR is all about. Digital cameras have a limited range, far less than the human eye, before an image goes too black or too white. No amount of skill, no amount of equipment can over come all of this. To compensate for this HRD was developed. It is not simply a matter of snapping three images. It involves properly exposing shadows, midtones and highlights. Then it involves the knowledge to combine these images to mimic what the eye saw, and not create some circus type photograph. Done properly, and that if the key, as it often isn't, HDR requires more skill than a single exposure image.

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Permalink Reply by Papa Rotzzi on January 19, 2012 at 11:48am

I find HDR is way too over used by way too many people who do not know how to use it. It is just one of those trends in popular photography. PictureSocial features them because the people who run the site recognize the popularity of these photos and likely enjoy these types of photos themselves.

There are many artists for whom HDR photography is their media. They learn both the art and skill and create amazing images using that form. I marvel at their work and enjoy seeing it displayed. It is very real, photographically and artistically to me.

Then there are those individuals who use HDR and pseudo-HDR effects to do little more than save mediocre to bad photos.. a little digital lipstick on a virtual pig. But my eyes still see the lack of subject, busy backgrounds, bad framing and cropping.. all of the things that made the photo bad to mediocre in the first place. Adding contrast and over-sharpening and saturating the heck out of the photo may make a decent first impression, but a closer look will betray the lack of.. true photographic/artistic integrity.

It is up to us, the PictureSocial community, to decide for ourselves what is noteworthy and what is not-worthy. I will always stand against changing a website because I don't like a small part of it. I encourage users to make use of the "like" button and to check out what their friends like. It creates a new user experience where the "Featured" photos are irrelevant and friendships become more valuable.