To HDR or not to HDR

According to Wikipedia:
In image processing, computer graphics, and photography, high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR) is a set of techniques that allow a greater dynamic range of luminances between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods. This wider dynamic range allows HDR images to more accurately represent the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes, ranging from direct sunlight to faint starlight.
In my opinion HDR is grossly overdone. I think it's a crutch for poor photographers that use HDR as a gimmick instead of a photography tool.
I seldom use HDR because:
Most of the time it's not needed.
It forces me to wade through piles and piles of junk, poorly exposed images.

I can usually get the same or better picture with just one image.


I do use HDR in Photoshop when I am photographing a scene with grey or cloudy sky, when photographing the interior of a junk car, where I usually encounter bright light and almost total darkness. HDR is great for that. I have absolutely no need for HDR shooting landscapes or wildlife under a nice blue sky or a partly cloudy sky.


A lot of people have incorrectly associated HDR with "enhanced", gaudy, crappy colors. Flickr Explore is infamous for this kind of tasteless crap.
Bright, bold, gaudy colors have their place but only a small minority of the time.
Photographers use that trick on Flickr because their gaudy thumbnails will catch the eye. Click on the picture and you get this ugly, stupidly gaudy image with super saturated colors. That is NOT HDR.


From the days of black and white film to digital photography one fact has always held true.
Nothing beats a properly exposed picture.


When I do resort to HDR I warn myself by shooting with my fingers accross the lens before and after I work in HDR. I generally set the camera to bracket at 1 fstop above and below the camera's level.
That gives me three images to work with but I have found that if you are doing a great scene and want to really nail the picture then 6 to 12 exposures done manually at 1/2 fstop work really well.
For that kind of work you need a very sturdy and steady tripod and a light touch as you adjust the camera.


I have tried various HDRI software packages but have found that Photoshop starting with CS3 on up does a far superior job and is much easier to work with than any of the standalone software.
Yeah, you pay a lot for Photoshop but for the long haul you get so much more for your money.
Don't expect Adobe Photoshop Elements to do the same job the full package gives you. There is a reason Photoshop costs so much more. It delivers far more.
Let me know how you edit your pictures and if you have any tips you want to share.
Or just leave a comment. Thanks for the visit!