HDR? What are Your Thoughts

[Xtrah]

I've noticed a common attitude toward HDR photography on this board at times that it is just all bad. I'm curious to know your opinion on it. Why is it bad? Evil? Is it the death of all photography? Does it matter to a person buying a print whether the shot is HDR or not? I'm sort of lost in this whole mess, I've never gotten to try HDR and I really just am curious to find out the opinions of more people. Feel free to be as brutally honest as possible.

[sk66]

Why does it matter what I think?
Art is Art and it is appreciated /disliked as such. I appreciate HDR. I think subtle se is MORE realistic, strong application can be very striking but strong application ceases to look like a photograph. But does that really matter? That's for you to decide, for you.

[Xtrah]

I totally agree that art is for me to decide, and that is how I treat my art, but I am still curious as to the pros and cons given by each side?

[Nicole]

My thoughts? I really dislike overdone HDR. I was pretty convinced that "overdone" was all HDR could be. But that being said, there are some really good uses of HDR that I've seen. Subtle. So subtle that it just looks like a well exposed photograph in the way that our eyes would see it. That's the kind of HDR I like. I only even tried my first HDR in the last week or so because I wanted the realistic "this is how I saw" it sort of shot. That I like. The over sharpened, over saturated, looks like a cartoon, well... not my cup of tea.

[Sterling]

There's nothing wrong with HDR per se. Like any photographic style you can name (b&w, selective color, tilt shift, lomo, high key, low key, etc., etc.) some people will like it and some won't. And in using those styles, some will be well done and some not so well done.

As in all things: Moderation.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by Xtrah

I totally agree that art is for me to decide, and that is how I treat my art, but I am still curious as to the pros and cons given by each side?

Now you are looking at "old school" vs "new school".
Those with strong roots in the way it was in the days of film will likely dislike the ways of things to come.
Those who think photography is an art upon itself will see things differently than those who see a camera as a tool for their art.
It's Apples and Oranges.....

[DanielF]

I think good HDR is awesome. Though it is an art form all to itself. I have to admit that I visit www.stuckincustoms.com practically every day :-)

[Raoul Isidro]

A very welcome and timely set of tools on our ever expanding pallette.

[Xtrah]

Originally Posted by sk66

Now you are looking at "old school" vs "new school".
Those with strong roots in the way it was in the days of film will likely dislike the ways of things to come.
Those who think photography is an art upon itself will see things differently than those who see a camera as a tool for their art.
It's Apples and Oranges.....

I agree with you there too, its possibly a totally different ideology of photography that you may be dealing with. However, should the different ideology be embraced? (just raising general questions for discussion, not so much honest questions for myself to find out the answer)

Personally, I think that HDR can capture things that our eyes see that our camera sensors really just can't grasp. I agree with max though, everything can good with moderation.