Has HDR or tonemapped photo won any major photo competition?

[molested_cow]

Just a random thought that popped up in my mind.

Usually, competitions favor traditionalists. I am not just talking about photography, but in many areas. Unless the competition calls for the specific technique, new/fancy methods doesn't draw the courage for judges to vote on.

For HDR, it's heavily dependent on the software. Yes one can argue that every photo depends on the software, but for HDR, software does make lighting and presentation of details much more convenient. In another words, I think it is easier to get a well executed photo in HDR than a well executed photo in the traditional way.

That's why I am wondering if there has been any HDR winners in the world of photography, like photos selected by National Geographic or something major? If there is, I will be glad!

[Ads]

[KmH]

All digital photographs are tone-mapped to one degree or another.

[Hooligan Dan]

From a couple years ago:

Danish Photoshop Debate Leads To Disqualification

[Hooligan Dan]

On a side note, I think Nat Geo may have said a couple years ago that HDR photos are acceptable. Don't take my word on that one though.

[unpopular]

All digital photographs are tone-mapped to one degree or another.

All photographs, digital or not are tone-mapped. Black and white actually has a very high degree of control over this, even Adams called it "Range Compression"

[spacefuzz]

Yes I have seen HDR shots win quite a few competitions. Generally the grunge ones dont do as well, but really it just depends on the judges.

[Garbz]

Tone mapping is a very specific process. All images have some form of dyanmic range compression but tonemapping is not it.

[jake337]

How would one even know if a photo submitted was created using multiple exposures?

Well at least if done well.


By "HDR" or "tonemapped" do you mean grunge style?

[molested_cow]

Well, there are some instances where it's obviously that without HDR, it will be hard to get a well exposed image. Such as back lit objects. They may or may not be of "grunge" style, but is created using multiple exposures.

For example:

This:



VS this:



On another point, responding to Dan's article, if they based the standard on the RAW file, shouldn't any thing that the RAW file can produce be within the allowed range? To me, making it highly saturated is no different from making it black and white.

[Xanimal13]

I don't mind lightly done hdr/tonemapping but that grunge style stuff make me want to vomit. It makes me feel like my world is spinning and about to implode.

[GnipGnop]

Read this HDR Plea

Should clear some things up for you about what HDR should be, compared to what most people to with a cursed program that rhymes with Blotomatix.