HDR lighting

[mitsugirly]

I just recently found out that it's best to go outside and take pics right before sunset (or sunrise) or on a more cloudy day. Hmmm, I never knew this, but it makes sense for the lighting and to reduce harsh lights.

So, my question now is...does this hold true for HDR photographs as well? Since we are trying to achieve the different exposures with one being on the lighter side...does this cloudy day rule get thrown out the window?

 

[Big Mike]

Before 'HDR', cloudy days were great because it was sometimes the only way to capture a scene in one shot. Compared to a sunny day, the highlights are not as bright and the shadows are not as dark. It basically compresses the dynamic range...maybe enough that we can get it all in one shot.
Of course, it can also compress the range so much that everything just looks grey and muddy.

Sunrise & sunset are great times because the light is coming from the side, rather than above, not to mention that it picks up nice warm tones near the horizon.