Question for HDRers

dxqcanada · Feb 13, 2011

I have a question ... after seeing many HDR images on this forum, I am struck by the fact that a majority of the images I see look like they have a soft focus filter stuck on the lens.

Is this an artifact from the HDR processing ?

Overread · Feb 13, 2011

I think what you might be seeing isn't actual softness (is miss focusing/soft lens/soft filter), but a byproduct of the HDR effect (as used by some) resulting in a flatter overall lighting in the final product. This affects sharpness because we see sharp things (at least in the photographic world) as, in part, being noticable differences in contrast between two areas. The greater the difference the "sharper" that divide becomes - and similarly if you flatten the lighting (through something like HDR) the softer that divide between two areas appears.

The actual shot (if a single shot "fake" HDR) or shorts (multiple exposure HDR) should be no less or no more sharp than any other regular exposures taken by the photographer - though if they are doing landscape type work they might well use hyperfocal focusing which gives acceptable sharpness over a very wide range of distances from the camera (ie to cover the scene).

Chodie · Feb 14, 2011

Excellent reply above. The lighting issue will definitely drop contrast. I know that my own soft images in HDR have been a byproduct of not using hyperfocal focusing in the landscape shots I've recently posted for C&C in this forum.

I'm not sure if many photographers start on the same road I'm taking my first few paces down, but when I first saw HDR I knew I had to start mastering it ASAP. I jumped into landscape photography before I really knew how to do it. I hope "noobs" like myself aren't giving HDR a bad rep by processing poorer images.

My HDR images are soft because my original images are out of focus, but the HDR professionals that originally turned me onto HDR such as Trey Ratcliff sure seem to produce final products spot on and very sharp.

Also,
"The softness that you see is a byproduct of Photomatix processing. Part of it relates to the fact that tone-compressed images almost always need some contrast correction (S-curve). Also, HDR photos generally benefit from a more than average amount of sharpening. See some of myskin's photos in the HDR forum for reference."

SlickSalmon · Feb 14, 2011

The above are excellent responses. It takes a while to learn how to address the post-processing issues that HDR image generation creates. But, properly processed, the clear tonal range of HDR photos can make them appear so crisp they almost jump out off the page (or screen, as the case may be). There are some examples in threads by the more experienced members that will just take your breath away.

Bynx · Feb 14, 2011

The reason for the softness you see could be a result of posting the pics on the internet. Ive noticed a softness created when a file is too large to post and then the site takes over and resizes the image. HDR images are particularly sharp and have a real 3D 'pop' look to them. Anything less than that and its a matter of operator error. The old term garbage in garbage out applies here. If every image isnt as sharp as possible HDR processing isnt going to make it any better. But rather get blamed for producing horrible images. I find it irritating when I see people say "I dont like HDR". Thats a really stupid statement. Its like saying I dont like bricks because Ive seen a few buildings I dont like the look of. Photographers should have more of an open mind I would think.