Why do people dislike HDR?

[batmura]

I guess the most common reason people cite is that HDR looks unrealistic and/or cartoonish. It's understandable that the grungy, gritty look doesn't appeal to some, but what about the more realistic-looking images? Actually there are people who can't even tell if it something is HDR. They may even praise an image until you tell them.

I'm by no means an expert on HDR, but I like the more realistic images and I feel a photo can benefit a great deal from it if done tastefully.

Any thoughts? Ay other reasons you can think of why so many people are eager to diss HDR?

 

[robbins.photo]

I guess the most common reason people cite is that HDR looks unrealistic and/or cartoonish. It's understandable that the grungy, gritty look doesn't appeal to some, but what about the more realistic-looking images? Actually there are people who can't even tell if it something is HDR. They may even praise an image until you tell them.

I'm by no means an expert on HDR, but I like the more realistic images and I feel a photo can benefit a great deal from it if done tastefully.

Any thoughts? Ay other reasons you can think of why so many people are eager to diss HDR?

I don't like the way it's spelled. Hard to get on board with anything that doesn't include a vowel.

 

[Designer]

There is a fine line between "realistic" and "overcooked", IMO. If your intention is to produce an image with enhanced detail, don't overdo the HDR. If on the other hand you want to produce a surreal image with almost no connection to reality, then don't hold back.

 

[jaomul]

Because everyone has an opinion. Same reason as why some people dislike onions

 

[Big Mike]

The way in which HDR photos are (seemingly) most often made, makes it very easy to 'go overboard' with the effect. I think that most of what we typically see as HDR, is just that...the effect taken too far. Often, the effect becomes the subject of the photo, rather than what is actually in the photo....and that gets old fast.

I don't hate it, like many people seem to....but I can see why they do.

Like many of the things we do in post processing, I think it's done best when the view isn't aware that it has been done.

 

[batmura]

Maybe I should have worded the question differently. What do you dislike about HDR?

Also, my point was most people who diss HDR do so blindly. I have seen many a time HDR haters praising an image without knowing it was HDR.

 

[ronlane]

There is a fine line between "realistic" and "overcooked", IMO. If your intention is to produce an image with enhanced detail, don't overdo the HDR. If on the other hand you want to produce a surreal image with almost no connection to reality, then don't hold back.

I agree with this statement. For a long time, I didn't like the overcooked look that some people put on their HDR photos. But as I grow as a photographer and an artist, I see that sometimes, over the top is what you want to share, while other times it's the realistic look.

It's ART and not a one size fits all. Some people will love it, some won't. But you can't stop doing your thing because of the ones that don't like what you do. Do it for yourself and the ones that do like it.

 

[jaomul]

HDR can look very false. Some pictures look like a cut and paste from an Xbox game. Sometimes it's nice, often not. A proper landscape hdr done to balance the exposure is far from what most peoples idea of hdr is

 

[Tailgunner]

It's ART and not a one size fits all. Some people will love it, some won't. But you can't stop doing your thing because of the ones that don't like what you do. Do it for yourself and the ones that do like it.

Agreed.

 

[ronlane]

Here are examples of what I mean.

1) This is from 7 exposures of a sunset on Saturday evening. I over did this a little bit but I knew it going in. Most people probably won't like it but that is my interpretation of the scene that night. (And since I was the only one there at the time, I'm the only one that knows for sure.)


Weekend in Velma-32_HDR by Ron_Lane, on Flickr

2) This one is 7 exposures at sunrise a few weekends ago. I couldn't get the realistic look that I wanted with just one shot. But I honestly don't think many people could tell that it is hdr if I didn't tell them.


Stockyards hdr by Ron_Lane, on Flickr

 

[robbins.photo]

Because everyone has an opinion. Same reason as why some people dislike onions

Because they have layers? Hmm.. come to think of it you might just be onto something here.. lol

 

[ratssass]

i like 'em both,ron.....that's the kind of hdr i enjoy.especially the 2nd one where i would've had to ask.

 

[wyogirl]

I don't mind HDR but there are a lot of people who don't know how to make a good HDR. I'm not going to define what is good, but I think everyone has seen a bad HDR somewhere and those taint the reputation of HDR overall.

 

[ronlane]

I don't mind HDR but there are a lot of people who don't know how to make a good HDR. I'm not going to define what is good, but I think everyone has seen a bad HDR somewhere and those taint the reputation of HDR overall.

That's okay Amanda, you can say that mine are bad hdr. It won't hurt my feelings, because I don't profess to be a pro at it.

 

[skieur]

What is unrealistic about an "overcooked" HDR is the lack of shadows, where shadows should be in the image according to the lighting.