I think a lot of us have spent time with HDR. When a trend pops up it’s seductive, because there’s a chance you could miss out on something legitimately useful if you ignore it. I try to stay aware of trends, but be slow to employ them:-)
Would you consider writing a piece on soft proofing? I searched through your archive but couldn’t find any writing on it. I do my own printing, but I would like to refine my skill with soft proofing. Thank you for all the valuable information you’ve shared so far!
I’ve never been a fan of the “HDR look” myself, and I love some good dramatic shadows! I do think the tools of HDR can be used to positive effect, but a light touch goes a long way in most photo processing, IMHO.
I came into photography about 7 years ago, during which I think HDR editing must have recently hit its zenith because every Youtube photographer was teaching you to pull down the Highlights and push up the Shadows, in effect flattening the image before any more editing was to be undertaken. Yes, you got a high dynamic range, but the image lost any character before moving on. As my experience has grown, I've stepped away from this practice realizing a "balanced" image often lacks the character we found so appealing in the original scene.
Where I do love HDR is in the new display technologies and techniques for on-screen image presentation. Especially for sunsets and neon scenes. Editing for HDR monitors like those on the M series MacBooks or XDR display is awesome. But that's not a print.
fyi - Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump baffles & is the bane of most re correct spelling of a Photo Location.. also wish folks might ease off re ‘towing the line’ of ‘camera tech & image ‘perfection’ - Yes its ‘toe the line’.. & yes that’s truly a spectacular image of Sand Dunes.. amen
Now let’s get down to business.. Anyone here shot 4x5 of 200 sleepy Prep School Seniors outdoors in March ? Explosives being wired deeper under the earth’s surface than Titanic rests below the surface of the Atlantic ? Non ? Shot 2,500 images, constantly moving indoor 65f & outdoor 110f Dubai + TimeLapse & Broadcast Video & in choppers, boats ie salt sands & sanitary kitchens .. No ? And at 6 AM next day - present Selects at Breakfast with end Client & Agency - then repeat with different locations etc etc etc.. HDR ? How about getting that equipment through Special Services & Customs and clearing out the Departure Security Zone when a size large Tarantula abandons your carry on full of LaCie Rugged Drives ? Or talking your way out of why you set off Explosives Alarms in Atlanta due to residue your diddybag picked up when you put it down on the dirt outside a giant Chemical ‘Cracker’ tower being scaled with micro explosives ? How’s your HDR doing ?
My ‘point’ ? Sometimes mebbe be grateful ‘for what you have - not what you wish you had’ - some fleeting nuance or ‘previsioneering’ a la grey scale . You think there’s a grey scale when you’re the shooter in the mosh & Red Hot Chili Peppers come out with only tube socks on their dicks .. and your chest cavity & body organs are turning to mush ?
Yesterday I posted two images via Notes - clues to an astonishing body of work by Moises Levy at moiseslevy.com & those clues received a Grand Total of 3 Likes & 1 Restack.. After 1/2 century of shooting, printing.. etc etc.. got to say I’m blown away dispirited - is this simply a ‘structural or dysfunctional issue here’ - a failure of ‘algorithmics’ ?
you're too kind, i'd use much stronger language when it comes to gimmicks like HDR : ) been a commercial and art photographer for 40 years, never touched it once. I'm with what you said.
Overworked HDR looks fake and garish but, in the right circumstances, it can take us deep in to an image. The skill is in knowing when and how much to use.
Thank you for your thoughts. They are always insightful.
My opinion is that HDR isn’t evil in itself. The way it is applied is where the problems come. Like whisky isn’t evil, but the things people do when they have had too much often are.
Here is a blog I wrote almost a year ago. It is something of an apologetic for HDR. I’m not promoting it, just making the point that there are times to use it. You made a similar point.
Stunning photograph and I so agree with you!
Good stuff here. Thoughts:
I will double-down on “decide what your story is”. This is fundamental to every processing decision.
Trey Radcliffe did us no favors with respect to HDR.
(Warning: grammar cop ahead.)
It’s “Great Sand Dunes National Park”. 😉
And it’s “bane”. Bain is french for bath.
I think a lot of us have spent time with HDR. When a trend pops up it’s seductive, because there’s a chance you could miss out on something legitimately useful if you ignore it. I try to stay aware of trends, but be slow to employ them:-)
Would you consider writing a piece on soft proofing? I searched through your archive but couldn’t find any writing on it. I do my own printing, but I would like to refine my skill with soft proofing. Thank you for all the valuable information you’ve shared so far!
I’ve never been a fan of the “HDR look” myself, and I love some good dramatic shadows! I do think the tools of HDR can be used to positive effect, but a light touch goes a long way in most photo processing, IMHO.
I came into photography about 7 years ago, during which I think HDR editing must have recently hit its zenith because every Youtube photographer was teaching you to pull down the Highlights and push up the Shadows, in effect flattening the image before any more editing was to be undertaken. Yes, you got a high dynamic range, but the image lost any character before moving on. As my experience has grown, I've stepped away from this practice realizing a "balanced" image often lacks the character we found so appealing in the original scene.
Where I do love HDR is in the new display technologies and techniques for on-screen image presentation. Especially for sunsets and neon scenes. Editing for HDR monitors like those on the M series MacBooks or XDR display is awesome. But that's not a print.
fyi - Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump baffles & is the bane of most re correct spelling of a Photo Location.. also wish folks might ease off re ‘towing the line’ of ‘camera tech & image ‘perfection’ - Yes its ‘toe the line’.. & yes that’s truly a spectacular image of Sand Dunes.. amen
Now let’s get down to business.. Anyone here shot 4x5 of 200 sleepy Prep School Seniors outdoors in March ? Explosives being wired deeper under the earth’s surface than Titanic rests below the surface of the Atlantic ? Non ? Shot 2,500 images, constantly moving indoor 65f & outdoor 110f Dubai + TimeLapse & Broadcast Video & in choppers, boats ie salt sands & sanitary kitchens .. No ? And at 6 AM next day - present Selects at Breakfast with end Client & Agency - then repeat with different locations etc etc etc.. HDR ? How about getting that equipment through Special Services & Customs and clearing out the Departure Security Zone when a size large Tarantula abandons your carry on full of LaCie Rugged Drives ? Or talking your way out of why you set off Explosives Alarms in Atlanta due to residue your diddybag picked up when you put it down on the dirt outside a giant Chemical ‘Cracker’ tower being scaled with micro explosives ? How’s your HDR doing ?
My ‘point’ ? Sometimes mebbe be grateful ‘for what you have - not what you wish you had’ - some fleeting nuance or ‘previsioneering’ a la grey scale . You think there’s a grey scale when you’re the shooter in the mosh & Red Hot Chili Peppers come out with only tube socks on their dicks .. and your chest cavity & body organs are turning to mush ?
Yesterday I posted two images via Notes - clues to an astonishing body of work by Moises Levy at moiseslevy.com & those clues received a Grand Total of 3 Likes & 1 Restack.. After 1/2 century of shooting, printing.. etc etc.. got to say I’m blown away dispirited - is this simply a ‘structural or dysfunctional issue here’ - a failure of ‘algorithmics’ ?
"abomination" would have been an excellent choice ...... the other gimmick was painting with light ..... unless you're Paolo Roversi ; )
you're too kind, i'd use much stronger language when it comes to gimmicks like HDR : ) been a commercial and art photographer for 40 years, never touched it once. I'm with what you said.
Overworked HDR looks fake and garish but, in the right circumstances, it can take us deep in to an image. The skill is in knowing when and how much to use.
Thank you for your thoughts. They are always insightful.
My opinion is that HDR isn’t evil in itself. The way it is applied is where the problems come. Like whisky isn’t evil, but the things people do when they have had too much often are.
Here is a blog I wrote almost a year ago. It is something of an apologetic for HDR. I’m not promoting it, just making the point that there are times to use it. You made a similar point.
https://blog.schlotz.net/hdr/
For fear of overselling it, I actually felt compelled to follow it up the next week with reasons to not use HDR. 😊
https://blog.schlotz.net/not-hdr/
Spot on Lester …