HDR – The Wasabi of Photo Processing
****HDR Warning for those not a fan of High Dynamic Range Imagery****
HDR is a highly controversial post processing technique that can and often does, drive a photo purist up the wall. Even some non-photographers have a severe distaste for the effect. It’s an acquired taste for sure. I liken the effect of HDR on the eye like Wasabi to your taste buds. Both HDR and Wasabi will do one thing equally, get a reaction; from both those that like the treatment and those that don’t.
BEFORE: This is an example of a photo with +0 exposure compensation prior to using HDR as a post processing technique.
AFTER: Using a 5 bracket shot, -2, -1, +0, +1, and +2 exposure settings I merged all 5 images and used HDR to enhance the image for the desired effect. Also used was high pass filter for sharpening and additional photoshop effects such as bursts on the porch lights.
As I have said in previous posts where I show an HDR image, the post processing seems to rub a photographer purist the wrong way. Some say it’s cheating by using Photoshop trickery to sway the viewer into liking an otherwise pale or mediocre image.
Simply put, High Dynamic Range imaging (HDRI or HDR) is a set of techniques used in post-processing that allows a greater dynamic range between the lightest and darkest areas of an image including color saturation, luminosity, vibrancy and contrast. HDR images can actually more accurately represent a range of intensity levels found in real scenes as seen by the human eye. If you use post-processing software with your images and use preset actions purchased as add-ons or have the knowledge to create your own, you are, for all intensive purposes playing within the realm of HDR.
But what defines HDR from “normal workflows” widely accepted and taught within the photography community that makes HDR so controversial?
Exaggerated Results…
Some of the HDR techniques used present a grungy or dirty effect while others create a totally unrealistic effect by burning or blowing out the vibrancy and contrast. For me, it depends on the shot or subject and whether or not I can enhance the image or composition using a HDR technique. Sometimes I intentionally shoot the image knowing ahead of time I am going to use HDR as a post- processing treatment. Only on a rare occasion I’ll rummage through my shots and think… “Yuck!!! What a shitty bland shot of an otherwise good subject…. How can I make this one pop?”
Truth is, High Dynamic Range is nothing new and has been used since the mid 19th century. In 1850 Gustave Le Gray pioneered the concept of using several exposures to “fix” an extreme range of luminance while capturing seascapes. He’d take one negative for the sky and another longer exposure for the sea, then blending them both into a positive.
Huh, sounds like multi exposure bracketing to me.
Ansel Adams, a famous landscape photographer from the mid 1950’s made dodging and burning an art form. Many highly successful pro photographers today use dodging and burning in their work flows and submit them to their editors for print and a few will rarely, if ever admit it.
Some Editors and High end magazines will never allow obvious HDR images to be used in their publications but of course if you know that before hand and are foolish enough to try and sneak one by them and never get a call again then you’re a fool.
I use HDR for personal enjoyment on specific images; not applying it to anything and everything and NEVER, EVER on images where people are the subject. My taste for HDR is using the obvious settings in a composed photo to create visual drama. As a result I the viewer will have a reaction to the artistic technique. Yes, HDR is artistic and beautiful when done properly. I have played with several looks that result in the obvious grungy texture with exaggerated vibrancy and contrast but it’s so easy to go over the edge and burn it by playing with the settings too much. In my examples below, you may find that I have crossed that line and burnt the image whereas others may be just right. I don’t use the same preset for all images. Each of the images begged for their own dose of HDR “seasoning” depending on the SOOC (straight out of camera) composition, exposure, color saturation and vibrancy presented when the files where downloaded.
This shot of the Hoover Dam and construction of the new “Tillman Bridge” was shot using several long exposures and then using “Exposure Blending” merging them as one.
In this example, I used 2 layers then using the brush tool removing the HDR effect from the back ground leaving the crisp effect on the Memorial only.
I was shooting a SCCA race event at the Old Bisbee Airport and saw the old terminal that I thought HDR would look good on. I exposed for the sky, then using CS5 adjustments and HDR controlled the shadows that dominated the image while metering off the sky.
The Lowell Township in Bisbee, Arizona has a Main Street that begs HDR images to be taken, the next few images are some examples.
Lowell Township – Bisbee, Arizona
Lowell Township – Bisbee, Arizona
Lowell Township – Bisbee, Arizona
Lowell Township – Bisbee, Arizona
I used a couple different treatments with this image. I used conservative HDR settings and a action preset called ‘Hollywood Glam” from iDC and adjusted the opacity to 45%
A fun HDR image where I changed the perspective of the HUGE red balls outside of the Target Store here in Sierra Vista, Arizona. I crouched low to the ground to force the perspective of the ball ironically blocking a Fire Exit that says not to. In reality, the ball is not that large nor is it blocking the door whatsoever.
HDR image of a door here on an iconic building here in Sierra Vista, Arizona. For residents, can you guess which building it’s on?
I was out shooting one day and say this political sign laying in all sorts of debris and garbage that wind blew up against a fence. With American politics these days, I found the composition to mirror the trash we elect into the highest office sometimes.
A cell tower here in Sierra Vista, Arizona….
Sierra Vista Car Club and the Annual “Cars in the Park” is where I shot this one.
Crown Paradise Club – Cancun, Mexico. HDR in Adobe Lightroom and a High Pass filter for sharpening
The Palapa Buffet Restaurant at Crown Paradise Club – Cancun, Mexico
The Great Ball Court – Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza – Cancun, Mexico
The Mayan Pyramid – Chichen Itza
An example of slight HDR treatment on this old Ford pick up in Cashton, Wisconsin.
La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway – La Crosse, Wisconsin. I used a fisheye lens with HDR in mind when I shot this, intentionally being heavy handed with the contrast to boost the blue in the sky and accentuate the clouds.
La Crosse Fairgrounds Campgrounds as seen from the back of the tower at the Speedway.
On this shot of this beautiful 1956 Chevrolet Nomad, I paid specific attention to the enhanced detail on the chrome bumper and trim to get the look I wanted without taking away from the color on the body and excessive haloing
With the sun behind the clouds I had crap for natural light even though I was thinking HDR the whole way no matter what the lighting situation. I was able to pull detail out using HDR and High Pass filtering but ended up with massive amounts of artifacts embedded in the image. So I used my magnifying tool to creep in close on the image and clone out the trashy looking halo and roughness from the fender well area, tires and rims…. etc.
Robert Butterfield, Butterfield Photography – Sierra Vista, Arizona
