I’ve never really been a fan of HDR images. There are a lot of examples on Flickr; some really boost the colors to near-cartoon levels, and others push their photos to a have a more dreamlike look. While many are interesting, I don’t want that look for my photos, so I decided I didn’t like HDR.
Well, like I ask my kids to at least try something once — “How do you know you don’t like it if you’ve never tried it?” — I decided to give HDR photos a legitimate try. So yesterday on a trip to Plymouth I took my tripod and did some shooting while Jill did a little shopping. New England winter photos probably aren’t the best to play with colorful HDR photos, but it did show me something: a more subtle use of HDR can really enhance photos — especially those with big variations in light and dark areas — without having to push it to overly-unrealistic looks.
I put some of my HDR photos on Flickr. I’ll keep experimenting — especially when the colors of spring arrive — but I think having another photo tool available to me is a good thing to have, and I don’t have to push it as far as some photographers do. (I agree with a commenter who said that too much HDR makes the technique the subject of the photo, rather than the actual photo subjects.)
If you’re interested in creating HDR photos, check out this how-to.