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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> abandoning HDR in buildings
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 08/12/2011 08:44:01 PM · #1
Okay I don't post very often in the forum and I'm really not looking to hurt anyone's feelings but does anyone else feel like the over-HDRing in the Abandoned Buildings Challenge is a little ridiculous? I'm sure we are all guilty of going overboard with HDR and tonemapping but I felt like 50% of the images were painfully over-processed. It took me a while to start realizing that less-is-more when it comes to photomatix (maybe I'm still learning) so I really do understand, but dang.
Maybe it's positive reinforcement from non-photographers? I know I've shown terrible HDRs to my girlfriend and she thought they were awesome. Thoughts?
 08/12/2011 09:08:32 PM · #2
Everyone has different tastes. That's all there is to it!
 08/12/2011 09:32:03 PM · #3
Yes I suppose so
 08/12/2011 09:39:05 PM · #4
FWIW, I too thought some of them were very heavy-handed with the HDR. I understand that some folks like the look, and heck, occasionally it really does work, but more often it get in the way. IMO, of course.
 08/12/2011 09:46:14 PM · #5
Originally posted by kirbic:
FWIW, I too thought some of them were very heavy-handed with the HDR. I understand that some folks like the look, and heck, occasionally it really does work, but more often it get in the way. IMO, of course.


I'm one of the folks who HDR'd their entry... I invite you to examine it after the challenge, as I feel that it's a very good example of what HDR should be.

And... if you hate the HDR's, go give out some punishment!! It's only fair, if you find it disgusting, then go balance out some of the folks who found it awesome. :)
 08/12/2011 10:03:29 PM · #6
haha well put! No I love a good HDR! I'm not knocking that at all, but everything in moderation.
 08/12/2011 10:13:16 PM · #7
Depends on the image. I like it sometimes, other times it just makes the image look overcooked. HDR is simply a technique that works well for this subject and many like it. I use some modest tonemapping in most of my photos.
 08/12/2011 10:20:14 PM · #8
I can take it or leave it. I won't mark down because of HDR unless it is a total mess.
 08/12/2011 10:25:58 PM · #9
Originally posted by Cory:
Originally posted by kirbic:
FWIW, I too thought some of them were very heavy-handed with the HDR. I understand that some folks like the look, and heck, occasionally it really does work, but more often it get in the way. IMO, of course.


I'm one of the folks who HDR'd their entry... I invite you to examine it after the challenge, as I feel that it's a very good example of what HDR should be.


Ha-ha, I can't wait to check it out after the voting period :-)
I should also say, out of fairness, that there were a lot of extremely well-done images in this challenge.

Stats: You have rated 131 of 131 images (100%) in this challenge.
You have given an average score of 5.4275.
 08/12/2011 10:29:30 PM · #10
Oh yes i agree

You have rated 131 of 131 images (100%) in this challenge.
You have commented on 4 images (3%) in this challenge.
You have given an average score of 5.6489.
 08/13/2011 07:53:33 AM · #11
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Depends on the image. I like it sometimes, other times it just makes the image look overcooked. HDR is simply a technique that works well for this subject and many like it. I use some modest tonemapping in most of my photos.


+1
Some images become stronger in their message to the viewer when HDR'd, others are ruined by it or are over manipulated. I've never HDR'd a photograph of mine but sometimes I wished I would be able to do so.
 08/13/2011 09:21:05 AM · #12
My one complaint about the DPC ideal image is that, in my opinion, it tends to be over processed. Usually with supersaturated colors and overdone sharpening including halos.
Sadly this same image will usually have comments saying: "I love the colors on this" and "love how the details really pop"
I just recently used USM for the first time (unsharp mask, for those who like me, had no clue what it is). I come from film days, so digital images are not my ideal.
This is an opinion driven forum, so everyone has an equal view. Every monitor is different, few are calibrated, but thats explains colors, not over processed HDR effects.

You have rated 130 of 130 images (100%) in this challenge.
You have given an average score of 7.0308.
(I have realized that a vote of 5 is crushing to final score, so I go under 5 for really bad stuff, most I score 6-8 this time I gave a single 1, 3 3's and 3 10's)
 08/13/2011 09:33:56 AM · #13
Mine's tone mapped and HDR'd, and I think it's done well even though it was a little heavy. It doesn't look realistic, but I didn't want it to.
One part isn't done well though, and it really bothers me.
08/13/2011 11:06:54 AM · #14
Personal taste in a lot of cases. I agree that some are heavy-handed, yet some images lend themselves well to being slightly over-processed. There are also plenty of people who utilize the various techniques and filters so subtly to enhance their images that you wouldn't know without their telling you. It seems to be one of those things where you love it or hate it, but it also seems to be judged somewhat harshly by people who are either purists who refuse to deviate from the "traditional", straight from the camera image, and/or those who haven't been able to use some of the tools with much success. I know that some of the earliest detractors now are quite happy with the techniques for their own work.

I do know I produced some pretty awful stuff when I was first learning how to use Topaz......and some folks still don't like my stuff! LOL!!!
 08/13/2011 11:28:59 AM · #15
interesting. i hadn't read this thread til i finished voting the challenge (just now). i left a few comments along the lines of "little heavy on the hdr" so if it upset anyone, i apologize in advance.

You have rated 131 of 131 images (100%) in this challenge.
You have commented on 9 images (7%) in this challenge.
You have given an average score of 6.9160.
 08/13/2011 11:29:25 AM · #16
Originally posted by Cory:
Originally posted by kirbic:
FWIW, I too thought some of them were very heavy-handed with the HDR. I understand that some folks like the look, and heck, occasionally it really does work, but more often it get in the way. IMO, of course.


I'm one of the folks who HDR'd their entry... I invite you to examine it after the challenge, as I feel that it's a very good example of what HDR should be.

And... if you hate the HDR's, go give out some punishment!! It's only fair, if you find it disgusting, then go balance out some of the folks who found it awesome. :)


I occasionally use HDR on my photos, sometimes with the intent to keep it as natural as possible (what HDR should be) and sometimes with the intent to "overcook" the image and make it a little unrealistic. Sometimes the technique can transform what is essentially a snapshot into an image with great colors and details that is interesting to view. Other times it can completely ruin a really nice photo.

I know that it would help me if the voters who do not like HDR would occasionally give a simple comment indicating if it appears too overcooked. If I was going for a subtle effect, the comment would be very helpful in judging my work. Otherwise, the comment would not offend me in any way.

And there are times when a photo appears to be an overcooked HDR, when in fact in has been over Topazed. And sometimes I do both on an image :)

Message edited by author 2011-08-13 11:30:24.
 08/13/2011 11:43:28 AM · #17
Originally posted by dswann:
And there are times when a photo appears to be an overcooked HDR, when in fact in has been over Topazed. And sometimes I do both on an image :)


For those who "don't like HDR" the terms are synonymous. They rarely are willing to acknowledge what a lot of us already know; that there's a whole "natural" level of HDR that doesn't register as HDR on the consciousness.

So whether the effect was generated by overcooking Photomatix or Topaz doesn't matter; what's being objected to is the overcooked tone mapping, and Topaz is as much a tone map[ping tool as iot is anything else.

R.
 08/13/2011 11:56:57 AM · #18
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
So whether the effect was generated by overcooking Photomatix or Topaz doesn't matter; what's being objected to is the overcooked tone mapping, and Topaz is as much a tone map[ping tool as iot is anything else.


I find that in addition, Topaz can easily add the un-natural level of detail and over-sharpening that is harder to achieve with Photomatix alone.
 08/13/2011 11:57:36 AM · #19
Originally posted by dswann:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
So whether the effect was generated by overcooking Photomatix or Topaz doesn't matter; what's being objected to is the overcooked tone mapping, and Topaz is as much a tone map[ping tool as iot is anything else.


I find that in addition, Topaz can easily add the un-natural level of detail and over-sharpening that is harder to achieve with Photomatix alone, but can be equally detracting from an image.
08/14/2011 10:36:04 AM · #20
As has been said already its just a matter of taste really.
I was just looking on 1xcom which lots of folks aspire to here and on many other forums.
Some of the work there is virtualy no longer a photograph at all due to heavy processing and image manipulation.
Don,t get me wrong as I think many of them are superb,just down to taste as I started with I guess.
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