Ordinary Pictures

One of the techniques in use a lot these days is HDR. Here are some examples (link thanks to the Conscientious blog).

I’m sorry but I can’t stand HDR images. They transform a photograph into something decidedly non-photographic. The judiciuos use of this technique is useful for bringing out shadow detail and overall contrast correction in some images, but the use of it to create non-photographic images leaves me reaching for the ‘NEXT’ button in Flickr. I have spent a bit, though not much, time trying to imagine an appropriate use for this technique and just can’t. It’s icky.

I also I felt the same about the technique of applying color to isolated elements in black & white images back when that was all the rage. With any luck the overuse of HDR will go away soon, too.