Realistic vs Surreal HDR – Is it important?
By Jimmy Mcintyre (editor of HDR One Magazine)
As photographers we inevitably have a style that is uniquely our own. Our tastes are influenced by a myriad of factors, most of which will remain unconscious to us. Conversely, there are people or styles that we consciously aspire to, or allow ourselves to be influenced by.
We, as intelligent humans, know that there is no ‘correct’ style. Yet even in the world of HDR there is a very noticeable divide between surreal and realistic photography, which sometimes leads to snobbery. Fortunately, this negativity isn’t often present between photographers, but it shows up commonly when photographers describe their own style…
For me it comes down to “Artistic Intent”.
When HDR first became popular many people gravitated to the surrealistic side because that’s all they saw with the couple of HDR leaders at the time. They assumed that’s the way it needed to be. Some didn’t even know “realistic” was possible.
So then it comes down to artistic intent. and that leaves all possibilities, provided it was intentional and not just because you didn’t know any better.
I’m known for my Realism and “as the eye sees” look but I will take it where ever it needs to go if that is my vision
I wish I had a glass to raise to that reply. I concur, there is a time and a place for all of them. Good realistic processing is great when appropriate and good surrealistic processing works just as well when that is the goal.
I liken it to the feeling I first got when viewing shots taken at 24mm or wider. I couldn’t put words to what feelings it evoked but I kind of liked it. It was just enough unreality to amuse and amaze, yet it was somehow also correct.; very confusing emotion. HDR is similar in that it takes ya to where you’ve never been before but in increments small enough to handle. You were entering the surreal and YOU were doing it. How much is enough? Too Much? Is it blasphemous to “go for it”? Does taking a placid scene of sailboats at mooring in a quiet marina and turning it into something more akin to Bob the Builder a mortal sin or just fun as hell. Then, does revisiting some of your old stuff that you knew had something special about them but never could bring them to life and discovering that a silly little cartoonists touch was what was missing, so bad? I’ve come down finally on the side of madness. And am having more fun with manipulating photos than I’ve had in quite some time. I’ve even begun to take some of my old florals and such and simply doing color reversals with amazing and FUN results. Red skies, purple palm trees? Why the hell not. It has become THE conversation starter among my photographer friends as well as my previously disinterested pals. Some of these changes are of the single click variety (color negative) etc. I’ve even framed them with strong color frames and matting. For the most part, I know it’s just so much embarrassingly easy stuff but it has breathed new life into my beloved hobby. Hey, if soup cans can be hung at MOMA, my silly diversion is at least some consideration if one is bored or just in need of some CPR. Try HDR and take it to the extremes. Doesn’t hurt any and to your fly-fisherman type snobbo friends, just don’t admit to it. Blame it on those young know-nothings with a Rebel and a kit lens. They’ll be the death of our artform yet!
Hello Wick – We appreciate your comments!
Thank you for linking to my article on HDR One.
Fortunately the world is full of those who see the importance of individuality in all forms, not just photography. And despite the slightly negative attitude towards surreal HDR, there are talented individuals whose work steadies the balance slightly, and even stops the sternist of realistic HDR photographers in their tracks – and vice-versa.
And even more fortunately, we have wonderful software, such as NIK’s, that encourage any style. Learning how to use it well is a different story
Jimmy McIntyre
I’ve done both with the same delight. What we get out of our cameras is not always very much like what we actually see when we shot the scen. If I can get closer to what I see (or experience) by overdoing HDR, I’ll go for that. If I can do it more gentle I’ll do that. As for surreal, there’s not very much that is more surreal than black and white photography, so photography started surreal and we should not be suprised if it continues that way.
Good point. In a world of color, there are many, well respected photogs who shoot only B&W. Very surreal. But we all know that it works, otherwise, B&W would have died a rapid death as soon as color film came along.. Gee, I feel better now, I’m not coo-coo, I’m artistic!! Wow!imagine, me; artistic! I’m psyched!