Topic: How Much Is Too Much HDR?

[Imaginerd]

I tested a couple of different settings...which one do you like the best?

1.

DTD2011-CIF by 99 ReD Photography, on Flickr

2.

DTD2011-CIF2 by 99 ReD Photography, on Flickr

3.

DTD2011-CIF3 by 99 ReD Photography, on Flickr

[Roger]

I prefer the first one, the other ones go a little too much into HDR for my tastes plus the sky gets all watercolorey.

[jbwolffiv]

First one for me too, for pretty much the same reasons as Roger.

[gary]

#1 for me for the same reasons

[zackiedawg]

I'd go with the first myself.  Though HDR is a personal thing - some love it wild and some love it mild.
 
For me, I pretty much draw my personal line with HDR when you start to see white haloing or light painting around objecs or words - that for me is when it starts to look to fake or processed.  See how the balloon and the palm trees on the right have a white aura all around them?  That makes it stand out too much as a processed work and I tend towards liking reality in shots.
 
Though again, not a criticism - HDR is all up to what you like and want to convey - as is photography itself!

[Tim]

i am going for #1.  subtlety is key here.

[PolynesianMedic]

#1 for me as well.  I like the high contrast of the HDR but I do not like the "fake" or fantasy look of it.

[ddindy]

I'll put in a vote for the third one.  While I normally don't like over-the-top HDR, this one has gone far enough over the top to become a painting-like work of art.

I hope that's the result you were going for.

Welcome to the forums.

[ELinder]

Obviously HDR is a very subjective , er, subject. 

I'll go with, none of the above. The first one is closest for me, but I would have tried to pull a lot more light into the shadows and water reflection.

Erich

[Imaginerd]

Thanks for everyone replying. And at first when I did this piece I loved the third one for how it was taking on a different look and started to not look like a photo. However with time I liked the first one because of the slight "popness" to the balloon without taking away some other elements (water, trees, and rocks.) And I will take your advice Erich next time!

Obviously HDR is a very subjective , er, subject. 

I'll go with, none of the above. The first one is closest for me, but I would have tried to pull a lot more light into the shadows and water reflection.

Erich