HDR Controversy

High Dynamic Range (HDR), is an imaging technique by which multiple exposures of the same object are composed together to make a richer image.  Take a look at this example for a good representation of the technique.

However, the technique seems to be very controversial.  Lots of people seem to despise the use of HDR because of the unrealistic pictures that it often times produces.  Take this post for example.  My first impression was “wow cool pictures – obviously digitally enhanced” but then I get down to the comments section and saw “Your use of HDR is sloppy and makes your photographs look like unnatural and blurry.”  So I started looking around and found that lots of “photography buffs” hate most people’s HDR images.  In order to make sense of the matter I’ve created a stereotype that explains the reason why:

Photographers typically take pictures in an effort to capture life, realism, moments -  HDR often times looks surreal.

And most of the HDR photography that I’ve seen looks surreal on purpose.  OF COURSE it doesn’t look realistic.  That’s why it’s cool!