I'm Getting Tired....

Created with HDR but trying to keep it realistic

www.dennismook.com

I look at a lot of photographs each day.  I am a part of Google+ as well as other sites, read several photographic related blogs each day as well as scour the web for interesting images and content related to photography and my other interests.

I don't know about you, but I'm becoming weary of these absolutely beautiful, but so unrealistic and overdone images I see.  The images are too perfect and too good to be true!  I could name a number of professional photographers that use that style and that is fine for them.  I know it is artistic license and they have every right to make their images that way.  But I've tired of them.  Too far away from reality.  Too much like the posters in Pier One and other stores when I was in college.  Just because they are beautiful and catch your eye, doesn't mean they are good.

I will equate my feelings to those I had after HDR first appeared.  At first, HDR images were really cool, but after a while, the effect wore off.  Same goes for these overdone, over-saturated images that just don't look anything like reality.  That HDR over-processed effect is not attractive to me at all anymore.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I've been guilty of using technology to achieve the same technique.  But, I guess, I've tired of it and I've moved on.  Just like any other photographic fad, I suspect the craft will eventually move on to the next fad.  (Another fad, but a nice effect, is long, long exposures for water--it, too, is becoming a little overdone)

I like using HDR techniques to achieve a greater dynamic range, but creating a composite image that doesn't look at all like HDR, but a well exposed and realistic photograph, I like using technology to improve my images, but keep them looking like they have not been manipulated.  I believe that we all should utilize the technology at hand to create images that reflect more reality than surrealistic scenes.  Unless, of course, that is your thing, then have at it.

Everyone's taste varies.  This is just my opinion.  Your mileage may vary.  Take my opinion for whatever you feel it is worth or not worth.  I'm just putting the thoughts out there.

For me, I'll be creating images that are artistic in nature, but not overdone to the point where you, the viewer, can tell that they have been cooked with technology.

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook


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