Photo of the Day: Brooklyn in High Dynamic Range

Wow! Arnold Pouteau took this amazing shot of the Brooklyn Waterfront from the South Street Seaport-- and linked to this article explaining the HDR process. It's so cool! Kind of makes you want to buy Photoshop CS2, which supports the effect. Arnold's other photos are similarly impressive-- definitely check out his steam series.

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By Jake Dobkin in Arts and Events on April 15, 2006 9:45 AM

Comments [rss]

jmchez

I think that this is an artistic use of the HDR technique but not what it was originally intended for. If you use HDR judiciously, you will get shadows and highlights in proper balance that you normally wouldn't be able to see (think inside a dark church with bright stain glass windows). If you go crazy you get this surreal landscape.

Another reason why this may look so strange is that viewing an "extreme" HDR image on a regular monitor defeats the purpose. No regular monitor (even pro models) can show the whole range of HDR. There is only one company that makes true HDR monitors and they cost a whopping $49,000! When you see them it's like looking out the window on a sunny day. Your brain can't tell the image is not real.

Vinny

Not a knock on Arnold specifically, but I just don't get this whole HDR thing. It looks kinda silly, to be honest...

I don't know... It's not his particular version that I think looks silly, but the HDR thing in general.