Empire State

DSC_0670 - 2010-10-16 at 07-19-59

The top of the Empire State Building, taken from Brooklyn Bridge park, peeking under the bridge itself, which is hovering unseen above the frame. Other than that, this doesn’t need much commentary, so on to  other business. Three items.

Two Days To Buy My Book Before the Price Increase

Blurb is raising prices on May 19, so if you had an intention of buying my book, please do so today or tomorrow.

The HDR Debate

I’m tired of it.  A few days ago David duChemin accidentally posted a three-subject rant he had intended to let sit for a few days and probably re-write. Being a stand-up guy, he didn’t pull the post after he realized his error. Yesterday one of my buddies, Jim Denham, posted a response to the HDR portion of the rant. Not a rebuttal, but truly a response.

I love David duChemin’s inspiration and spirit as much as the next guy or gal, and I think the world of Jim, but I’m just tired of the HDR debate. I’m tired of people proselytizing HDR. I’m tired of people attacking HDR.

I’m tired of “I don’t hate HDR, except when it is poorly done.”
I’m tired of “I don’t love HDR, except when it’s done really well.”

It’s just a tool, a technique, that gets done well and done poorly like everything else.

People overdo black and white.
People oversaturate.
People overdo selective desaturation.
People overuse short depth of field.
People do too many tricks with their strobes.
People overuse tilt-shift, both real and in post.
People take too many of those fake vintage photo things with their new-fangled smart phones.
Will somebody get those darn kids off my lawn!?!?
Macros? Whats up with that? Sometimes you can’t even tell what the darn thing is the camera is so close!

Oh. And there are way too many pictures of kittens and pretty girls on Flickr, and I can’t stand that they all get lots of comments and Favorites. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like kittens or pretty girls. Only to the extent there are too many pictures of them on Flickr (or if they’re done with bad HDR).

Anyway, that’s my rant, which I hope all realize is completely not serious (except it is, sort of). But I am guilty of almost all the faults I list above.

Finally, Checkout Out Another HDR Collaboration

Bob Lussier is today hosting the latest version of the HDR collaboration with no name.* Head over to Bob’s to check it out. It does involve a lot of HDR, and hopefully you’ll agree it’s the good kind.

*I repeatedly call it the HDR collaboration with no name, but nobody else does, so that hasn’t become it’s name. If it ever did, it would be it’s name and become untrue at the same time.

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This Post Has 15 Comments

  1. Chris Nitz

    17 May 2011

    I totally agree, way too many cute people on Flickr getting lots of love. This needs to end now! Loved the rant/non-rant 😉
    Chris Nitz recently posted..Captain JackMy Profile

  2. Hector Garza

    17 May 2011

    Wow! I really love this rant (as you called it), it sums it pretty much.
    I agree with the kitty photos

  3. Tobias George

    17 May 2011

    Love the depth in this shot, and soft blue tones!

  5. Wayne Frost

    17 May 2011

    I like the blue and brown tones and the way the light reflects off the side of the Empire State Building. Unique capture of a cliched image, and this goes to the subject of your “rant”, there is always another way to see something, and no particular viewpoint is the right or wrong one.
    Wayne Frost recently posted..La Casita Del ArroyoMy Profile

  7. Dave DiCello

    17 May 2011

    Love your take on HDR Mark. Very succinct, to the point, and so well said. I’ve always said, it’s a style, a tool, a way to maniupulate images like anything else.

    This shot is amazing. Love the view, the cool blue tones, and great work catching that bird in there too.
    Dave DiCello recently posted..Blinded by the lightMy Profile

  8. Chris Frailey

    17 May 2011

    Can’t we all just get along? 🙂 Nice job on the pic and write up Mark.
    Chris Frailey recently posted..SwimmerMy Profile

  9. Jim Denham

    17 May 2011

    Great image, great rant, and wonderful plug! What a post! well done Mark!
    Jim Denham recently posted..The Covington InnMy Profile

  10. Heather

    17 May 2011

    Preach brother Mark, preach……..

  11. Mike Olbinski

    17 May 2011

    I love this photo.

    I hate pictures of cats.

    The rant you linked to about the guy hating on HDR for teachers posting overprocessed images, etc…kind of agreed a bit with him.

    Again…this photo is friggin’ amazing.

  14. Justin

    18 May 2011

    I really couldn’t agree with you more. On another note, I love this comp. The birds in the image do it for me.

    Congrats on the book!

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