Just one more day at ImagingUSA 2017!  It has been a great conference (as usual).  There are so many different learning tracks in the program, Adobe, Business, Commercial, Demos, Drones, Inspiration, Portraiture, Print for Success, School Sport & Event, Technique, Wedding, not to mention special programs and the pre-convention classes that were offered right before the start of the convention.

Simply the ability to see the work of so many other talented photographers has been great.  The Imaging Expo (tradeshow) is full of great vendors (and is a bit exhausting to cover it all).

I have had limited time to even keep up with emails, client contacts and inquiries, much less post on this blog.  There is one thing I did want to comment about though, that I am kind of happy to observe.

Ever since this thing called “HDR” (High Dynamic Range) photography came about, it has risen up to be a “phenomenon”. Everyone is doing it.  HDR has been out there everywhere in the photographic world lately.

I am old enough that I have seen fads come and go, and for a while (past several years) I have been saying HDR is another fad, something that everyone gets obsessed about for a while.   That is what I am noticing here at ImagingUSA. The “fad” is fading away to put HDR into its proper place.  I am not seeing the over-done, way over processed HDR images that are so common out there on the web still.   Yes, I see occasional nicely done, conservatively done, HDR images, but nothing over the top here.  HDR seems to be settling down into its appropriate place as just another one of many tools for creating excellent images.  Frankly the last thing you want to do is make every image an HDR image. That is not always going to give you the best results.  Only use it if it really makes the image better, but NOT all the time.

It is wonderful to see outstanding prints, excellent composition, appropriate use of light and shadow, form, technical execution and creativity and only an occasional touch of HDR IF it was needed to possibly enhance a photo.

I have always been obsessed with the use of light to create great images.  One of this evening’s speakers shared this quote by George Eastman that is still so VERY true today.

“Light makes photography.  Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” – George Eastman

That says it all!

Happy Picture Taking,

Kevin Gourley