This photo of cypress trees along the banks of the Guadalupe River near San Antonio, TX was one of my first HDR - High Dynamic Range photos.

Guadalupe TreesShot while camping along the Guadalupe River in Texas near Hwy 183. This is one of my first HDR photos and one of the most commented on. The majority of comments are that it looks "spooky". I have to agree, and it's one of my favorites. What do you think?

One of the potential problems with HDR photography, especially a few years ago in its infancy, is the tendency to over process. Over processing creates a variety of artifacts in an image and can lead to a very surreal or fake looking image.  I've learned a lot since taking this photo and it's highly unlikely I would call this image a final product in my current process. However, if I shot this photo today I don't think I would have stuck with this image which, although over processed, has a wonderful quality about it. 

I've exhibited this photo and shared it quite a bit and people always seem to have a strong opinion about it. Some dislike it, many like it, and almost everyone thinks it looks a bit "spooky". How wonderful! After all, isn't that what makes an image or a painting or any other work of art remarkable? Whether people like it or dislike it, almost everyone feels strongly about it and that's what makes it a great image. There's not a whole lot of middle ground but rather a love it or leave it feeling and a reaction. Either way, it stirs emotions.

How does this photo make you feel? What are your thoughts? How do you think it would look printed life-size and displayed in a large lobby or on the side of building?

You can read more about HDR photography in my post about HDR master Trey Ratcliff.