Do I have an obligation to disclose HDR?

[Joe_Lorenzini]

I'm curious about this. What are your thoughts as photographers about having to disclose when an image is an HDR composite?

For instance, I posted a picture of Cowboys Stadium at night:
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...d.php?t=105093

In my description, I did not say anything about it being an HDR image with my goal being to keep it realistic.

Question:
Should we as photographers put a disclaimer in there or is it ok to wait until someone asks if it is processed a certain way or how you captured the shot?

I'm just interested to know how other photogs feel.

Joe

[epoh]

I think if you are posting here it's not necessary. Personally I haven't seen very many HDR shots that I couldn't tell were HDR.

[Imagebuffet]

It depends on the forum in which it is displayed. If it is a photojournalism piece for a news report, I think that processing disclosure is necessary. If it is just posting on an informal forum like TPF, disclosure is not necessary.

[CaptainTom]

no ! *



*disclaimer
my posting this reply does not indicate that I have in any way been influenced
by the random ramblings of anyone on this forum.

[zebulus]

No

JINX Tom! You owe me a Coke!

zebulus added 3 Minutes and 35 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

*disclaimer
my posting this reply does not indicate that I have in any way been influenced
by the random ramblings of anyone on this forum.

Huh?

[Flea77]

I too think it depends on what you do with the image. For posting here as long as you do not imply it is exactly as shot, then no, no need to disclose anything (I think most of us knew your shot of the stadium was an HDR anyway). My rule would be simple, where the fact that the image was altered (faked, enhanced, adjusted, whatever you want to call it) would make a significant difference to the target audience, then disclose it, otherwise, no.

Allan

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by zebulus

No

JINX Tom! You owe me a Coke!

zebulus added 3 Minutes and 35 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below



Huh?

* I thought a disclaimer should be included in a reply to a survey regarding whether or not I thought there should be a disclaimer. **
**this 'grin' icon should in no way be construed as anything other than a
way to illustrate that I think this disclaimer is funny.

[zebulus]

you still owe me a coke next time im in fort worth, ;o

[Rson]

Nope, now if you added something material like more cars etc then maybe.

In today's time isn't everything edited in someway (Cropped, color bumped, etc)?

It is a gimme.

Most people would be like "HDR what?" Then you will have to explain it....best let it be.

KILLER PIC THOUGH!!!

[ChristopherCoy]

Does anyone have any obligation to dislose any way that they take/create a picture?

[mkothare]

Don't think that any disclosure would be needed for HDR as you are not distorting the subject matter in any way. At best you are enhancing the tonal range, possibly getting it closer to how the human eye sees it versus the limited capabilities of a camera lens and sensor/film. If one had the capability - you could light up different parts of a scene or landscape to even out the lighting and that would require no disclosure. You are doing it through merging multiple exposures.

In the good ole days of 'venchka' large format photography, :-) Ansel Adams never disclosed the amount of 'dodging' and 'burning' he did on his large format negatives while getting his signature prints made that exhibited phenomenal tonal range.

[CaptainTom]

photojournalists are ethically prohibited from 'enhancing' an image used to portray an event or person.

from the NPPA site

Code of Ethics
Visual journalists and those who manage visual news productions are accountable for upholding the following standards in their daily work:

Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.
Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.
Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one's own biases in the work.
Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.
While photographing subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.
Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.
Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.
Do not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.
Do not intentionally sabotage the efforts of other journalists.

I don't think HDR misleads the viewer.
It's not right to add missile batteries to an image because it would look better, however..

[jeffkohn]

HDR might not fit within the ethics/standards of Journalism for hard news photographs; I'm not really sure where the line would be on that since presumably it's OK to use GND filters, or high-contrast film, etc.

For any other purpose, IMHO you're under absolutely no obligation to disclose anything about how you took the picture, unless you just want to. I'm working on some images from the Eastern Sierra Nevada, and just about every one of them is an exposure blend of some sort (usually not HDR, but manually with layers). I don't really see why anybody should care, or whether it should factor into judging the photograph. If people are curious and ask that's fine; but various exposure blending techniques are really no different than using a GND, or polarizer, or any other technique that most photographers don't bother to disclose. It's the end product that matters, not workflow.

[bryanlindsey]

Why would you? Do you list your LR or PS edits? It's all PP.

[Angelo]

Absolutely NOT! As Jeff so ably said, "It's the end product that matters, not workflow".
Did Claud Monet offer his fans/peers what paints he used and how he mixed them?