This is my very first attempt at an HDR image.  I don’t usually like HDR, but while I was in Hawaii I took a few photos with the specific intention of trying my hand at HDR processing.  This particular image is an HDR combination of three exposures (highlights, midtones and shadows) that I then processed to dial back the HDR-ness and make it feel like a single-exposure photograph, instead of the (IMHO) usually over-baked hyper-realistic look found on most HDR photos.

Since I’m still completely new to HDR, I’m sure I can improve as I practice.  My ultimate goal is to discover or create a technique that will give me all the exposure and tonality range of HDR without the surreal, hyper-realistic look of modern HDR photography.

• Aperture: ƒ/11
• Camera: Canon EOS 7D
• Focal length: 15mm
• ISO: 800