The Weekly Collegial Show Your Photos Starting 15 September 2025 Any Brand

This is the weekly Collegial Show Your Photos Any Brand thread where we invite you to show your own pictures. It is collegial in that it is a pleasant and friendly place among photographers to share.

I will begin this thread each Monday (Pacific Standard Time) to give each of you all the chance to share your weekend photos with us, for those that follow a regular work week schedule and choose to do it that way. But the pictures can be taken at any time with any camera, including your cell phone. It's open to all skill levels from beginners to advanced. The images posted can be anything from casual snaps to extraordinary. I'll be sure to comment to each of your photos, if you choose to share. Replies from others are encouraged also.

The intent of this thread to mainly to just show photos in a relaxed way and to generate replies or comments about them. Generally I'm not planning to critique any image unless asked. But I or we may ask things about a photo that may develop into a discussion, always being friendly and helpful. It has been a request that I mention this and from what I've learned from past experience: Can you ask a member first if they would mind you editing their photos?

Remember it's all about the enjoyment of taking pictures regardless of what we have. We can learn from each. Please share any tips or techniques too. A narrative sometimes also helps. Thanks everyone for your participation.

Subject: HDR Photo of Lake Tahoe

Sometimes I find that creating a HDR (high dynamic range) photo is best of some landscape scenes. When I was hiking around Lake Tahoe a little over a month ago, I remembered to take this photo as a HDR one straight out of the camera. I think it looks better. I hope you do too. Then I show the non-HDR photo for comparison.

Photo No. 1 - HDR Photo

Model - Canon EOS R8
ExposureTime - 1/640 seconds
FNumber - 7.10
ISOSpeedRatings - 160
ExposureBiasValue - 0
FocalLength - 40 mm
Lens Model - RF24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM

Photo No. 2 - Non-HDR Photo

Model - Canon EOS R8
ExposureTime - 1/640 seconds
FNumber - 7.10
ISOSpeedRatings - 160
ExposureBiasValue - 0
FocalLength - 40 mm
Lens Model - RF24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM

Edit: I didn't know whether I should have brightened up the HDR photo or not. So here it is a little brighter. Which one do you like better?

Photo No. 3 - Brighter HDR Photo

Model - Canon EOS R8
ExposureTime - 1/640 seconds
FNumber - 7.10
ISOSpeedRatings - 160
ExposureBiasValue - 0
FocalLength - 40 mm
Lens Model - RF24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM

I do like the Brighter HDR version, But I'm curious if you could reach similar results with altering Gamma correction/adjustment or altering grey point levels

Thanks ArvoJ and Photobygms for the comments.

The HDR photo was closer to what I remember seeing. As I don't remember exactly how it looked, here's another one that might be better.

Or maybe this one....

ArvoJ,

There's times that I prefer non-HDR photos even it if looks differently than what I saw. It's basically our art. There are other times, I find it's necessary. For some reason cell phones can do better with that (at least mine does). It's a little embarrassing to me sometimes when my phone takes better pictures and it's often because of the dark shadows and bright lighting are too extreme. Next time, (if I remember), I'll take a non-HDR photo, and in-camera HDR photo and then one with my phone for comparison. If anyone would also like to do the same, it would be good to see. Or if anyone has any other suggestions or ideas, please let us know.

I've also taken HDR photos at night of buildings. They come out pretty cool (except for the street lighting). It's not what I saw, but again it's our art. 😀

After playing around with the image numerous times, I like the fifth (last) photo the best. I think we have to look at them, like we did not know that they were an HDR photo. HDR that we experience as humans is complex, using both the eye and brain to give us that image.