Thanks A Lot, HDR

Just thought I should take a moment to give thanks for the past few years' greatest photographic trend: the complete overuse of High Dynamic Range editing. HDR employs several different exposures of the same subject and then composites them together, coming up with high detail in all areas but no realistic dark shadows where they ought to exist. Denying the principle of chiaroscuro, the  interplay of light and dark tones, as exists in nature and which has been a time-honored keystone of art and photography for hundreds of years. And sometimes darkening unexpected parts of faces, such as pores, to create a "gritty" effect. So here is my thank you note to HDR photography.

Thanks a lot, HDR, for illuminating countless dirty, empty warehouses with no discernible point of focus.

Thanks a lot, HDR, for making everything real look like a 3D render.

Thanks a lot, HDR, for stealing the shade from under trees.

Thanks a lot, HDR, for even managing to suck the depth and mystery out of ancient ruins.

Thanks a lot, HDR, for making pointless stock photos look even more ridiculous and imminently dated. And for needlessly highlighting the dirt on the guy on the right's belly for absolutely no reason. Sincerely, thank you.

And thanks most of all, HDR, for THIS.