HDR Beautiful Shots Photo Contest Winners

Thank you to all the photographers that shared their best HDR photos in the HDR Beautiful Shots Photo Contest with chances to win prizes by Concepter and more!

A special thanks to our friend and professional photographer Dave Bell for his collaboration as a guest judge in this photo contest. Dave Bell is a man who wears many hats. In addition to his life-long obsession with photography, he is a Professor who teaches courses in Database Systems, Networking, and eCommerce. He is also a vocalist with the internationally renowned Heritage Singers, performing in venues all over the globe. A self-appointed techno geek, he loves playing with new technologies of all sorts. Residing near St Helena, CA, he loves exploring the ever-changing beauty of the Napa Valley.

Congratulations Grand Jury Winner "The sound of silence #8 " by daniel_anhut

"This photo immediately stood out among the pack. The lovely serenity. The beautiful instrument standing resolutely surrounded by the cracking paint and gloomy air. Black and white was definitely the right decision for this. The positioning of the piano is perfect in the extra space between the inner-most windows. Well done!" - Dave Bell

Congratulations Runner Up "Milan " by WWWest

"The symmetry of strong lines and curves is mesmerizing. The wide angle gives the feeling of that the two side buildings are looming overhead. I find my eye wandering about, examining all of the exquisite details, but it is always drawn back to the circular center. Lovely use of HDR to emphasize detail and make the warm colors in the walls glow. The soft fluffy clouds beyond the dome add the final touch." - Dave Bell

Congratulations Runner Up "Lonely" by AntonioBernardino

"At first glance, there is not a lot to this photo, but upon further examination, you realize that the dark object in the background is a big lovely tree. This photo MUST be viewed large to be appreciated. Once you have it filling the screen you also realize that there’s a lightning bolt adding an extra touch. These thunderstorm-filled sunsets are always a joy to be able to watch in person as the clouds and colors are ever-changing. I would love to see this on my wall printed huge on acrylic." - Dave Bell

Congratulations Runner Up "Thorup Strand" by olesteffensen

"A very strong image. The ship is an imposing sight with its companions alongside. The streaks in the sky are complemented by the tracks in the sand. Golden-hour lighting bathing the red and white starboard planking of the second ship gives an interesting diversion. This is classic HDR processing that is not overcooked—with just the right amount of surreal." - Dave Bell

Congratulations Runner Up "Final Destination " by Structor

"There were several beautiful photos of ships in this group of finalists, with quite a bit of variance in processing technique. “Final Destination” is the perfect title for this old relic that, I’m sure, saw a lot of miles of ocean in years gone by. It has a light-handed use of HDR, but enough to emphasize the details and give it just a touch of other-worldliness. I saw in the comments that this was shot in Iceland—a place that is certainly still on my bucket list!" - Dave Bell

Congratulations Amateur Winner "Adraga Beach Sunset, Sintra-Portugal" by Migas