[JohnnyB]

On a side note, I know some people just don't like the look of HDR images, and I understand that, but sometimes I also hear people looking down on HDR images or heavily processed images as if they reflect a cheapening of the art (not making accusations here, just a general observation).

From my perspective, the more tools there are for production and the more accessible they become to people, the better the results are for the field as a whole. Art shouldn't have to be the domain of specialists who are heavily invested in tools of the trade that the average person can't access. Also, the fact that there are so many new and accessible tools available means that people can, even as a hobby, become specialized in all sorts of new forms of artistic production. While some people obviously don't dig a lot of post production work, it's a really accessible form of creative and aesthetic work that can be just as artistic as getting a great shot straight out of the camera.

It's a wonderful thing that so many people can now take an interest in producing aesthetic works for pleasure that were impossible before.