More and more I'm starting to wonder how often multiple image high dynamic range processing is really needed. I know there are times and situations that exceed my cameras limits but those instances I find are becoming less and less in recent years. Reason I bring this up is because on my last trip out I only took my D7000 and two lenses with me and I was really surprised by how much dynamic range the camera could capture with a single exposure. Some images had to be pushing 13-15 stops in range, which made me wonder, how many situations require much more.
For instance, these two images below shocked me. These are just single RAW images that were processed in Lightroom. In the first, I'm sitting in the shaded woods, and it's around high noon with a bright blue sky. The camera was able to capture the entire scene that was mostly in shade without killing highlights of the few white birch trees that were sitting in the bright sun at the top right. Remarkable stuff IMO.
Here's a crop of the top right.
And here's another image, same thing, single shot processed in Lightroom. Conditions, about 10:30 am with bright mixed clouds, and I'm shooting in the shade.
...and the crop of the sky.
So I'm currious and am wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the subject regarding our reasons for choosing HDR that perhaps we could discuss?