When to Use HDR Mode When Taking Photos Share Photo: SergeyIT, Shutterstock To sign up for our daily newsletter covering the latest news, hacks and reviews, head HERE. For a running feed of all our stories, follow us on Twitter HERE. Or you can bookmark the Lifehacker Australia homepage to visit whenever you need a fix. HDR — or High Dynamic Range imaging — has been a common feature on both iPhone and Android for a while now, and it can definitely help you take better-looking photos. But is it always the best option? Below, we dive into everything you need to know about how — and when — to incorporate HDR in your photography repertoire.