Yves (YL) inspired me to learn more about lights, (as I'm learning now) so, I know I don't have proper authority to speak in this matter But I think Patrick is right. If you want to create HDRI, my personal opinon would be Vue is not the proper tool. But realism/photorealism, well that's up to the viewers. One person might be happy with the picture from a $50 camera, then may be the next person won't be happy with the same shot with a top notch SLR camera. So, it is up to you, how you want to create your realism. And quiet frankly how can you make up a team, when every team member will have a different definition of photorealism? Look at all the pictures posted, everyone (including you) clamed the pictures are photo realistic. Yet they are very different from each other. But, as I was typing Kutter joined your leage. :-) Good luck to you two. You wrote, "Ever see a 3Ds Max HDRI render.. Thats lighting.. " ... well, that's the first and formost thing ofcourse, but "that's" not all. It requires HIGH detailed meshes, shadows & highlights, then ofcourse gradient plays a role; post work requires tonemapping or may be gamma correction or may be something else! And after all this the end result would make someone applaud and someone turn their face otherway! :-) ... My humble opinion.