[vinaypai]

Same here. Especially considering the ones supposedly "look like shit".

The whole thing reads like a no-so-subtle brag about how his mighty photographer's eye can spot details that mere mortals can't.

[ageitgey]

Your viewing environment will matter a lot. In a dark room with a bright monitor, the banding in the background of the example images is pretty bad (if you are looking for it). But if you have a laptop in a bright sunny room in front of a window causing back lighting, you probably won't be able to see it.

[gorlilla]

It's there. It's very noticeable once pointed out. It drastically distorts the images' 'softness' because of the harsh steps through the gradients. It does not appear as the artist intended for it to, which is the biggest issue.