Wade's bridge, Aberfeldy

Combination of 3 exposures, normal exposure and one -1 and the other + 0.5.
I prefer this image of the bridge to the other single exposure I took. I think I have succeeded in not making this one look like a typical HDR. I think it looks quite natural, what do you think?

I think it looks ace

Just like a vibrant image not too HDR-ish (although I like HDR images)

I think I prefer the composition of this one. I know what you mean about managing to keep it looking 'not too HDR' although it does seem to have (and perhaps it's just me) a slightly 'blueish' hue to it.

That is a lovely scene.

Perfect

Nice shot DJ, but I think I prefer the one in the other thread.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something not quite right for me about this shot.
I don't know if it's the contrast levels... or colour temperature...I just don't know.
I can't really figure out why I'm not so keen on this one, but I'm sure others will love it.

that is a great shot DJ ! i like the compostion on the pic but i also likes how the sun shining on the bridge in the other picture in your other thread

This IS a typical HDR DJ HDRs have just developed into something more extreme.

HDR was traditionally practiced to obtain the details in both the shadows and the highlights - hence dynamic range.

This is was done very wellDJ - i like it, athough im finding the blues in the water a little too distracting

If that is what you wanted to achieve, then yes. It does not have the HDR look. Did you use Photomatix to combine and generate? I use this quite a bit with my virtual photography interior shots. Helps viewing out the windows instead of a blown out window.

I like the composition and the image. I am going to second what Kanikula has stated about the water though. It's like you can see a definant line from blue to almost black.(I am not on a calibrated monitor) Also, Mandé Daguerre stated a color issue. I will also have to agree here. To me the temperature is off a tad. Did you shoot RAW? If so you may want to give the temp slider a little nudge?

Anyways with all that said you still have a very nice image that you should be proud of. Playing with HDR and getting it to not look like HDR can be very tricky.

Nice work!

Thanks for the comments everyone

Yes, I know KK, I should have said "extreme HDR". But i'ts not a true HDR either, I created the additional exposures in Canon DPP rather than in camera.
I dont think there is a need to bracket exposures for HDR images if shooting in RAW, unless it's really difficult lighting and you want to combine 5 or more exposures. Thanks

Thanks bp, yes, I used Photomatrix to combine these exposures.
I can see the blue in the water as well (viewing this on a Mitsubishi crt) it does look a little odd, going from blue to black. Maybe the use of a polariser filter and/or me adding too much saturation, not sure. I'll post the original image later for comparison, as I'm not at my own pc just now.

Here is the original image, straight out the camera, not processed in DPP, just converted to jpg and resised for web.
Comparing them side by side, I can see that I have gone a little OTT with photomatrix