On my way home from work... I couldn't pass this up

[JoePhotoOnline]

http://www.joephotoonline.com/Photography/Rust/Rust-2-10345tonemapped/769532403_xGAex-L.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

It's a potentially nice shot. I think I'd like it shot better if the truck had some more contrast & saturation. The whole feeling is dull & gray now, & it might be worthwhile to go back & reshoot it.

422734

[JoePhotoOnline]

Well, I shot it bracketed +/-2 stops and in raw. I could pull the saturation, but do you feel that would take the moodiness away from the shot?

[Carsofabq]

My quick edit didnt fix the clouds though
Before
http://www.joephotoonline.com/Photography/Rust/Rust-2-10345tonemapped/769532403_xGAex-L.jpg

after
http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/carsofabq/donecopy.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

I could pull the saturation, but do you feel that would take the moodiness away from the shot? Moody is one thing. Dull is another. Your 'after' looks OK, but my solution was to increase the contrast & sat just in the truck in my edit.

[JoePhotoOnline]

I did another pass with a sat adjustment of the truck only, and I really liked it. However, I was trying to avoid the 'toxic' colors in the rust, which give it big "I'm new to Photoshop and HDR" look. I don't like the over-processed look so much. I was going for as natural look as possible.

I'm having it printed at Bay right now, one on luster and another on metallic paper. I know the metallic paper likes to richen blacks and it also adds a bit of saturation. I'm very anxious to see how it turns out.

[PhotosGuy]

However, I was trying to avoid the 'toxic' colors in the rust, which give it big "I'm new to Photoshop and HDR" look. I don't like the over-processed look so much. I was going for as natural look as possible. I agree. On my version, I held back the front bumper about 50%. Have you used Adjustment Layers? Post #9:
Airport runway shoot (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117950)

Good luck with the metallic paper.