How do you do HDR?

[alasdair]

What techniques do you employ when taking HDR shots?

Do you have preferred subjects?
Do you have a specific amount of exposures you use?
Do you always use RAW or JPEG?
Do you have preferred software?

I’m looking to improve my skills and develop my ability in this area.
Feel free to check out my current work at http://www.macleod.arknet.co.uk/photoblog and provide some feedback

Regards

Alasdair MacLeod
http://www.macleod.arknet.co.uk

[nickelmedia]

My preferred subjects are landscape, and during daylight HDR shots, I prefer clouds in the sky to add drama.

I rarely need more exposures that the 3 available using Canon's AEB.

Only RAW for me

Photomatix standalone and Lightroom 2.

My only comment about your photos is that the smoothing is too low for my taste. On the slider, I'm usually around a value of 75-80 (or 2nd from right if using the smoothing buttons) as it reduces much of the glow and produces a more close to real life image. It's all a matter of taste however so there is no right or wrong.