Tractor HDR, amatuer attempt

Hi all, been lurking for ever and don't post much. I'm obviously new to all of this and am only shooting with an SX20is. I've been shooting alot and trying to learn but I feel like I'm to the point where I need to get some professional criticism to grow so I'm taking the plunge and posting a pic here despite my nerves telling me not to.

A little about the picture. This is at a relatives house in the midwest and was taken using three exposures. It was a hot day with strong filtered sunshine on a hazy day and due to time restraints I took this at about 3pm in the afternoon. So the sky is kind of blah. I'm feeling like I over cooked the picture a bit in Photomatix but I'd love to hear all kinds of opinions. Thanks.

This is pretty good for a first attempt. I assume your SX20 can shoot RAW? If not, look into CHDK which will allow you to do that and more.

While I like if for a first attempt, here's what I would do or think about for the next one. My opinion only, so take it with a grain of salt.

The sky is adding nothing to the shot, and personally I'd replace it with something else. Not sure what you're using to process but if you can mask in one of your original shots it may help. Or, you could crop more of it out. If you keep what you've got, you should address the halo.

The grass is a bit oversaturated, but some will like that. In the future when you have a vehical in the shot look at framing it so that the front is facing the open part of the frame instead of the back as in this case. Good luck and thanks for coming out of the closet.

Sadly the SX20 can not shoot RAW. I do have CHDK but was not using it for this project. I certainly will the next time though. I am using Photomatix for tonemapping and PS for any other editing. Thank you very much for your suggestions.

Wow nice first go at HDR well done

I can't see anywhere in this image where there was high dynamic range.

I agreee with Blake about the sky and the framing. I feel like if you'd moved the camera a few inches left it would have helped with the composition. If you're going to shoot a vehicle facing off frame like that you may want to try and balance it out with another subject on the other side. The way it is now it leads the eye off your photo. But as far as the HDR processing goes I rather like how you've done it.

thomatis wrote in post #12890697
I can't see anywhere in this image where there was high dynamic range.

Thanks for basically no real helpful input at all.

Jedi McAndrew wrote in post #12891463
I agreee with Blake about the sky and the framing. I feel like if you'd moved the camera a few inches left it would have helped with the composition. If you're going to shoot a vehicle facing off frame like that you may want to try and balance it out with another subject on the other side. The way it is now it leads the eye off your photo. But as far as the HDR processing goes I rather like how you've done it.

I definitely need to work on my framing. I took another set along with this where there is a shed off the right so you get the tractor and the shed. The problem is they were too far apart so it didn't really add anything. You are right though the tractor facing off shot definitely draws the eye away. I'll have to keep that in mind in the future. Thanks for your input!