My first 60D HDR attempt.

I used 3 raw shots from my 60D for this. f/16, ISO 100, Av, +2, 0, -2 EC. Combined in DPP and tweaked "Art Bold" settings. Besides the rugby flag blowing in the wind, am I on the right track for HDR? Have at it. I'm a big boy.

Sorry, 60D, not 6D. Fixed.

For me, the answer here is no - but I'm not a big fan of overdone HDR either. This feels way too overdone and un-realistic to me.

Plus, the composition needs some work... there's a pond and a barn back there, but the main thing I see is rocks... move the camera up 2-4 feet and show me more of the scene please

Thanks. I didn't think much of the composition, either. I shot this because the rocks were in shadow against the bright sky. I chose "Art Bold" because the original HDR composite was pretty flat. I agree with you, though, a more interesting photo would improve the whole thing.

some like unrealistic HDR, some don't. I do (but not all, depends on subject) and just for practice I think you're on the right track. It's fun, find the right subjects (rocks are actually pretty good, or rusty old things, old wood, etc) and have fun

Thanks. I kind of like the overdone effect. My wife saw it when she got home from school and said, "You did that? With a camera? It looks fake to me!" Oh, well. I'll try this shot again tomorrow with a wider lens and a higher angle.

Definitely be nice to see more of that great red barn and pond - even with all that rock and tree in the foreground (just get rid of that weird sign).

Opinion - this isn't bad but any further and it would be an over cooked HDR. So you're right on the edge for my tastes.

I shot this at 15mm. I will be taking my 10-22 tomorrow. Will try to shoot closer, wider, and higher. I hope the sky is the same. I am also taking my CPL (I know, CPL and 10mm are not a good match) and ND-Grad, just for fun.

Some kind of weird ghosting going on with the sign.

I like it, and the level of detail in each individual component isn't necessarily overdone, it's the overall effect that's lacking. The eye wanders all over the page, there's not really a central subject and even if there were, there's too much detail drawing your eye everywhere else.

If it were me, I'd pick a few areas (that grass in the foreground to start) to darken the shadows and de-emphasize. Drawing the eye to a subject and de-emphasizing other areas will make for a much stronger composition. You won't notice the over-cooked-ness of the HDR if it's not throughout the image.

I don't understand the point of putting a lot of thought, time and effort in post processing and little in composition, light and subject choice. You get better results if you work the other way around.

For landscapes, you usually get the most beautiful light at sunrise or sunset.

As for the HDR effect, I don't really see any flaws besides the moving flag and twigs, which have already been pointed out. No obvious halo's. The over the top clarity and saturation is a matter of taste. Personally, I don't like it, but tat doesn't mean it's bad.

As an experiment to see if you can make a HDR image, it's a success.