HDR or not?

Here is a shot i took today during sunset. The first one is a 3 image HDR and the second one is a non HDR version.
I'm not a real big fan of HDR, but in this case, i'm not very sure which one is better.
C&C appreciated.

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What did you use to put the HDR together? It doesn't look like an HDR because theres no real detail in the shadows. Can you post your 3 images?

ChuckingFluff wrote in post #11289704
What did you use to put the HDR together? It doesn't look like an HDR because theres no real detail in the shadows. Can you post your 3 images?

I used photomatix. Well like i said i'm not a real big fan of it so i try to make the HDR photograph very subtle, but squeeze a little bit more color and detail out of it, perhaps too little i suppose?
Here are the 3 images that were used.

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And here's the third.

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If I get a chance later I wouldn't mind playing around with these if it's ok with you? I'm no expert but I like a challenge.

File was a little small to work with but I tried to pull a little more detail out of it.

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I like the subject of the photo --- and I also like what Chucking did with it... I need to learn HDR, it's a great effect...

I prefer the original non-HDR version. The original HDR version has an unnaturally dim sun (not to be confused with dimsum) and is rather dark in general.

I really dislike ChuckingFluff's HDR version due to the visible halation and especially the abrupt and unnatural brightening of the bottom left corner.

I like the non-HDR image personally. The colors have more pop and the image looks more "alive" and the details are sharper to me vs. the HDR image.

Thanks to the filters here in Afghanistan that the Army loves to use I am not able to see what Chuck posted for his HDR creation. Wish I could.

Sensei125 wrote in post #11305201
Thanks to the filters here in Afghanistan that the Army loves to use I am not able to see what Chuck posted for his HDR creation. Wish I could.

What?! the army blocks Flickr? Outrageous! Anyway, you could always use a proxy (unless those are all blocked too)

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions, i really appreciate it.
It is difficult not to exaggerate a HDR photo. but i guess, even though i try to be real subtle, it's still off because of the dim sun, sharpness and contrast. Non HDR is still the way to go in this photograph i suppose!

I think theres a lot more detail in there if you shot in raw format. It's kind of hard to get a real good edit with small files and I think some people were looking for a wall mountable print with small files but it's up to you and what you like to look at hdr or not. I think when I was looking at this in photomatix it was -4, 0, +2 EV it's good to keep it consistent as a -2, 0, +2 EV, the overly bright exposure will give you some haloing and brighten some areas more than what is needed. Even with hdr try and stay away from really blown images. Play around with it and have fun with it there a winning shot in there some where.

ChuckingFluff wrote in post #11306867
I think theres a lot more detail in there if you shot in raw format. It's kind of hard to get a real good edit with small files and I think some people were looking for a wall mountable print with small files but it's up to you and what you like to look at hdr or not. I think when I was looking at this in photomatix it was -4, 0, +2 EV it's good to keep it consistent as a -2, 0, +2 EV, the overly bright exposure will give you some haloing and brighten some areas more than what is needed. Even with hdr try and stay away from really blown images. Play around with it and have fun with it there a winning shot in there some where.

Thanks for your feedback. I have been shooting in raw since i started photographing, I just don't post high resolution shots on the web. The shots were -2, 0 and + 2 EV. Well i certainly will keep experimenting and hopefully get the result i'm looking for.

I would use the brush tool on LR3 and run it through the sky with Contrast-Clarity-Sharpenn turned up. It'll bring out a more dramatic scene

Non-HDR hands down