I finally made the plunge and started to explore High Dynamic Range Images

I started using the HDR function in Photoshop, then saw a tutorial showing how to use one single image to make an HDR composite.

Photomatix software was used, so I checked out their site and teachers get it for free, (!) so I downloaded and got started.

Here are a few before and afters.

I just ordered these images as 24″ x 36″ canvas prints, interested to see how they look printed.

The technique I used was to use only one image, captured in the raw format and make copies of it with slightly different levels of brightness, then merge them using Photomatix and edit in both Photomatix and Photoshop.

I am excited and love the results! Here is one more. This time I stated with an already edited night sky image. I am inserting three images here.

The original, then one I edited using Photoshop, and then the HDR version of the edited image.