Critique on HDR aspect

[IgneousIsBliss]

I have been apprehensive about posting this, because it is my first HDR. But I will not improve without learning, so I would like a critique. Things I am looking for are: is it "overcooked"? is this the kind of photo that benefits from HDR? Would you have done it differently? How so?
I'm not so much looking for comments on the composition, subject matter, etc, but as the title states, the HDR and editing aspect of it.
Thank you in advance
-Katie

 

[Bynx]

The thing with HDR to watch out for is the details in the highlights and details that can be too much. As the lights get details and the darks get details the image gets flattened in appearance such as your image here. I think what you have is good but just needs a bit of work from photoshop to give the pic some snap. To give it the look that you would get if you were there looking at the scene. Im betting if there was a sky in this pic it would show more readily the problems with your processing so far.

 

[IgneousIsBliss]

Bynx, Thanks for the response.
I definitely see what you are talking about. So, you think that it would benefit from some contrast and level adjustments? I know those are very basic things but I only know how to do pretty basic stuff in PS. I'm going to work on it in PS and see if it's any better, or maybe run the originals through photomatix again and tone it down a little.
Thanks again for the helpful critique!

 

[Compaq]

Here's a quick edit.

I have adjusted the curves into a slight "S-curve" which enhances contrast. Then I de-saturated the blues and the cyans a little to remove the blue-ish tint in water. Lastly I dodged the water a little to make it a bit brighter.

 

[Light Guru]

Its to over processed, everything looks like plastic.

 

[janok]

I really liked the composition. I agree that it looks a little "flat". I have taken it into CS5 and processed it thru Topaz adjust (portret drama) - to make more depth to it.

 

[Over Exposed]

Bynx really nailed it. Too much time in the cooker can really flatten an image. However, not too bad for your first go around. Too much highlight and shadow detail compresses the image in a negative way. Our eyes need variations in both for our brain to formulate the dimensions properly (or at least more inspirationaly).