First HDR attempt CC Please

[Lex_Cash]

Out in La Jolla yesterday doing some photos for a friend and took a couple bracketed photos at sunset. Don't really like how the clouds turned out but I like the rocks below. Any suggestions on fixing the sky would be much appreciated. Thanks!
3 pictures -2,0,2 processed in photomatix.

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

To fix the sky you could try to move the highlight smoother to the right in photomatix.

If that doesn't work, you can always manually blend exposures in post with Cs5 by using masks.

As far as the photo goes:

The ground is very interesting, the sunset itself is quite lacking and the lighting seems just a smidge off (lots of foregound light, very little light on the water itself). When I don't like the result of a photo I will sometimes process it more than once just to see if I like a different rendition better

 

[brian_f2.8]

i agree with the above post, there is a lot going on the bottom half but the sky doesnt help. a dramatic sunset with clouds would help.

 

[Bynx]

You could just make a new sky.

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

You could just make a new sky.

nailed it!

 

[Lex_Cash]

You could just make a new sky.

Wow that did make a huge difference. What was the process you used to add
the clouds? I do very basic editing in PS and mostly when I can't do it in LR.

 

[Bynx]

I just grabbed a sky from a collection I have. Then sized it down to fit. I used the eraser with 0 hardness and dropped out the water area and the cloud covering over the sun. Then for fun I tried to match the new reflection in the water puddles on the rocks.

 

[Lex_Cash]

Thank everyone. This was just kinda an afterthought to doing another set so I thought I'd try. I like the idea and think I'm going to go out looking to specifically get some HDR shots. Thankfully San Diego is a great place to be stationed with tons to photograph. Also thanks Bynx for walkthrough.