Tonemapping on Photomatix Pro

[ballinfizzle]

Can you guys give me some tips and advice on tonemapping? I'm using photomatix pro 2.5. Here's a pic that I did haha:doh:

Original with the Rebel XT

My Friend's edit

My Edit

 

[The Phototron]

Well your friend darkened the car with a curve adjustment layer. And increased saturation of the sky and masking the rest.

Wait, are you using photoshop as well?

A layer of smart sharpen with luminosity blend mode, then a layer of high pass with overlay blend mode. And then increased saturation. Lastly apply a vignette on the top.

 

[ballinfizzle]

Wow..your colors came out ALOT richer and the ground seems like I'm actually standing on it! Thanks! And I'm using photomatix I have photoshop 7.0 wish I had CS3 haha