Greetings all, I have added to my site examples of HDR images with and without tone mapping. I try and keep the images close to the real thing unless one wants a special effect for some specific purpose.

If you want to see the images please go to: http://www.shootinghdr.com

There is much discussion as to what is the best work flow system.
For me it is all about what works for ones self, the software that you have available is a very important consideration as well as the personal computer file management that you use presently and how well that works for you. There really is no right and wrong way to develope a good work flow system. It is all about what seems right to you!
I have put together a document that covers my work flow and why it works for me.
If you want to see what I use for HDR photography please follow this link:
http://www.shootinghdr.com/tutorial/hdr-work-flow-2/

Hello, it is I who needs to apologize as I gave you the wrong link that contains the instructions and the video. The correct URL to visit is: http://www.shootinghdr.com/free-photomatix-presets/
For the video please go to the bottom of that page.
Photomatix is a great program for HDR work however finding or installing presets is a very difficult proposition. I am sorry that I cannot assist more with an Apple install but the video is supposed to help you out.
Good luck and I look forward to you hopefully being part of my website in the future.

Hello, yes it is difficult and confusing to find where to place the Presets once they have been unzipped. I have added instructions and a link to a video that should help.
This update and video link can be found on my site at:
http://www.shootinghdr.com/zippedfiles/

I hope that this helps you out.

Good Luck!

Hello;
Thank you for checking out the site and presets.

Go to this link: http://www.shootinghdr.com/zippedfiles/

You will then see a page which has the following:

Parent Directory and Presets.zip below it, double click on the Preset.zip file and a box should appear asking if you want to view or download the file. Select download and the file should then down load to your computer.

I hope that this helps.

Thank you everyone for the nice comments and I hope that some of the presets work well for you!

I have made available 25 Photomatix Presets for you to down load for free.
If you want to get the zipped file you can go to: http://www.shootinghdr.com

Hello;
The program that I use for HDR is Photomatix Pro 4.2.7 then I follow Up with Photoshop CS6 as needed. I like to play around with ND filters and get that delayed look much like the 1/4 second you achieved. I have just created a website for my stuff if interested in looking, check out my personal details for the link.

I use lightroom all of the time as this is my entry point, what I mean by that is that I add information to the metadata when in Lightroom and then to assist in my work flow. For me it is just the first step, others however use Lightroom to achieve a final product. When editing an image and then saving it, some programs allow one to remove the metadata file to keep the JPEG as small as possible.
I did a quick and dirty adjustment to your original image using Photomatix
which is a tool used normally to built HDR images from AEB shots. I spent no more that maybe 5 minutes in Photomatix with an intent of giving the image more "POP". The final stage for me is Photoshop CS6 to clean up the image.
Keep up the good work, you have a good eye!

I really like number three (Another shot of Poortjies lagoon, same morning)! It has a solitude feeling to it, great image.
Question, did you use a graduated ND filter on the camera?
What was the exposure that was used, do you recall?
I would have loved to have a bracketed RAW images of this seen for an HDR.
Great Job.

Hello;
I tried content aware with this image in Photoshop, I use it as a stable for removing items from an images, however I knew I was going to have problems as the lady has the tree beside her and the bridge below. To make it work one could mark her out completely with content aware then use the clone stamp tool to manufacture the bridge. I did not do that but feel with the content aware removing her then cropping the image back should work well.
Just my thoughts, good luck this is a great image!

Hello;
I really like the image and it has potential, as the file is fairly small it does not leave much for experimentation. However I tried to use the sun as a highlighting feature, it is there in the background of the image.
I am just a novice but here is what I came up for you to evaluate.
I hope you think it might be an improvement?

I really liked the picture (Chicago), not in my mind an over processed HDR.
The image has I believe a tilt to the right as can be seem by the horizon and the tilt on the office tower on the right side. Easily fixed with Photoshop or another like program.
Great job though, keep the images coming.

I shoot in Raw and JPEG at the highest setting, on a good shooting day I will shoot between 300 to 400 shots. I find that for me viewing JPEG's is a quick way to sort out the rejects quickly. I shoot mostly for HDR photographs so AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing)is a given. This of course reduces the number of actual images that I have to work with but this process does take time.
Regarding the actual question it is an interesting one, as pixels increase with each new generation of cameras we see that the size of JPEG's increase well.

Thank you everyone for the very warm welcome!