If you don’t know what HDR photography is then read here. It’s my healthy addiction.
The photos above are a result of my experimenting; the results of which I initially thought were conclusive.But, just when you believe that one software package is superior to the other, then you find that the “loser” is able is do something that the “winner” is incapable of.
Trial software can be downloaded here:
Play with both, try, experiment and then when you get to an advanced stage start thinking about manual blending without either software package. Christopher O’Donnell kindly offers a free e-book in this regard – click here.
Want to learn from one of the HDR masters I follow closely? Then click here to get some free tutorials from Jimmy McIntyre.
Andrew Harvard Photography 
Wish it could be my full-time job then I’d love to experiment for hours on end! Great shots, interesting differences in the outcome. As it is for me, I love taking pictures and don’t know a thing beyond that! ~SueBee
Start and you will learn. This is my hobby. If it were my full time job then I would have no outlet to relax 😉
You make a valid point. 🙂
I’m experimenting with Topaz plug-ins for Photoshop and these offer a virtually unlimited amount of possibilities. Sometimes combining the different plug-ins (Perfect Suite, Photomatix, etc.) can also give extraordinary results….. It’s a long, long learning curve etc. etc.
If you are not hot on Photoshop and haven’t tried Nik Efex, then you are missing out deluxe 🙂
I’ve tried it, saw (and see with you) the good but also found out that Nik Efex on its own cannot do what I really want to achieve unless I want to copy you and others. So I keep on experimenting with all kinds of stuff including Topaz, Perfect Suite and Photomatix plus all these combined. All have their pros and contras (for me); it’s in fact a combination of camera, the settings in which I photograph (surrounding, sky, lights, etc.) and processing. Etc. etc.
Someone is going to report us for excessive software usage and extreme image manipulation 😉
😀 😀 😀 I just published one ‘overdone’ picture (cycads) ……… (LOL)
The Nik Efex HDR looks better in the 2 images! (Well in my opinion anyway) 🙂
It’s powerful but every 10 processes or so it gets stumped by odd exposure values – Photomatix seems to take this in its stride