I have finally gotten seriously into the excellent eBook by Jason Odell and Tony Sweet that I recommended a while back. They discuss a technique using Nik HDR Efex Pro and a single image, rather than a series. The results are nothing short of amazing. The image will just 'pop' and the result is much better than anything I have been able to do with other software, including Lightroom! I haven't analyzed the settings they use on the presets yet and don't know whether the same adjustments can be made in Lightroom only, but I am finding with all the controls available in HDR Pro I really don't need to do any work at all in Lightroom except print! This eBook is rapidly becoming the best $25 I have ever spent on photography.

Scott Bourne's review of Nik Software's HDR Effects Pro

http://bit.ly/lAOMrA

Photomatix Light for $39

http://www.hdrsoft.com/order.php

Check out http://www.dpreview.com/news/1012/10122206HDRpart1.asp for an excellent discussion of HDR technique, complete with very useful illustrations. And best part it is free!

Nik Software just released Version 1.1 of HDR EFEX Pro -

http://www.niksoftware.com/hdrefexpro/usa/entry.php

free upgrade for current owners

Make an HDR image with one image in Lightroom.

http://bit.ly/bCfEVh

How to make a professional HDR image in Photoshop.

http://bit.ly/ArOB

Repost from Jim Finley:

And to any of you who are thinking about HDR, here's an article about one of the newer programs on the market. According to two articles that I read, it renders more realistic results. So, unless you what shock value in your HDR photos, this might be a program to take a look at. HDR Photostudio 2

http://www.popphoto.com/reviews/accessories/2010/03/software-review-hdr-photostudio-2

Photomatix Pro Tutorials. HDR software

http://www.hdrsoft.com/resources/tutorial_basic/index.html

HDRI in Photoshop CS5

http://bit.ly/ayUtj9

Thanks to Scott Oberle for the link to Viveza software.

http://www.niksoftware.com/site/

Repost from Jim Finley

With regards to HDR, I have been a proponent of Photostudio 2 by Unified Color for a few months. They have just released a new version called "HDR Expose". The few things I didn't like about Photostudio, they have completely revamped and fixed with the new version. I played with the program a little bit and ordered my license. I think the results are more realistic, however, you can spice up the saturation if that floats your boat...It all works in 32 bit and has a Lightroom and Photoshop plug-in. Below is the link to the review done by Terry Reinhert photography. It's worth a look.....Big Jim

http://www.tkrphoto.com/2010/07/hdr-expose-review/