HDR from a single image

We all are aware of the dramatic look that HDR processing can give an image. Some love it, some hate it. I think that it really comes down to using it the right way in the right situations. I have gotten some wonderful results using it with landscapes, sometimes it is just too much. I have found that processing the image using HDF effex pro then toning it down a notch so it isn't quite so HDR ish really makes for a more tastefull result, anyway...
HDR is easy enough when you are doing landscape and have a good tripod with no moving elements in the image, but what about a moving subject, even a person trying not to move, or times when you can't carry a tripod or are in heavy wind or inclimate weather. Small variables like that can ruin an HDR shot. I was out this weekend on a shoot like that. Tripods were restricted- you could not bring one. It was slighlty windy, etc. In the past when i have been in situations like this here is a trick.
#1 capture a good handheld image. Use as fast of a shutter speed as you can to ensure sharpness at an ISO of 200 (good dynamic range and still good IQ).
#2 Get the image home and open it is photshop. DO NOT adjust anything in the raw workflow, move straight into standard photoshop workflow. Increase the brightness by 150 (equall to about +2 on your cameras lightmeter. Save that as 'image' +2.jpg or whatever you want . Use .TIFF if you are worrried about .Jpg IQ issues. I think it works fine as jpg. Don't save over your orinial- us "save as." Close that file, open you original back up but this time decrease the brightness by 150 (about -2 on exposure meter). Save as -2
#3 Now you should have three separate savede images of the exact same picture, just at differant light levels. Now you can merege them into whatever HDR processor you use- I like Nik Softwares  HDR efex pro.

There are some real advantages to doing it this way. There is not risk of ghosting or motion artifact becasue they are the exact same image. you may not achive quite the dynamic range you would doing a standard 3 or 5 image somposite,but you will get significantly more than just trying to make adjustments to a single image. In HDR efex pro you again get access to things like "blacks" that you would normally edit in the RAW workflow, but can't access directly in the standard photoshop workflow.Another plus- some photo contests and whatnot do not allow HDR composites. I am really not sure how this plays into the rules but technically this was a single image capture, just extensivly edited so take that for whatever it's worth. Here are some examples of a window I shot at a native american ruin in Arizona. HDR is really fun at these sites becasue it allows the textures of the brick and mortar to really show. But as I stated, you cannot bring tripods here- the concern is that you could hit something with it or that the feet could impact the site and potentially damage somthing that is irreplacable.
Here is the original image, as well as the 2 with adjusted brightness levels, and finally the finished product processed with HDR effex pro.

Notice the inceased level of detail you can obtain with the HDR.The original image is nice, but all the color looks very much the same. There were no filters on this, just red stone and red clay and a very red image. The HDR allows so many more colors to show up and I feel gives a better representation of what the human eye would see if you were there. Enjoy & have fun.