I accept criticism if it's relavant as there is a thin line between it and rudeness.
thank you for general c&c
While I may not be of skill comparable to anything near that of a professional photographer, I will preface this post by stating that I have had some experience in the field. Granted, this has no bearing whatsoever on any possible merit this post holds; rather, it is just the perspective I hold in light of this previous experience. It is not intended for this post to appear as any sort of assertion that I know what I'm talking about at all.
Moving along to the matter at hand, the original poster's HDR image. I am of the opinion that this particular version is of fairly good quality, this being based solely upon the fact that it is one of the OP's first attempts at creating HDR images. There are a number of elements which I am particularly fond of in this image, but there are also some things that should be addressed.
Beginning with the positive aspects of the image, I would have to say that I am impressed with the rendering of the shed's roof and wood grain. The roof appears to be made of granite, almost of the some polished quality that would commonly be found as a countertop. I just find the texture to be interesting on the roof regardless of if it was intended.
Secondly, the exposure of the wood's grain gives it the appearance of a wood with a more vibrant tone, perhaps something similar to cherry or redwood. While the tone is not too close in appearance to either of these woods, it is a step in the right direction.
Lastly, I believe that the blurring in the background tree branches provides a certain depth to the image, almost like the trees are embossed. While this is likely unintentional, I do believe it adds an interesting effect to an otherwise unexceptional image. By this, I am saying that the image is fairly good, but it lacks the compositional quality found in exceptional images.
Continuing to the bad, I would have to say that the composition of the photo is off. It just doesn't seem as if much thought was invested when the choice of camera positioning was made. I do agree that a tighter crop would help this particular image, but I believe that a complete recomposition would be of even more benefit. As was suggested earlier by another member, the image would generally benefit from use of the rule of thirds . My personal approach to correcting this would likely be placing more emphasis on the shed, possibly through the use of natural framing (shooting through branches with some of them on the edges of the frame.) I believe that this would add another desirable quality to the image while retaining its original purpose.
Secondly, the exposure in the background is a little dark. While this helps to distinguish the background from the subject, the colors just don't jive well with this particular setting. The same goes for the color of the yellow background flowers; their stems simply appear to be too vibrant.
Lastly, you may want to consider opening the door of the shed. Depending on your luck, the shot may appear to be more interesting at the expense of drawing attention away from the outside of the shed. This is a purely personal choice. I am not saying that this necessarily should be done, but it may result in a more interesting shot.
I hope you find this post to be of both encouragement and light constructive criticism. While I honestly doubt that you were discouraged by the comments of previous posters, it is possible for you to misinterpret their comments. I am of the opinion that their particular comments were unnecessarily harsh for a first-time HDR composer, exposure to such criticism will ultimately help you in the future. You will eventually adjust to similar comments, and you will become more adept at improving your work while interpreting these comments.
Speaking from experience, a plethora of inherently "bad" images have been composed throughout history, perhaps the majority of said photos to have been created by yours truly. I've endured criticism much harsher than that which you have experienced on these forums, often to my surprise that my work has not yet endured a barrage of rotten produce from discontented critics. (I'll just have to patent a method for doing this over the internet in the future
I just honestly hope that you have been helped by this criticism, rather than simply being taken aback by the words of those more experienced than yourself. I wish you well in your future photographic endeavors, and anticipate great improvements in your work in the foreseeable future.
Have taken all of it into account, thank you