HDR noob

http://www.nyspeed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16164&d=1283641796

http://www.nyspeed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16161&d=1283641767

http://www.nyspeed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16162&d=1283641778

http://www.nyspeed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16163&d=1283641788

tried a few HDR shots. came out a little extreme. but might look cool if youre into that. any suggestions? i am using photomatix to do the processing. and photoshop to adjust the exposure for my 3 raw images. i get annoyed with taking the 3 bracketed pictured because i never have a tripod. do the results vary if you use the 3 individual pictures as opposed to the 1 raw image that you manipulate?

edit: how do i get the attachments to show up as images?..ok, figured it out. whoa they are huge