HDR underexposed?

[CBabcock]

So I've done a few HDR shots. Some with less than desirable results. This one I like because it has some depth to it. I know about the ghosting near the clouds, I don't know how to get rid of this.
My questions are
Exposure - is it underexposed? Looks kinda dark to me.
What would widening my brackets do?
The settings were as follows
Canon 30D, Sigma 17-70 mm, using a focal length of 17.0 mm., f/18, ISO100, tripod, remote shutter release
shot 1 - EV -1, 1/8
shot 2 - EV 0, 0.3
shot 3 - EV +1, 0.5

HDR was done using Photmatix Pro, with some adjustments in CS5.

[windrider86]

Can you post your photo for us to see?

[milosh]

I doesn't look underexposed to me.

[photog1107]

I agree, it doesn't look underexposed to me, but rather than the smooth, liquid effect of HDR, the effect just seems too contrasty without the necessary midtones. Also seems a little oversharpened?

Nice composition, to be sure, though!

[CBabcock]

Originally Posted by photog1107

I agree, it doesn't look underexposed to me, but rather than the smooth, liquid effect of HDR, the effect just seems too contrasty without the necessary midtones. Also seems a little oversharpened?

Nice composition, to be sure, though!

Thanks. I knew something didn't quite look right and I wasn't sure what is was or how to explain it. I'll take a look at adjusting the midtones. Not sure what, if anything, I can do about the overshaprness.

[CBabcock]

I'm having trouble uploading the modified file. Thoughts on the new edits are encouraged.

Here's a link to it on Flickr -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbabcock/5299841765/

[digirebelva]

Where the heavy contrast is most evident is on the sky, in the interaction between the clouds and the suns rays, the new edit doesnt address this, the image itself is less dark lending more overall color, but the sky is actually taking away from the overall image being so contrasty.