HDR Photo Merge Not Creating High Contrast Merge

[Sean30776698stje]

I have 3 photos with 3 different exposures. I go to lightroom to HDR Merge them into one high-contrast photo. However, when I get to the preview, I notice an issue. I unclick the "Apply Auto Settings" and I realize that its just one of the photos that has an auto edit laid over. 

Not sure if I am doing things incorrectly or not, but I would like to create a high contrast photo and this was the only way I have found to do so with the tools I have.

Please help.

[Per Berntsen]

Please post a screenshot of the three images (thumbnails) in Library. I assume that they are next to each other.

You can enlarge the thumbnails a bit, so they're easier to see. (Cmd + scroll wheel)

Do not attach the screenshot, use the Insert photos button in the toolbar.

[Rob_Cullen]

"I unclick the "Apply Auto Settings" and I realize that its just one of the photos that has an auto edit laid over. "

It may appear that way in the resulting HDR, but the option to [Auto Tone] the HDR is still available (after creating the HDR), and your editing possibilities (for greater Contrast) are greatly expanded (eg. Exposure now has a 20stop range.)

Why uncheck the [Auto Settings] in the Merge dialog?

Original series-

Uncheck the[Auto] in the Merge dialog-

Resulting HDR-

[Auto] applied in the Develop module after creating the HDR-

Adjusting sliders allows a high contrast image-