DestinWavesRolling
by Denielle

Comment:
Same thing I said with the horizon, also with regards to shooting level.
Honestly, though, there's something eerily nostalgic about this for me. It reminds me of older film photos, mostly due to the blackness of the horizon. I sorta like this as is, a semi haphazard shot of the moment, little thought given to the photo, more given to the scene and being there. Perhaps that's just me (probably is), but I do kinda like this one as is.
Technically it has several problems (horizon, blown highlights), but it's still interesting to me.

DestinCloudsWater
by Denielle

Comment:
First thing- horizon is not level. Generally I align my horizons so they "look" level. This doesn't mean they are level in relation to the topography, but that they visually feel level. Even if a photo is technically level, sometimes the terrain will throw things off and make it feel unnatural and that will be problematic for viewers. The ocean, we all know, is perfectly level.

Beyond this, your scene needs a bit of focus. Again, show us what you want us to see. The waves? Get low. The sky? Compose things in such a manner as to include things in a more organic fashion. The clouds seem cut off. Also, if they are your focus, keeping them exposed properly is paramount. This is also a trying scene in terms of dynamic range, so, either you expand the DR, or you pick and choose what you want to expose.

DestinBridge
by Denielle

Comment:
This looks a bit softer than I'd expect, so I'm wondering if you were shooting zoomed in, since you were shooting at 5.6. 1/60 is a relatively slow shutter speed, suitable for lenses that are 40mm or shorter, but the 5.6 makes me think you were shooting beyond that. There are lots of good ways to use a rest that don't involve a tripod, but also just stabilizing your grip can be super useful. Look up Joe Mcnally's "Da Grip" for one technique.

Beyond that, I'd like to see you use the leading lines of the pier more. I'm fine with the sky being blown- you're dealing with extremes of exposure here, and the only way to get both is to HDR it. Also remember that a higher or lower perspective than eye level almost always makes a shot more interesting visually, since it departs from the way we always see things. GET LOW! It's easy to do and will make many images stronger.

Aspen Grove, Winter Morning
by Bear_Music

Comment:
Great depiction of how these scenes look to the eye, which can be very difficult, HDR or otherwise. Your snow looks so natural and perfect, which is always my struggle on these shots.
Very nicely taken- I just love the stretching shadows pulling us into the sun.

Hello Spring
by aliqui

Comment:
Looks like your shooting in the humid conditions worked out more than well enough :)

The Plans They Made
by rooum

Comment:
I was curious to see who's photo this was. Seeing that it was yours makes a bit more sense, I suppose.

Much appreciated entry, reminds me of one of my favorite photographers, Robert Adams.

Zero - G
by Magnumphotography

Comment:
Ha! My friend and I jokingly call all the nuthatches we see "antigrav birds." This illustrates that well.

By accident
by ionelpop

Comment:
I'm generally okay with completely staged and stock shots, this being one of them. The title, admittedly, leaves me a bit incredulous.
Are you the pasta stalker extraordinaire?
I guess my frustration is that staged stock shots are about the expected. We know that a recreated scene of a fictitious animated scene is fake, yet you're trying to pull the wool over our eyes...

Hammered
by giantmike

Comment:
So far the best concept stock type shot, and I'm almost done voting. Well done. I've been voting low on those who take pictures of literal words, so as a setup shot, you've done quite well to integrate an action with a subject.

U
by hahn23

Comment:
Richard?