Thanks folks. I think it's all personal preference; some people like a powerful experience, and that's where strong HDR, saturation or other effects come in, whereas others just want a peaceful scene.

Daq, yeah, the sky isn't very interesting, but unfortunately I don't think I can crop it out w/o making the image look like a chop job. If the stumps were a little lower in the scene and not so near the horizon, maybe. Ahh.

sparkwang, I think I have a few shots w/ one stump. It doesn't quite work as the stump isn't an interesting enough subject in itself, and makes the picture look odd (like, why is this crazy photographer brain locking on a stump?). Sometimes it works better as a multiple of objects incorporated into an entire scene. Macro photography seems to be the opposite of this, btw.

Jet, I like your cloning but that Orton effect may be a bit much. Again, it's personal preference, but for me, I think I like having more definition on the subjects than that soft fuzzy effect. I'm thinking, where would the Orton work best? In an abstract for sure, ... maybe even w/ a model in a bedroom, in black and white .............

Thanks too Shootme. Welcome back also.

G