I CAN use something other than a 500mm.

[thereyougo!]

Skies are easily replaced in post.

That's my pet hate in image making.

 

[zombiesniper115 14]

That's my pet hate in image making.

Everyone has that thing that drives them nuts, for me it's Dutch angles and crayola HDR. Just had to learn to close those threads without posting.

 

[Advanced Photo]

Skies are easily replaced in post.

That's my pet hate in image making.

You mean you hate doing it, or you hate seeing it, of course if you see it, it wasn't done right anyway.
The good examples are the ones you think were untouched, just like in HDR.

 

[Peeb73 2]

BTW, I'm 72% sure that folks recognized that my sky-replacement was a playful poke at the practice in general.

Typically, we won't see distinct shadows under trees or brightly lit green fields under a starry sky.

 

[zombiesniper115 14]

What!?!?!

I thought it looked totally natural.

 

[thereyougo!]

BTW, I'm 72% sure that folks recognized that my sky-replacement was a playful poke at the practice in general.

Typically, we won't see distinct shadows under trees or brightly lit green fields under a starry sky.

I took your comment in the spirit it was intended.

I just see sky replacement as lazy as you could be shooting in better conditions. Magazines and many online courses are obsessed with sky replacement.

Photographers should always IMHO aim to do their research and groundwork to get the best possible shot in camera. I'm not a SOOC freak but the image still needs to hve authenticity.