Rude Awakening...
by Bosborne

Comment:
Could do with some cropping to better balance the ideas. Currently very central subject and quite static, for something that is supposed to be awakening...

Shrinking Natural Environment -- harsh for wildlife
by JuliBoc

Comment:
at least the special effects are done for a purpose in this, which is in stark contrast to a lot of the entries

Death Valley-Salt Formations on Valley Floor
by 2mccs

Comment:
Lovely location to shoot in. My only issue is with the horizon distortion and the strong horizontal salt line so close to the edge of the frame in the bottom of the scene. Moving that backwards or forwards would have made that bottom shape less static, perhaps. Also the salt edge at the left is quite cramped into the edge of the frame - again more or less space would help with the balance of the shapes. It can also be a really strong idea to find a rhythmic shape in the clouds or hills and try to find something to play off that in the foreground. Works particularly well with such geometric and easily found shapes as presented here. (e.g., the two hills coming down to the valley in the distance and something that reflected or played off that in the salt.

dream abandoned
by MichaelC

Comment:
Interesting that you used HDR, even though the clouds are still blown out, I like the orange and red palette of the grasses and rust, more than the sky or surrounding greenery.

The Land Above The Clouds
by Tallbloke

Comment:
lovely light and scene

Below the Surface
by Cutter

Comment:
top and bottom halves of this scene don't seem to have much to do with each other

Waste Lands
by Giorgio

Comment:
really enjoy the tones and colour palette in this as well as the textured overlay

Winter Refuge
by hahn23

Comment:
Seems too pretty to be a 'harsh' environment

Stormy Earth
by LevT

Comment:
Looks a lot like death valley. Lovely light on the hills. Horizon gives the impression of being tilted down to the right

"Hey Schmitty, how about some O2 over here!"
by Nald

Comment:
Better, more consistent lighting would help allow more of a suspension of disbelief if you wanted to go for that. Right now it is from two very different directions