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Cloudy day, down the driveway. D 750 with 18-35 and Grad ND.

C&C valued!

Nice view down your driveway!  Clouds look great, but the trees are still a bit dark-- perhaps a stop or more.  You should likely clean up the lens flare at the tree on left; pink spots on its upper left, and a yellow one on the right.  Do you get any snow in winter?  If so, this must look awesome.  Regards, Jeff

Jeff, thanks! You are right, the trees are dark, likely too much so, but they actually are, the Black Hills were so named because of the same kind of trees.  I was using an 18-35, with 0.6 Grad ND -- clouds and rim rock the key exposure targets.  I saw the reflections but wasn't bothered as I frequently deliberately build them in -- in this case I didn't.  I don't do a lot of PP, but will likely take a hack at them.  I have an edited version as well as a lighter version which I don't like quite as well, but have been told that shots are too dark before -- may be me or my monitor or just fact.  Many thanks for your input! Best, Sandy

We do get snow, and I have lots of shots.  Usually 3 - 6" but as much as 18", nearly always gone in a few days.  Winters are mostly reasonably mild, and since there are no mountains or big bodies of water to the east, the weather moves and changes fast.

Sandy, I also see that you spot metered.  Perhaps the spot was on a light point, hence the darkness.  Have you tried matrix metering?  Or spot meter both the trees and the sky, and then use the appropriate grad; with this method you'll want to use manual mode.  Regards, Jeff