@djpadavona: Regarding SS application, I have a different experience. I applied to shutterstock some month ago with 10 images and was accepted right away even though I feel today that iStock might not accept one of these images.

Maybe I was lucky or the SS guy had a good day...

Thank you for your feedback so far.

I reworked the pumpkin photo - now it should have really white background, but I agreed that it is not original.

I am wondering if the new landscape I attached to this post was more suitable. It is no HDR but I combined serveral layers for the photo. On one hand side, I am aware of the "over-processed" problem, on the other hand side, the top selling landscape pictures at Fotolia look also quite processed:

http://us.fotolia.com/id/12348626
http://us.fotolia.com/id/3256956

By the way, there are also German Stock photography books (for the German speaking guys) - I read this one:
http://www.amazon.de/Stockfotografie-ProfiFoto-verdienen-eigenen-Fotos/dp/3826658868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281124529&sr=8-1

Basically it says that people photos sell best, but I would like try w/o people shots.

Reworked pumpkin shot:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9134818/Studio-Fotosession-090-33-1.jpg

Another landscape:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9134818/_MG_9972.jpg

Gallery:
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/9134818/1/iPhotoStock2?h=934f16

I guess I neet to reply to start a new thread