Having checked this thread several times as replies have followed Neil's OP, it isinteresting to see all the differing opinions regading photos and photography.
With it being such a wide-ranging subject, I don't think there is any way that there can be a singular definitive answer to what constitutes 'the perfect photograph', despite some valiant attempts to do so. It's purely subjective and about as likely to yield a result as asking what makes the perfect piece of music.
Anyway, frustrated at not knowing what the photo in question actually was, I just registered on the shipsnostalgia.com website to see it.
Not being slightly interested in the composition, or balance, or whether it had been touched-up or how atmospheric it may be, or the 'honesty', etc, I just wanted to see it. So, when the image was finally revealed, I couldn't believe my eyes, with my IMMEDIATE reaction being "It's not level!"
Therefore, my conclusion is that although Neil says "I don't think I could ever get one as good as the one that I have just found on Shipsnostalgia....." I do think that he can certainly improve it's quality by rotating it slightly so the water isn't on a slope.
Andy