Beirut christmas nighs

[foxbox]

Dear guys
Im a new photographer... with your experience if you can critique this photo according to:
1) the composition
2) camera settings
regards
Settings:
iso:100
f: 8.0
focus:14mm
shutter speed: 4 seconds

[EMansfield]

Nice try for a long exposure shot. To my eyes, the lights appear to be just a bit over the top as they seem to 'explode'. In terms of composition, I think it would have been better if you just focused on the structure at the left. You got some interesting architecture there. The plants at the left seem to act only as clutters.

Cheers!

Eric Mansfield

[doctorjames]

I think the overall exposure is good. I have issues with the composition however.
Your verticals arnt vertical im afraid, and this is probably due to having a very wide angle zoom on (14mm) and shooting upwards from a low vantage point. The building on the right appears to be falling inwards, as does the lighting pole on the left. One of the tops of the buildings towers is just clipped unfortunately also.

You can avoid this by shooting from further afield with a more reasonably focal length (20mm or more if possible), although it maybe that you couldnt have acheived this vantage point.

I would always suggest having a little 'room' at the edges of the frame, therefore allowing you to straighten in post processing.

I like the colour balance, and do like the contrasting greens and blues of the trees with the yellows of the building, I feel it helps to calm the photograph down.

Welcome to DPS, hopefully our comments will be of help. Please remember that different people will have different tastes and critique is kind of by definition an opinion, and opinions are never the same as fact. Hope to hear how you get on

James

[foxbox]

guys... really thank you for your info ... it will help me a lot in further shots.. your critique is highly appreciated thank u again
regards

[Athas_orm]

I agree that the lights are a little too much. I suggest that a slightly higher f number say f10 or 11 may have toned back the light a bit.

Composition wise I wish that the towers on the building on the right were more vertical. This may be fixable in post production.

[junglebear]

The building looks overexposed to me, I'd agree that a smaller aperture would help.

Re composition, I would have stood back a bit to get the whole road in and a bit of space by the building, it all looks a bit squashed in as it is. That, or frame just the building, as Eric said.

[foxbox]

thunks guys for sharing your opinions.. they are evaluable according to my new experience....thnks againn
regards