The Han

[kstiltne]

[IMG][/IMG]

I've taken hundreds of pictures of this bridge and have ended up with a ton of mediocre shots. I feel like this one is my best. Any thoughts on composition, color, and exposure would be appreciated, as well as any thoughts on ways to get a better shot. I've found that I love photographing bridges and this is by far the most interesting in the area, but I just can't seem to get that perfect shot.

[navcom]

I think your subject-matter is great and your composition looks pretty good too. Centering the horizon is good and makes the symmetry in the reflection really pop.

I think your exposure is good too. What you need is some "pop" in your color. What you might want to do is try to use the golden hour to your advantage...show up very early or very late in the day. This might also be a candidate for the "after 20" rule...that is, wait till 20 minutes after sunset (or 20 minutes before sunrise)...whichever puts the sunset/rise at your back as much as possible. A magenta filter will also dramatically add to the effect.

Hope that helps!

[kstiltne]

Thanks for the suggestion NavCom. I've been meaning to look into filters a bit more. It's a little difficult to find a camera shop around here that speaks English, but I'm still looking.

[LeeR]

I have no problem with the color; the muted color scheme here is fine. What I think you are looking for is a bit more contrast. I don't see anything in this image that is pure white. I'll bet that if I pulled a histogram it would lean pretty hard to the left. If you run this through "levels" in PS I think you may be able to get a bit more pop.
Oh, and forgive me for not congratulating you on this fine image. This is very well composed and would be a great addition to most anyone's portfolio. If I was going to shoot this again, the only thing I think I would be trying to improve would be the lighting. Of course the trick is going to be finding a time when the light is where you want it AND the water is that calm; a pretty tall order.

[windrider86]

Do you have your exif information that you could also share? Knowing your camera settings can play a big part in offering you possible alternate settings

[kstiltne]

Thanks for the compliment and suggestions Lee, I agree that the lighting isn't the greatest, Seoul is always so hazy, it's rare to get perfect lighting for a photo. Unfortunately I don't have the exif info for this file. I guess it got lost somewhere along the way.