River Oak

[navcom]

Hey all. I posted this one in "share your shots" some time back but thought I would post it for critique. Does anyone have any ideas on how to improve the composition layout/crop?

I like the shot but want another set of eyes to see it through. It's amazing how often someone else sees something I look right through! Thanks all!



Pentax K20D
16mm
ISO 100
f/11
1/8 sec

[eiverson]

Great sky color. Love the tree. Great sun. Nice horizon. But the foreground doesn't do anything for me. I might crop out the bottom 20% or so, even though that leaves your sun near the edge. Nice picture. But the foreground is just plain distracting.

[precious]

I'm no expert here,

Love the sunrays, greta color. The tree forms a nice silhoutte but is chopped at the top. Would like to see full tree. The foreground doesn't do anything for me either. The rule of thumb is to get some texture (ex: sand) or interesting rock formation or something.

Hope this helps,

SPK

[LeeR]

It's pretty good; not great, but pretty good. You have a lot of the farmework here for a great composition. The place of the shoreline and the tree are just where you need them but I am afraid the sunset did not cooperate. As a matter of fact, as sunsets go, this one is rather pedestrian.
By way of suggestion; I think you could have waited for the sun to set completely; having it in your photo is not essential and sometimes, just a few moments after sunset, the sky does some really spectacular things. That's really all you are missing here; a bit more drama in the sky and you would have had a real winner.

[navcom]

Thanks all! Great critique information as usual. As Lee said, it's good but not great and I would agree. I also agree the crop could change to make it better. I've tried a few different crops and have found that none really make it pop. I like the tree and it's "arching" point towards the sun. I also liked the distant fog and the "layering" effect of the different inlets along the lake...but it was hard to get the tree and the distant effects all in one shot without loosing one or the other in the zoom.

I was also not treated to the best colors that I've seen. But it was a beautiful morning. Cold...but beautiful. Quite a change today...65F!!! Unbelievable!

Thanks again!

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by navcom

I've tried a few different crops and have found that none really make it pop. I like the tree and it's "arching" point towards the sun. I also liked the distant fog and the "layering" effect of the different inlets along the lake...but it was hard to get the tree and the distant effects all in one shot without loosing one or the other in the zoom.

Thanks again!

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