Flowers with blurred city

[Mlungisi]

Flowers with blurred city on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I'm new to DSLR photography and I have taken this picture in Pretoria, South Africa in the Union Buildings. I would appreciate everyones' opinion as I would like to improve my landscape photography. Thank you in advance!

Details:
Width: 3872pixels
Height: 2592pixels
Horizontal Resolution: 300dpi
Vertical Resolution: 300 dpi
Bit Depth: 24
Frame Count: 1
Equipment Make: Nikon Corporation
Camera Model: Nikon D3000
Creation Software: Ver. 1.00
Color Representation: sRGB
Flash Mode: No Flash
Focal Length: 48mm
F-Number: F/5.3
Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.
ISO Speed: ISO-800
Metering Mode: Pattern
Light Source: Unknown
Exposure Program: Normal
Exposure Compensation: 0 step

[autofocus]

It's a nice idea for a composition, but I think it needs a few things changed. I find the following a bit distracting and they actually take away from what could be a very nice image: all the lights and bright light reflections(?) the tower in the back, and the red light on top of the tall building. I did a quick clean up and crop to show you an example of how you can take a good image and with a few simple steps make it better

Vince

[LeeR]

You are on the right track here but there is something missing. I don't think it needs to be cropped and I don't think the lights and sign need to be removed. Interestingly enough, I think they help your composition as both are in the same color range as your flowers. The fact that the street lights are on tell me that you have missed your best light by a bit. At a slightly different time of day you should be able to get the shot you were hoping for. Aside from that, the composition and overall idea is solid.

[Mlungisi]

It was difficult to avoid the lights. I must say the cropped one really looks much better. I'm still to learn post-processing. The only problem is that I don't have the software, hence I'm not using RAW. Do you have any advice on various editting softwares that I may use?

Please also look at the one that I attached, I took it on the same day. I was trying the lineage patterns.

[LeeR]

Check out this link to "10 Web-based alternatives to Photoshop" for ideas on free photo-editing software.

Your second shot is not as good as the first thought you have set the composition up well. This kind of near-to-far composition is often very successful. I think you could have been a little closer to the firstrose bush, letting subsequent bushes explain what we are looking at.

[Mlungisi]

Thank you Lee R, I'll go back there today and try to take better shorts of the second one. Thanks for the editting softwares advice as well.

Beautiful moments are remembered, they are not lived!

[Mlungisi]

Thanks Lee R, I really appreciate the advice on the editting software. I'll also go back to take better shorts of the second pic.

Beautiful moments are remembered, they are not lived!

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by LeeR

You are on the right track here but there is something missing. I don't think it needs to be cropped and I don't think the lights and sign need to be removed. Interestingly enough, I think they help your composition as both are in the same color range as your flowers. The fact that the street lights are on tell me that you have missed your best light by a bit. At a slightly different time of day you should be able to get the shot you were hoping for. Aside from that, the composition and overall idea is solid.

Lee, I have to respectfully disagree, and hopefully we can agree to disagree on this. Irrespective of all being in the same tonal range I think all the dots of lights, the red sign on the building top, and certainly the tower on the horizon really add nothing to the composition. If anything, they are more of a distraction that only takes the viewer's eye away from the foreground flowers. Once those elements are removed, the soft city skyline is enough to add balance to the image.