Sunset at Scott Cameron

[moenart]

I'm not sure if everyone is sick of sunsets, but I was interested to hear comments on this shot. I liked it because of the fence in the foreground and the couple in the water to the left, but is it too dark? too commonplace? Thank you for your input!




Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[navcom]

Hi! Sick of sunsets? Never!

I don't think your exposure is all that bad, though it is a bit dark. Your composition needs a bit of work. I commend you for including something other than just a sunset. It's usually required. You need a subject that the sunset can "shine on".

The problem with your subjects is they are not that distinguishable. The couple has their heads "cut off" and the fence seems to complicate the image more than add to it. This is all partly due to it being so dark. But dark is not necessarily the problem. Sometimes this black foreground is a good thing for the mood.

My suggestion would be to concentrate more on your subject. Make the image point to the subject and "be about" the subject. Eliminate anything that competes or diminishes from your subject and make sure your subject stands out and is understood. Then let the sunset add to the image like frosting does to a cake.

Hope that helps!

[Crysi]

I love sunsets, and I love sunsets from different areas... I think its pretty just maybe cut out some of the foreground... the sun is dead center of the photo and it drags my eyes there and I dont look further...

[AndrewPDX]

Yes, very pretty colors, but I agree with the other posters that the composition needs some work. Try getting low and getting the fence silhouetted against the sky or maybe get higher and show how the light is hitting the ground. That's the best part about digital- you can shoot the scene from all sorts of different angles to find something that works for you.

[mwanafunzi]

You could also crop the image (I think some of the black at the bottom could go as well as some of the right part of the photo.) and maybe bump up the exposure; in photoshop or whatever other post processing tool you use.

having sayed that, it is still a nice photo.

[moenart]

Originally Posted by navcom

Hi! Sick of sunsets? Never!

I don't think your exposure is all that bad, though it is a bit dark. Your composition needs a bit of work. I commend you for including something other than just a sunset. It's usually required. You need a subject that the sunset can "shine on".

The problem with your subjects is they are not that distinguishable. The couple has their heads "cut off" and the fence seems to complicate the image more than add to it. This is all partly due to it being so dark. But dark is not necessarily the problem. Sometimes this black foreground is a good thing for the mood.

My suggestion would be to concentrate more on your subject. Make the image point to the subject and "be about" the subject. Eliminate anything that competes or diminishes from your subject and make sure your subject stands out and is understood. Then let the sunset add to the image like frosting does to a cake.

Hope that helps!

Thank you for that input. When I have a chance to read your input and then look critically at my picture it really helps! I appreciate you taking the time to comment!