Sunrise over the lake

[ChanceinGA]

This is basically as shot from the camera, this morning with just a bit of a crop. The tail light from my truck was reflecting from guard rails on the side of the road. I left the red light on the weeds in the lower left. I thought they added to the overall feel.

What could I have done to make a better photo? It was taken this morning about 6:30 AM in middle GA. Hand held, Canon 450D w/ Sigma 18-200 lens with OS. I would have used a canon lens with tripod if I'd had time.

All available sizes | Day 7 Sunrise on Clearwater Lake | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Exposure 0.3
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 18 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias 0 EV

[navcom]

First bit of advice? Preparation! (had to say it!)

Composition-wise, it's not bad, but it's not overly compelling. It's very dark and hard to really get drawn in. The line created by the dock leads your eye away from the sun. I almost didn't notice that the sun was actually between those trees as I was looking in the upper right part of the image initially.

Also, I know your camera settings were most likely chosen because you didn't have a tripod, but using the lowest ISO possible and a mid-range to small aperture (f/8-f/13 or so) will get you much better image quality.

If possible, I would recommend remembering this place and going there in the middle of the day when you have all the time in the world to compose a fantastic image. Get the sunrise time and azimuth from the internet so you know right where it will come up. This will help you define the elements of your image when you are standing out there. Then come back with your Canon lens and a tripod (and may be an ND grad or two) and try again. I guarantee that your preparation work will pay off. It looks like a beautiful spot!

[windrider86]

Any chance you might be able to post your photo here for us?

[Michael_2010]

I kind of like this one. The colors are dramatic and the hard man-made lines against the meandering geometry provided by Mother Nature make for an interesting contrast. The location is definitely worth re-visiting with a plan for experimentation with exposure, timing, etc.

[ChanceinGA]

Originally Posted by navcom

First bit of advice? Preparation! (had to say it!)

Composition-wise, it's not bad, but it's not overly compelling. It's very dark and hard to really get drawn in. The line created by the dock leads your eye away from the sun. I almost didn't notice that the sun was actually between those trees as I was looking in the upper right part of the image initially.

Also, I know your camera settings were most likely chosen because you didn't have a tripod, but using the lowest ISO possible and a mid-range to small aperture (f/8-f/13 or so) will get you much better image quality.

If possible, I would recommend remembering this place and going there in the middle of the day when you have all the time in the world to compose a fantastic image. Get the sunrise time and azimuth from the internet so you know right where it will come up. This will help you define the elements of your image when you are standing out there. Then come back with your Canon lens and a tripod (and may be an ND grad or two) and try again. I guarantee that your preparation work will pay off. It looks like a beautiful spot!

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. I plan to go back this weekend if the clouds offer some color. I'll take my tripod and remote.

What would a neutral density filter offer in this situation? I am very much an amateur, I do have some filters though. I would have thought it would make it more difficult to capture with filters of any sort.

By the way, the sun is still well below the horizon, in the center of the photo. The light on the lower left is a dock light that is reddish orange in color. I left it in the photo because it seemed to tie in to the colors of the sky. I wasn't trying to draw the eye, but capture the dramatic feel... the lower right is the spillway of the dam... I liked the contrast between the still waters in the v's of the spillway and the wind blown ripples on the lake.. then moving up to the drama in the clouds overhead. Not much time to compose... truck stopped on the road across the dam... long drive to work... this weekend I will experiment.

Thanks again for the critique... you got me thinking on how to capture a moment like that much better.

[ChanceinGA]

Originally Posted by windrider86

Any chance you might be able to post your photo here for us?

I tried posting a small photo in the original message but kept getting an error message. Sometimes I can post a pic here and sometimes not, I'll try again.

[ChanceinGA]

Originally Posted by Michael_2010

I kind of like this one. The colors are dramatic and the hard man-made lines against the meandering geometry provided by Mother Nature make for an interesting contrast. The location is definitely worth re-visiting with a plan for experimentation with exposure, timing, etc.

I am planning on going back with my regular gear when I have enough time to experiment (and hopefully learn a little). I liked the manmade spillway on the lower right contrasting with nature. The v's of the spillway seemed to repeat a little in other areas of the photo too, that caught my eye. The "energy" of the moment.. clouds rushing by overhead... waves on the lake and the still water of the spillway... I liked the contrast of that. It was a 2 minute attempt to capture the shot. I tried 7 or 8 different settings and that shot was the best.

Thanks for the input.

[janakkpandya]

The only thing I can say is CLASS IMAGE. Is this HDR type?

[navcom]

Ahhh...I looked at your photo again and I see what you mean by the dock light. It really does look like the sun.

A neutral density filter simply reduces the amount of light that comes into the lens. It doesn't affect the quality, just the amount. A graduated ND filter (what I recommended) is a square/rectangular filter that is half ND and half clear. The transition zone between them is "feathered" so there is no harsh line. It is used to control high contrast situations and are tailor made for sunrises and sunsets. You position the transition zone around the horizon with the ND portion over the sky. It "pushes back" the intensity of the sky allowing you a slower shutter speed to get more detail in the foreground. Without it for a sunrise, you either have to expose for the sky and accept that the foreground will be black or expose for the foreground and blow out the sky...or something towards either end. It's near impossible to get a good exposure of a sunrise without one (or without HDR software techniques which is another thread!).

Here is an example of one. Manufacturers sell them in different strengths for different high contrast situations. Singh Ray is one of the top end products. There are cheaper one's that are good too but you do get what you pay for with filters.

Hope that helps!

[ChanceinGA]

Originally Posted by janakkpandya

The only thing I can say is CLASS IMAGE. Is this HDR type?

This was straight from the camera with a slight crop to eliminate the reflections of the tail lights from my truck... it was a hand held shot about 20 minutes before sunrise on my way to work. I cross the dam of the lake every day and love the energy of this spot, so I look at it every day. I've seen many sunrises when I wished I had my camera, or I wished I had taken just a moment and taken the photo. The energies were so strong, the sky was so beautiful, I had to stop in the road, leave my engine running, jump out and take the photo. I liked the results but I didn't "love" them, so I asked for critique. I am looking forward to having enough time to experiment.

Thanks for your comments... I appreciate them.