Sunset beach

[Graebob]

Hi guys, been a while since I posted here, but it's been a while since I broke out the camera!

Submitted for critique:


Exif data

Camera: Nikon D70s w/ Nikkor 24-120
Exposure: 1/1000
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 72 mm
ISO 200

I like it, but I have a very bad eye for critique, especially my own work. I tend to either "like" or "dislike", without being able to effectively pick apart an image. I fear I have fallen into my old trap of trying to be bleak, but instead just being a bit boring! I tried to obey the rule of thirds; but the image is cropped on the right, top and bottom. I didn't post the colour very much at all.

Teach me

[fotoworx]

I like that you didn't obey ROT's, the sky is very interesting. Also the silhouette of the factory is very strong, I like this photo.


Photography Tips

[navcom]

It's kind of hard to determine what your subject is. The picture is mostly sky and the factory is very diminutive and not really in a location in the image to get much attention. There isn't really anything that draws you in and holds your attention. If the factory is your subject, I would eliminate some of the sky and water.

As far as the rule of thirds, it's not an absolute. What is an absolute is having a subject and composing the image to support that subject. The subject doesn't necessarily have to be a specific object but you need something to hold the viewers attention and make them want to look around the image. That's what separates a snapshot from art.

The best way to overcome your composition dull-drums is to have a plan. Plan your compositions. Take a deep breath, look at the scene, and compose like a musical composer leads an orchestra. Determine what you want to say with your image and what your subject is (your music). Then determine which elements in the scene will contribute and which will detract (the instruments). Remove the distractions by trying a different angle, different lens, different position, different time of day, etc. If you are trying to compose a Brandenburg Concerto, you can remove the heavy metal guitars.

Don't try to use every instrument in the orchestra. Limit your composition to only those elements that support your subject. Sometimes too much stuff in the image can overwhelm the viewer just like if every instrument in the orchestra were doing it's own thing. Likewise, if every instrument is playing the same note for a long time without any melody supporting it (too much sky or water without a reason for it), things will get boring fast.

Hope that helps a bit!

[Angelinawilliams23]

I like sunset photos as well as sunrise because It is very natural and beautiful. This is truly stunning pictures that you present here. I like your work and photography both.

[Michael_2010]

I like this one. If I were going to make any changes at all, it would be to crop out the upper portion of the sky. The change to deep blue in that area of the frame doesn't seem to fit the mood of the rest of the shot.

[Graebob]

Thanks for the praise guys, I feel humbled

Originally Posted by navcom

Many helpful things

This was particularly useful, and exactly what I was hoping for. Thanks, navcom

[Krusty79]

I don't have any problem with your composition or exposure - it's just that I don't find the subject that interesting. I'm assuming the clouds are your subject, since they make up most of the image. I'm afraid I don't see anything distinctive about those clouds that holds my interest. If you had the sun and some pinkish clouds in there, I think that would help a lot.

I would have liked to have seen a landscape version of this shot instead of portrait. Keep shooting and don't feel that it is the LAW of thirds.