Sunset over my Street

[WhirlwindMonk]

Exif Data

Took this with a Nikon D3000 with a Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6 zoom lens. I believe I only had a UV filter on, though I may have had a circular polarizer on as well (I attempted this shot with both, but forgot to note on what attempt I switched). This is the jpeg straight from the camera, but I do have a RAW file as well.

Personally, I feel like this picture would have been better if the distant clouds were in focus, but my main question for you all is about the composition. I think it turned out pretty well, but I'm curious if you can see any ways for me to improve it.

Thank you very much.

[Laurenbiz]

What is your EXIF data here? This is very dark.

[dlambert]

The biggest question I've got, composition-wise, is the stuff in the lower foreground. Specifically, if it's supposed to be part of the picture, I'd like to have seen it a little more clearly, and if not, I'd consider cropping that stuff out. I'd also consider offsetting the trees a bit to get some more sky with the trees as a framing element -- I'm not sure that was really an option from this location, though.

[WhirlwindMonk]

Originally Posted by Laurenbiz

What is your EXIF data here? This is very dark.

The link to the EXIF data is right below the image.

Originally Posted by dlambert

The biggest question I've got, composition-wise, is the stuff in the lower foreground. Specifically, if it's supposed to be part of the picture, I'd like to have seen it a little more clearly, and if not, I'd consider cropping that stuff out. I'd also consider offsetting the trees a bit to get some more sky with the trees as a framing element -- I'm not sure that was really an option from this location, though.

Which stuff are you referring to by the "lower foreground"? The reason I framed the picture as I did was I liked the glint of light outlining the car, so I tried to make that a secondary focal point by putting it at the lower-left cross by the rule of thirds. Do you think it would be better if I had cut all of that out?

Yeah, the trees definitely could be better, and if I attempt this shot again, I'd try to find a better spot on my street. As it was, I went out to photograph something completely different, saw the sky, and decided I had to try to capture it. I didn't really have a long time to try to find the "perfect" spot, so I shot from what I hoped was the best angle I could in front of my house.

[crockny]

I don't see a real subject here -- if the subject is the car it needs to be more defined and perhaps larger and if the subject is the sky it needs to be less obscured. Just my opinion.

[dlambert]

Maybe the issue with the car is that it's somewhere around the third most-interesting thing in the photo (sky, trees, car, houses), which makes it feel like a distraction. I know that's sort of vague, because I've seen plenty of great photos with all sorts of stuff going on in them, but that's just what I thought when I looked at the photo initially. I think that's what @crockny is reacting too, also. Sorry I can't be more specific.

[Krusty79]

I agree with the lack of a clear subject. If it's supposed to be the car, it's too dark and hard to see. The dark foreground area is too large and does not add to the image IMO. That little white light in the foreground is distracting, but can be cloned out easily. If it's the trees or sky, then they kind of cancel each other out. I would prefer a simpler composition of the silhouette of the trees against the sunset, but from a more elevated position so the trees don't block out so much of the sky.

[S_Sanyal]

I just saw your EXIF, 6 seconds!!! it must have been very, very dark when you shot this, also CPL may have darkened your picture if it was on...

Can you increase the exposure of the image overall, or increase fill light ...say just the foreground without modifying the sky. I increased my monitor brightness to view the elements of the image, they are all very interesting and nicely placed IMO but i think your scene was just way too dark to begin with...!

I worked on your jpeg a bit in LR3 to bring things out a bit, but it looks badly finished with your already compressed file....its just to illustrate. Since have shot RAW, you may be able to create a very strong image here...the two purple lines and the car with the tree silhouettes as a dialectic to the scene. I like the image because its complex and makes me want to see more INTO it.

I feel the issues raised above are arising and of concern primarily because your scene is undereposedif its cleaer i think the image is valuable, try working on the RAW file a bit please, I'd love to see how this shapes up