Windmill

[o.pulido]

I'm looking to better my landscape photography. The shot below was taken yesterday morning in San Diego, CA.
I'm specifically looking for critique(s) on the framing, exposure, colors, rule of thirds (I tried applying the rule here; how did I do?), sharpness, and any other bit of adivice you may have on improving this image.

Thanks in advance.

EXIF:
Canon Rebel XS
Canon 50mm fixed lens
F/22
Shutter 1/80
ISO 400
Evaluative metering mode
RAW
PSE 9 (used to brighten up the colors and sky)

[EOBeav]

It's a great subject, and I think your sharpness is spot on. For me, the aperture seems a bit small...f/11 or f/16 might be a little better. It wouldn't be a bad thing to have the background blurred out just a bit. On the bigger version, some of the elements in the background seem to be a bit distracting. Sometimes for shots like this, though, the best you can do is the best you can do.

My biggest issue is time of day. In my experience, that makes all the difference in landscape photography. The light at sunrise or at sunset is far superior to the light you get any other time of the day. I don't know which direction this windmill faces, but if you can get the sunlight to gently illuminate it, you would have a great photograph right out of the camera.

[o.pulido]

I was facing east, so the sun would be coming up right behind it. I will try to get back out there and see if I can capture that morning light.
Thanks for the input.

[photocist]

Drop that f stop down to about 11, as EOBeav said, and put that iso to 100 or 200.

For a prime lens, that image is SOFT! i think if you stop it down you should get a much sharper shot. colors are excellent, though maybe take the shot a smidge to the left, to get that windmill a little more centered.

[o.pulido]

I'm going to head back out there tomorrow morning to see if I can improve the shot with the added advice. Thanks.