Rethought my composition

[benchdog]

I do this a lot, PP and continually revisiting the image rethinking every aspect and finally coming up with something a really like.

I sometimes think I over staurate the colors in my sunset and sunrise images. Have I overdone it here?



Camera Canon EOS 7D
Exposure 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV

[Nicole]

The colours don't seem oversaturated to me (though we frequently get gorgeously rich sunsets here), however, I think there's a bit of an optical illusion going on with the horizon. I have a feeling the tree silhouettes along the bottom are on a tiny bit of a hill, but because it's a silhouette it feels a little tilted. However, like I said, I don't actually think that's the case.

[Photologyst]

I would crop and straighten the horizon. That top of that tree does not work.

[cristen]

the tree , for me, appears to overpower the picture. it is so dominant and dark that the colorful sunset seems to lose brilliance despite the saturation. just my two cents..

[Corey Thompson]

The tree appears overpowering to me as well.

[benchdog]

Thank you all for your critiques,,

I agree the tree is bold and somewhat over powering, but that was my intention, so I guess that worked.

I took a lot of time and leveled my camera before the shot because the horizon is on a bit of a slope and the trees in the horizon are at very different depths in the landscape.

Again thank you all for your critiques

[SwissJon]

As I've said and read many times, perception of horizon and level is far more important than what it's like in reality. A perfect example of that is the Electric Brae in Scotland where there is this slope of 1 in 86 upwards from the bend to the Glen, the configuration of the land on either side of the road provides an optical illusion making it look as if the slope is going the other way. Therefore, a stationary car on the road with the brakes off will appear to move slowly uphill.

In your photo the horizon appears to go down to the left, the slight angle of the tree, the clouds and the sheer weight of the tree add to that impression. It may well be an optical illusion, but it's how the picture is perceived.. If you put this on the wall, you'll be continually straightening it. Try cropping the horizon how you perceive it to be straight, just for a laugh, and see how that changes the picture.

I love the dominance of the tree, it fills a huge gap in the sky and it really brings the picture to life for me. It's a bit of a pity that you didn't manage to get the full stature of the tree in your shot, it's a lovely specemin, I wonder perhaps if you'd pulled back a little or used a shorter focal length you might have got both the height and bredth of the tree in the picture and how that would have altered the picture.. Maybe it needs to be cropped at the top and side to be able to exert it's full dominance over the picture..

The saturation also works for me and over all, I like the picture. Nice

[benchdog]

SwissJon,

Thank you, your critiques are always well thought out, with precise examples, and clearly written. My favorite part of this forum is reading your critiques because they are so well done.

I understand what you are saying it's not always right being correct but it's always right being level.

I typically always capture the full tree but made the choice in this case not to. But I do wish now that I captured a shot with the whole tree to compare to each other. The tree just didn't seem to dominate in full stature as it did cropped when viewing through camera.

Thanks again

[flyfort]

benchdog..................... ditto about SwissJon