Flashed the Rocks

[mykadog]

Does using the flash on the rocks take away from the spectacular sunset? Should I have adhered more the the Rule of Thirds or does the mid-horizon work okay?



File Size: 184 kb - 729 x 484
Camera Model: NIKON D300
Date/Time: 2011:02:12 18:30:10
Resolution: 729 x 484
Flash Used: Yes (manual, return light det...
Focal Length: 16.0mm (35mm equivalent: 24mm...
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO Equiv.: 200
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: program (auto)

[EOBeav]

Bracket and blend, then you'll lose that gradual lighting with your flash.

[Krusty79]

I've thought about doing that also because the rocks in my foregrounds are often dark, even using my ND grad filter. The flash is a little distracting, but I think my preference would be to see less of the rocks in the foreground to place more emphasis on the cool sunset. I think the horizon could be lowered a bit also to emphasize the sky, but that's not a big deal to me because you do have some foreground interest. Nice shot.

Have you tried HDR? You can download and try Photomatix for free.

[mykadog]

Thank you both for you comments and suggestions...
Now to show my ignorance...
I don't know "bracket and blend". I'll see if I can find anything through "search".
I don't know HDR either, but I will download Photomatix and see what I can learn.
Thanks, again. I can see I have a lot to learn about post production.

[navcom]

Do you have a graduated neutral density filter? This image is almost tailor-made for one and it will solve your dynamic range problem...which is what is causing the exposure issues that required you to think about using flash.

Dynamic range is the difference between the darkest and brightest points in an image. At sunset/sunrise, this range is huge. Your eye can see about 20 stops of light but your camera can only record about 9. This is why in order to get the sky exposed properly with all its brilliant color, your foreground is so dark.

A ND grad filter will "push back" the intensity of the sky allowing a more natural exposure for the foreground. Do a search on the forum for it to see what one looks like and how to use one.

The other option is HDR like already mentioned. Both will get you where you need to go. I prefer the ND grad method as the first option as it alters the original light before it's recorded versus modifying pre-recorded pixels later (my preference)...but some images are more geared to HDR.

BTW...I like your composition. It's compelling and colorful!

Hope that helps!

[SwissJon]

What they all said..

If you're new to photography, you need to read a lot of books There's plenty on the market, depending on what style takes your fancy, and most of them contain fabulous pictures, so you can leave it laying around and people will pick them up and look. (I had 15 people in my house at xmas.. Friends of my Daughter.. And at 1 point, after all the festivities were over, I found all of them flicking through the Landscape photo books I had in the living room. ) That way you'll find out what all these terms mean, how to use filters properly etc etc.

As far as your picture goes. The white on the rock bothers me, and the horizon does appear to make the photo fold in half.. However with those fabulous colors, I think there's a photo in the photo, if you see what I mean. If you crop the photo at about the level of the first patch of white on the sand in the centre, and crop something off each side to compensate I think you'll lose the distraction of the over exposed area of the rock without losing too much from the sunset, and you'll maintain a little bit of detail in the rock too. That will also bring the horizon down to the 1/3 mark, and the rocks will prop up the beautiful sky.

Just an opinion.

[mykadog]

Navcom-Thanks for you comments, suggestions and encouragement. I looked at you "Blizzard Anyone" photo and thought about the day this picture was taken. It was maybe 50 degrees and we were all bundled up. I don't think we could survive what you have endured this winter. This is couple watching that same sunset wrapped in a blanket.



No flash on this one.

[navcom]

LOL!!! I would have much preferred to endure what you did! Fifty degrees on the beach snuggled up in a blanket with the sweetie.....yeah, I could take that!

[TBrown00]

I agree with navcom that a grad ND would work perfectly here. Like him, I also prefer to use a grad ND over HDR when possible. It's just personal preference and it saves you a lot of time in post.

Navcom and I have previously discussed (and agreed) on the usefulness and our preferences of grad NDs and HDRs as well as their pros/cons in this thread: Sunset After Work - Cityscape if you'd like to check it out for additional info

[SwissJon]

I agree with Navcom...

Fifty degrees on the beach snuggled up in a blanket with the sweetie.....yeah, I could take that too!