Crabtree Sunset

[manmathison]

Went over to Crabtree lake in Raleigh to catch a quick sunset shot. I would love to get everyone's feedback on this pic. I know there isn't much of a focal point but I think with the sun and bird it works pretty well. This is a sort of HDR I blended 3 images in photoshop using layer masking.

Is there anyway to get the sunset to look this rich and still have color in the trees instead of just black (silhouetted). I'm just getting back in to photography real heavy and would love to be able to capture this shot in the camera instead of with PP.

Canon XS
Canon 28-135 IS USM
f/11
ISO 100
1/60, 1/25, 1/15

[Krusty79]

I would try bracketing your shots further apart. Maybe you need to go to +2, 0 & -2 to get the whole dynamic range. Some HDR shots look flat because everything is exposed well and there are no black/dark areas, so you may want to watch out for that. You should also keep your horizons level.

It helps if you can add some foreground interest to a shot like this. It's good that you got the bird in there, but I think it would have more impact if it wasn't so close to the sun.

[manmathison]

Originally Posted by Krusty79

I would try bracketing your shots further apart. Maybe you need to go to +2, 0 & -2 to get the whole dynamic range. Some HDR shots look flat because everything is exposed well and there are no black/dark areas, so you may want to watch out for that. You should also keep your horizons level.

It helps if you can add some foreground interest to a shot like this. It's good that you got the bird in there, but I think it would have more impact if it wasn't so close to the sun.

Krusty, thank you for your comments. Could you elaborate with specific reference to this shot where you'd expect to see more black/dark areas? I blended 3 different exposures in photoshop. one exposure for the sky and foreground of the water, 1 for the back edge of the water and top of trees and one for the trees (so they were green and not silohouetted). I'd like to re-work the image with your feedback and see if I can make it better.

I think there is a little bit of an optical illusion going on with the horizon. I had the camera tripoded and leveled before taking these pics so I'm not sure how the horizon wouldn't be level. I think what is making it look out of level is the fact that the edge of the land is not a straight line. As you travel from left to right the edge recedes to another area of water and then on the right the edge is further in the background than the left.

Thanks again for your comments and I look forward to hearing more.

[Krusty79]

I think those dark trees behind the front row of trees are okay if you have some dark areas in them. I was just saying that some HDR shots have everything lit up and there are no dark areas to provide contrast. I don't think you have that issue, though.

Those horizontal streaks going across the water do not look level, so that was making me think the image was not level. The receding shoreline contributes to that also. If you checked it with a level, though, I believe you.

I'm also second guessing my comment about the location of the bird. I was trying to visualize where it would have the most impact and I can't really think of a better location. Besides, I know you really couldn't do much about that.

[benchdog]

I like this image I think you done nice work with your pp.

I like simple and this images has this, simplicity. I like how the sun reflection leads you into the image and woo there's a bird. Nice! The sky adds a lot of drama and completes the shot.

Krusty made a point about it not looking level and I agree that the perception is that it looks like it is leaning to the left. But perception is reality and we must deal with that. I think most will think that this is off level. I always level my images to perception, I make all my images look level that's what people like.

[manmathison]

Originally Posted by benchdog

I like this image I think you done nice work with your pp.

I like simple and this images has this, simplicity. I like how the sun reflection leads you into the image and woo there's a bird. Nice! The sky adds a lot of drama and completes the shot.

Krusty made a point about it not looking level and I agree that the perception is that it looks like it is leaning to the left. But perception is reality and we must deal with that. I think most will think that this is off level. I always level my images to perception, I make all my images look level that's what people like.

I tried slightly adjusting the level of the image to pick up the left side. I'm not sure it looks that much different but what do you think?

[benchdog]

Originally Posted by manmathison

I tried slightly adjusting the level of the image to pick up the left side. I'm not sure it looks that much different but what do you think?

I think it looks better. Try making it completely level and see if you like it.

[EOBeav]

HDR is not a dirty word. In fact, most of my shots that involve the sun and a low foreground are almost always bracketed one way or another.