Stunning sunset

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

but is it considered "cheating" taking sunset photos in the sunset mode? How does the sunset mode capture such amazing colours? This has had no post processing. I am disappointed I cropped the top of the "rings" off when taking it and is the horizon a bit too centre? Anything else?



Exif data-
Camera Sony DSLR-A350
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/7.1
Focal Length 130 mm
ISO Speed 100
Sunset mode

[Bruce A]

Great silhouetting and colours. Nicely caught!

[dvtldav]

I agree with Bruce but wonder what it would have been if you had used a Grad ND filter to have gotten some detail in the foreground. Just a thought.

Dave

[dlambert]

It's not cheating if you like the way the photos come out. If you're interested, you can use the EXIF settings to learn what the camera's doing to help you out. I believe sunset mode is sort of like landscape mode, but also adjusts the white balance to be a little warmer than normal.

[SwissJon]

Sunset mode boosts the colour temperature to the right., Enhancing the reds and golds in your photo.. Sunset is exaptly when you're supposed to use it, So no, it's not cheating any more than any other PP, it's the end result that's important, not the method of getting there.

I like Sillouettes, but I find this a little boring I'm afraid. The colours are fantastic, but there's a huge expanse of black and nothing much going on in the sky.. What would have been really nice is a close up of the tree on the right. It's got some interesting shapes. Otherwise all the houses are half hidden and you can't make out any distinct shapes.

Sorry to be harsh, but with Sillouettes, you really need some distinct and recogniseable shapes, and it helps if there's some interesting clouds in the sky.

You've got a good technique there, so I've no doubt you'll capture some really interesting sillouettes, you just need to now concentrate on finding a subject to go with that technique.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Originally Posted by Bruce A

Great silhouetting and colours. Nicely caught!

Thanks Bruce, pleased you liked it.

Originally Posted by dvtldav

agree with Bruce but wonder what it would have been if you had used a Grad ND filter to have gotten some detail in the foreground. Just a thought

I had no idea what a Grad ND filter was but you learn something new everyday and I have now googled and read a fair bit. I like what I see, I may have to look into that. Does the filter screw onto your lens, most of the pics I saw they looked like squares that were held in front of the lens. Thanks for your comments.

Originally Posted by dlambert

It's not cheating if you like the way the photos come out. If you're interested, you can use the EXIF settings to learn what the camera's doing to help you out. I believe sunset mode is sort of like landscape mode, but also adjusts the white balance to be a little warmer than normal.

That makes me feel better dlambert as sunrises and sunsets are something I take many shots of. I have a great view of both from my deck and have captured hundreds of different shots. Nature sure is a wonderful thing. I didn't think to look at my EXIF settings even though I'm doing that with all my other photos at the moment. Thanks for the suggestion.

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Sunset mode boosts the colour temperature to the right., Enhancing the reds and golds in your photo.. Sunset is exaptly when you're supposed to use it, So no, it's not cheating any more than any other PP, it's the end result that's important, not the method of getting there.

I like Sillouettes, but I find this a little boring I'm afraid. The colours are fantastic, but there's a huge expanse of black and nothing much going on in the sky.. What would have been really nice is a close up of the tree on the right. It's got some interesting shapes. Otherwise all the houses are half hidden and you can't make out any distinct shapes.

Sorry to be harsh, but with Sillouettes, you really need some distinct and recogniseable shapes, and it helps if there's some interesting clouds in the sky.

You've got a good technique there, so I've no doubt you'll capture some really interesting sillouettes, you just need to now concentrate on finding a subject to go with that technique

No need to be sorry SwissJon, I value your input and I know not every photo appeals to everybody. I hear what you're saying regarding the dark foreground although I actually like this shot because of the blackness and sharp contrast between the colours. I have dozens of other sunset/sunrise with detail and this was the first one that didn't have it and I was surprised. You wouldn't believe that I was hoping to make the foreground even blacker so you can't see any of the house's outlines!

The tree on the right(a Norfolk Pine) is in somebody's backyard down a back section and actually if I was up closer I would be dropped down in front of the ridge and not have such a spectacular view. Though there are 3 Norfolk pines just down on the water front in front of our house that I may be able to use at some stage. Thanks for your comments.

Interesting clouds I can give you albeit a snapshot -

[dvtldav]

Originally Posted by FlyingKiwiGirl

Does the filter screw onto your lens, most of the pics I saw they looked like squares that were held in front of the lens. Thanks for your comments.

They make ones that screw onto the front of your lens then rotate to position the grad. They also make square ones that fit into a holder that mounts to the front of your lens and the holder rotates.

Dave

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by dvtldav

They make ones that screw onto the front of your lens then rotate to position the grad. They also make square ones that fit into a holder that mounts to the front of your lens and the holder rotates.

Dave

The square Grad filters have the advantage of being able to move the grad line to where you want it on the picture, unfortunately decent ones cost a fortune and cheap ones are not worth bothering with as they reduce the sharpness of your picture signifiantly, scratch easily and often add a colour cast.. The best mid range ones I've come across are "HiTech" filters, thy don't have a colou cast, but are still resin, so have the other disadvantages. The circular ones are usually glass, so have a decent amount of clarity, and are often cheaper than the square ones (I don't know why, since they have more work in producing them!) Swings and roundabouts with what you want to do.

No you've got a beautiful sky in that photo.. All you need is a nice interesting sillouette to set it off.. Unfortunately, when someone looks at the photo you show them, they don't take into account the difficulties you had getting the photo, just the impact the photo makes.. Something that's started dawning on me is that stunning photos are all around us, it's just that we need to hunt them out, that's where artistic talent comes into it.. You need to be able to "see" the photo in the landscape around you.

If you can get to some of those pines and they have some cones on them that you can sillouette against the sky, you're on a winner.