Sydney Vivid 2011 Opera House

[proes456]

Hi everyone,

this is my first posting in the critique section and hoping to get some constructive feedback on this picture of the famous Opera House.

This year's Vivid festival is over and for the first time in almost 3 years I finally had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours in the city to take some night shots.
Most of the pictures of the Opera house are in landscape format and thought I would give portrait a try. Personally I like it but would like your comments on the composition, exposure, etc…
Just want to add that this photo was slightly modified in PS (crop, contrast and a tiny saturation tweak).

Thanks in advance for your comments. More photos can be viewed on my flickr page or on my website (links below)

Cheers

[proes456]

Sorry, forgot the EXIF data
Camera Nikon D7000
Exposure 4
Aperture f/4.8
Focal Length 45 mm
ISO Speed 100
Lens Nikkor 18-105mm

[Krusty79]

As navcom said, landscape orientation is usually best for landscape shots because portrait mode feels too confined on the edges. I saw your image before I read anything and I asked myself why you used portrait mode. So, yes, I would prefer to see this in landscape mode because the sides of the building feel cut off and there is too much plain sky above the building. It doesn't hurt to experiment, though! Your exposure looks good.

[docxnoel]

Personally, I like your photo, exposure is good.

The subtle blue reflections on the water serves as your foreground to direct my eye towards the opera house.

Yes, the portrait orientation in this photo also works, the negative space above gives me an impression of boundlessness, but it will be work better if I can see something above the dark skies like fireworks or some shiny shimmering stars (but not so crowded).

But still it is a good image.

EDIT: Sorry, now I'm working on my own monitor, and I see those shiny shimmering stars, and it balance to your negative space above, but if you can make it a little bit bigger is much better to be more noticeable.

[proes456]

Thanks very much for your feedback... I know that the portrait may look a bit "weird" but lately I am trying to think "out of the box" and experimenting different things

As I bracketed this shot I have one with way more stars, etc... do you guys think it would work? Actually on the picture above, there are stars but I don't know why we do not see them better????

I will try to make up a new one over the weekend...

Thanks again