Sunset shots and Silhouettes

[dbose]

Hi Guys - I am very new at photography. I have a Nikon D90 with 18-105mm VR lens. I am trying various methods after reading loads of books etc. Last evening I took some sunset photos - while the weather was not ideal (it was cloudy with an oncoming storm and extreme winds), I managed to take a few.

Could you let me know what the defects/things to make them better are? Also the Silhouettes have got lens flare which I could have avoided while taking the shots but did not concentrate. Is there away to do any post photography touch ups - I use GIMP.

Thanks for all suggestions...

[clikrr]

The weather might not have been ideal for sunbaking but those extreme conditions can make for some awesome contrasts.

I am no expert but i think your photo's are missing a focal point. It looks as if you have taken these standing upright. Try lying on the grass or sand to catch some foreground interest. A shallow depth of field would have made the sunset ones a bit more appealing, with a nice focal point.

[barabe]

You had great conditions for shooting, oncoming storms make for more dramatic sky and is much better that plain boring blue sky. Ok the wind never helps but i think you did a good job keeping still. Maybe include your exif files to let us help you more.

[dbose]

Photo 1
25mm - 1EV under 200
1/20s - F22
0EV - Cloudy, A3, 0

Photo 2
26mm - 1EV under 200
1/60s - F22
0EV - Cloudy, A5, M2

Photo 3
52mm - 1EV under 200
1/00s - F22
0EV - Cloudy, 0, 0

Photo 4
38mm - 1EV under 200
1/30s - F22
0EV - Cloudy, A5, M3

[dbose]

Photo 1
25mm - 1EV under 200
1/20s - F22
0EV - Cloudy, A3, 0

Photo 2
26mm - 1EV under 200
1/60s - F22
0EV - Cloudy, A5, M2

Photo 3
52mm - 1EV under 200
1/00s - F22
0EV - Cloudy, 0, 0

Photo 4
38mm - 1EV under 200
1/30s - F22
0EV - Cloudy, A5, M3