Roasting Over An Open Fire! [please help!]

[kasha]

not sure if this should be in this section of critique.. but anywho,

I'm an ameteur teen photographer and playing with my new Nikon D60 (first DSLR) while camping! was pretty pleased with the result but now second-guessing my composition. I always seem to have a problem with that! let me know what you think about it - and any other thoughts/ideas!

All comments appreciated! thanks!

[kasha]

EXIF:
f/3.5
1/2 sec.
ISO 800
No flash - natural light
No tripod
exposure compensation -0.7
Nikon D60

[rick020200]

I like the framing and the concept. I would have liked more light on the hot-dog roaster's face. Perhaps the negative exposure compensation was a bit too much.

[Derivatix]

Your image is very good, the fact just hides a bit from you.
Photographing with a digital camera gives you the opportunity to "play" with your image afterwards. The image is too dark, that's true. But look what comes out of it, if you enhance the light a bit. Do you have a software for enhancing your images? If not, there is GIMP, that's free and I hear it's a great software and costs nada.

Below you find what I did with your image. I just lightend up the face holding the hotdog (not all of the picture) and stamped over the sparks, I find that they do not help the image, but that's just my oppinion. See that there is even smoke? That was just hiding.
After that I cropped it a bit from the right side, so the face is about diagonally to the fire. Like it? It's YOUR WORK!

I love your image, well done! Just don't settle for what it looks like right at first.

PS: you do not have a problem with composition, believe me.

[kasha]

yes, i do like it! and i agree about the sparks!
thank you both for your comments and help!