Sunset from the SI Ferry, NYC

[kfailla]

I am slowly learning my way around my DSLR and would really appreciate any advice you can offer that would have made this picture better. (there was some post processing using auto levels)




Camera: Canon EOS 50D
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 320
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[calcuttr]

I think this has the potential to be a really great shot, but as it stands the composition is a little off.

The first thing that strikes me is the sailboat in the foreground and the detail in the water. The problem i have from there is that the background (almost a silhouette) and the boats in the background really dont add an awful lot.

Because you cant make out much detail in the background (partly because of the darkness, partly the distance) it feels like the boat is the main feature of the shot, though it isn't prominent enough itself either.

I think what may have improved this picture is more of a focus on the boat, if that was your intended feature, or a zoom on the buildings in the background with some nice sky over it. I wouldn't try to get both in like has been done here, because then the whole thing feels a little 'diluted' - it's not one thing nor the other.

I always used to have this problem, but after viewing more and more really good photos, and reading the guidance on the main site here about composition, i started to appreciate some of the basis 'rules' which can really help with this kind of issue.

Hope this helps