how should this image have been composed?

[Rick Rawson]

I live in an area of the country not known for sunsets, so I could not resist photographing the sky after a storm in June. Unfortunately, the resulting image did not capture the atmospheric drama that I witnessed that night. My sunsets often appear flat (lacking depth), despite extensive post-processing. I suspect that composition is the problem. Any advice?

EXIF data:
Camera: Olympus E-510
Exposure: 1/200
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 98 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: -0.7 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire



Thanks,

Rick

[Sterling]

You are on the right track in your thinking. If you examine the sunset shots that you really like, you'll find that very few are just shots of the sky; they almost always utilize the foreground to accentuate the sky. Adding foreground objects will provide the depth you are looking for. The thing about sunsets is that although every one is very beautiful, everyone's seen them many times before. Compose your sunset shots using foreground objects and they'll have more impact.

[navcom]

The best way to achieve depth is to have something of scale present in the image for the viewer to relate to. Unfortunately pretty skies alone do not usually make great photos. Pretty photos? Yep. Great photos? Usually not. And you are right in assuming that depth is part of the problem.

Most people love colorful skies...sunsets, sunrises, storms, rainbows, etc. Color excites the senses. But other things complete the experience when you are there in person....the smell of the rain, the humidity, the motion of the clouds, textures, how the light hits objects around you...all contribute to give the person who is actually there a complete "3-D image".

As a photographer, you only get a 2-D representation that is void of anything else. You need to compose the image to give the viewer some representation of what it's like to be there....things that represent the smell of rain or the power of the storm. This may include elements in your foreground that grab your attention and lead the viewer "into" the image or objects that compliment (or drastically contradict) the sky.

A photo of just a colorful sky is not much different than a photo of just a colorful wall. But add a chair to the image and you get some perspective. Or add a vertical lamp in front of a colorful wall with horizontal-striped wallpaper and you get intriguing contradiction. You need to do this with colorful sky photos as well.

Also, watch your horizons...they need to be level.

Hope that helps!

[Rick Rawson]

You can tell I'm a beginner because I'm asking mainly about technique, not artistry. I appreciate the length that both of you went to in explaining the problem and the solution.

Now for a picky question. The reason my area of the country does not have many remarkable sunsets is due to the fact that the terrain is very hilly (central New York) and it's overcast much of the time. The horizon in this shot is, in fact, not level and my camera recorded it accurately. Is it good photographic (artistic) technique to adjust the photo to make the horizon level, even if in "real life" the horizon is NOT level?

[navcom]

Originally Posted by Rick Rawson

You can tell I'm a beginner because I'm asking mainly about technique, not artistry. I appreciate the length that both of you went to in explaining the problem and the solution.

Now for a picky question. The reason my area of the country does not have many remarkable sunsets is due to the fact that the terrain is very hilly (central New York) and it's overcast much of the time. The horizon in this shot is, in fact, not level and my camera recorded it accurately. Is it good photographic (artistic) technique to adjust the photo to make the horizon level, even if in "real life" the horizon is NOT level?

Good question. Looking a little more at your photo I can tell you are right...the bottom edge of the lowered cumulus cloud should be level with the horizon and it is, so the hills are indeed slanting. The bottoms of cumulus clouds approximate the horizon as this is the "layer" at which the dew point meets the temperature at that altitude...thus we get clouds.

The horizon should be level. Adding your foreground subject/object for scale will also help define the true horizon against the slanting hills. This object (or objects, etc.), whatever it may be, will most likely help "set" the horizon.

As for your area not having good sunsets, I beg to differ! I've seen some fantastic sunsets in central and east-central NY. I used to have family that lived out there. I live in Minnesota and our area rivals Seattle for cloudiness. But we get some fantastic sunsets at times too. In reality, just about every place has a low percentage of fantastically colorful sunsets. You just have to plan and be patient for them.

Sunsets and sunrises are my favorite subject-matter. It's a game of patience and planning but I love the challenge. And when I do manage to get one that really works, there is no other composition that rewards me as much!

Plus, there is something about being out at sunrise when everything is calm and peaceful. Wouldn't trade it for anything!