Oklahoma Sunset #2

[DPphotographer]

Here is another tree in the sunset. Any comments? The horizon looks a little crooked, but it's just a small rolling hill that the tree sits on.



Canon Rebel Xsi
Exposure time: 2 sec.
F stop: f 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal length: 55mm
No Flash

[navcom]

I think you kind of have the same issue as your first one...not enough ground. The sliver that is there is not contributing much to the photo except as a distraction. Plus there is now a bit too much sky so the tree becomes a bit inconsequential. I think the tree needs to occupy at the very least 1/3 of the bottom of the image. With so little ground exposed, it can probably occupy at least 1/2.

Your last one was my pick of the two. Just need to add a bit more ground in that one.

[DPphotographer]

Hmm. The ground is nothing but pure blackness. I was taught that in landscape photography when the ground is nothing but darknesss, to only include a sliver in the frame, which is what I tried to do here. The way it was explained to me was that when you put too much of the pure black ground in the shot it doesn't add anything significant to the picture. Wouldn't adding more of the black ground just leave less room for the colorful sky and coulds? I guess just a little more black ground could work a little better though. Thanks.

[Preacherman]

Can't argue with navcom's comments here, (well you did ask!!!) but just wanted to say how perfectly you caught the point at which the sky runs through the whole spectrum from blue to red. You gotta be quick with this kind of shot, cos the sky changes so quickly. Well done mate. PAUL

[DPphotographer]

Thanks! It isn't my purpose to argue with navcoms comments. I was just explaining my understanding of this kind of shot and they way it was explained to me with the hope that navcom could give me a different perspective...

[navcom]

Originally Posted by DPphotographer

Hmm. The ground is nothing but pure blackness. I was taught that in landscape photography when the ground is nothing but darknesss, to only include a sliver in the frame, which is what I tried to do here. The way it was explained to me was that when you put too much of the pure black ground in the shot it doesn't add anything significant to the picture. Wouldn't adding more of the black ground just leave less room for the colorful sky and coulds? I guess just a little more black ground could work a little better though. Thanks.

Hi again!

Let's approach it a bit differently. Instead of focusing on just how much ground is needed, let's focus on what the ground is adding to the picture. Your first image (other post) is a great example of the use of contrasts....a completely black object against a bright and colorful sky. This in and of itself is very compelling to the viewer. Your placement of the tree adds to that compelling feeling. There is some empty space because the tree is off center and the perspective is grounded (but not over or underpowered) by the tree. The sliver of ground kind of distracts from that feeling as you are immediately drawn to this very small but long line object. Line elements in a photograph draw your attention and can help or hinder a composition depending on how they are placed. Since it's very thin, it doesn't add that much to the contrast effect that the rest of the image is portraying.

Your second post (this one here) expands the empty space (more sky) but the sliver still has the same effect. But now the tree is less consequential (since it's smaller) and a center of interest becomes less obvious.

The reason the sliver is distracting is more of a proportional thing than an elemental thing...there is very little ground in proportion to the rest of the picture and it throws the viewer off a bit. Just adding 10% more would help anchor it better. Some folks are compelled to use the rule of thirds and place the horizon right at the bottom third of the image. In your case, that is probably too much ground and will then have the opposite effect...overpowering blackness. This is where the advice you received about placing a black horizon low is correct. Just need to add a bit more.

If you like the sliver of ground, what might work is to crop this second image into a panoramic...that is, leave the width like it is but cut the height down to just above the tree. This will shrink the height and thus make the ground a higher percentage of the image which will make it more consequential.

Hope that helps!

[DPphotographer]

Navcom, that helps a lot. I think you are right. Thank you.