Storm at Sunset

[rikkersc]

This photo is of a storm moving in at sunset. I like the effect of being able to see the storm colors at the top over the clouds and the sunset at the bottom, but what does everyone else think?

I have such a hard time giving critique to my photos, usually because the subject matter is familiar to me. I look at some of my photos and think "its okay" while others have seen the same photo and said "Wow!" Other photos I think "Hey, that's a good one!" while people I show it to say "It's okay". So, I leave it to you to give me your opinions, hopefully it will help me become a better photographer - Go ahead, critique away!

[ezzabazza]

I am just new to all of this, but I think the colours in this photo are just stunning, the silohuette of the tree against the sunset, and the storm cloud gives it a little mood, I really like it!

And i know what you mean about critiquing your own shots, I find it hard too!

[Jamesc359]

I like the colors and the horizontal streaks near the horizon. I'm a little iffy on the upper half of the photo. Overall I like it though.

[jdepould]

I like it, good saturation, maybe a little bit of noise creeping in near the cloud tops, but nothing to be too worried about. I wish the clouds were a little darker, but that's not really something you can change, considering the tree in the forground is completely silhouetted and black.

[windrider86]

You can make the clouds darker, if you wanted. Burn the clouds or play with your contrast or even by using a mask layer.
I like the overall effect but the huge amount of clouds is overbearing to the overall effect.

[rikkersc]

This image is direct from the camera, I haven't done any PP to it yet.

Which clouds should be darker? The small ones at the bottom?

Also, Windrider, I see what you are saying. That is something I was wondering about also, just not sure how to make it "less". Those clouds came in as a big front, so there was never any smaller area of blackness.
I was kind of wishing there was a little less black in the middle as well, but just wondered what others thought. Sometimes I am not the best critic of my own work.