Silhouette at Sunset

[Bella_D]

My cousin at my cabin.

I would love to see how you think I did, and what I could improve on.

I took this in August at 9pm on a wobbly dock, and it was indeed handheld!

EXIF Data:
Exposure: 1/4 Second
f/5.6
ISO 800
Focal Length: 55mm
Canon Rebel XSi

[NgaiHill]

I like this, the colours are great and I love the reflection in his glasses. Just wondering what that thing is hanging down from his nose? Part of his glasses? Something in the background?

[Bella_D]

Originally Posted by NgaiHill

I like this, the colours are great and I love the reflection in his glasses. Just wondering what that thing is hanging down from his nose? Part of his glasses? Something in the background?

Thanks so much for the kind feedback!

I forgot to mention, it's a septum piercing. Here's him in the daylight, to see the piercing in its full glory.

[kristenh]

i like the colors and the spot your chose. very pretty. my main problem is that the dark part of the landscape slices his head right in half. next time, try to have the part that is behind his head be either all water or all sky- then you'll have a nice clean silhouette. except for that nose thing

this might just be a personal preference, but i also think it would come out better if he took off his glasses.

[Bella_D]

Yeah, the dark part isn't ideal for me either, but it was the only place I could hold my camera without it shaking. It was a long exposure (1/4 second) and completely handheld with nothing to lean on, so I couldn't hold it high or low.

And the nose thing. :P It's personality, but I could easily edit it out.

[deck]

Hi Bella_D

Nice colors i might say! I love it when someone captures the nice warm colors of sunset...

One thing to take note when you have a horizon is to have it level unless you intend otherwise...

And if you have a person as a subject in the photo, try not to have the horizon cut through the person in awkward areas... there's no hard rule on where not to cut on the head but right now it just feels awkward, probably place the horizon at shoulder level in my opinion

To improve the photo?
First, maybe it would up the level a bit if the subject was smiling, even in silhouette the facial expressions can be detected and does have an impact on the photo

Second, maybe step back a bit to reveal more of the horizon and more body language from the subject

Third, bring a tripod so you don't hurry

That's it, this is a good shot but you can still improve a lot

[Bella_D]

One thing to take note when you have a horizon is to have it level unless you intend otherwise...
[snip] there's no hard rule on where not to cut on the head but right now it just feels awkward, probably place the horizon at shoulder level in my opinion

Yeah, I didn't intend to have it really crooked, but I was focusing on having my cousin straight. But, I think there was a peninsula, or I just shot crooked. :P

And yes, I should have brought a tripod out. I wasn't really planning to shoot anything other than snapshots, but I mean, I think it turned out pretty sharp for the low light, no flash, and moderately long shutter speed.

Thank you!

[deck]

Originally Posted by Bella_D

And yes, I should have brought a tripod out. I wasn't really planning to shoot anything other than snapshots, but I mean, I think it turned out pretty sharp for the low light, no flash, and moderately long shutter speed.

Yep it's quite sharp! good job for handholding the shot at 1/4

[Bella_D]

Thanks! Since I had nothing to lean against, I basically held my breath. I don't have the steadiest of hands, anyways. :P