Everythingisnt: I actually really like that photo. 4/5 - the only thing that I can think of is maybe have the horizon on the bottom 3rd line instead of in the middle. One more thing, if you had a graduated neutral density filter could have exposed the rocks and see a couple of stops more and had a bit darker sky. I've never used one though I usually will bracket my landscapes and merge in photoshop. Good job and I would be making more trips to this location. Very nice spot for photography.
Thanks
. I know that whenever I look at this photo, something never really seems to "click" like it does with some of my others. Hopefully a crop will help change this. As for the lighting, I think that I will try to bracket my exposures and merge them in photoshop (like you do) when I re-take this. The only difficulty will be the fact that the water around here is very dynamic, and could generate some serious 'ghosting' in a combined image. (Unless I manage to subtly mask in the lightened rocks while leaving the water at normal exposure...
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As for the spot, you're absolutely right. It's a beach off of Point Grey (near where I live, in Vancouver), and it has the most beautiful sunsets ever. I remember posting a sunset picture taken from here on the photo of the day thread, in fact!
I like this picture a lot. I'm a big fan of landscapes! I say 4/5. The only thing I would try to work on, like fett said, lighten up the rocks. Towards the bottom right they are like a black void. It would add a lot to be able to pick out the rocks. I wouldn't brighten them too much, I like the dark look, but just enough to see the individual rocks.
Thanks for the rating as well! I already tried brightening in photoshop/aperture but I get too much of a 'grainy' look if I do. While the original file has lighter rocks, the sky is too monotone for my liking, which is why i fiddled with the contrast earlier. I think that i'll try retaking it, as I said earlier.
I like it, I'm going to say 3.5 out of 5 simply because I think that it needs a little more attention on the crop! I'd agree that either cropping a larger portion of the sky out, or cropping some of the sea away would really help this one! It's always best to have a lot of one or the other depending on what looks best to you. Either way, the horizon needs to be on a third line! Other than that, great job!
SLC
Good pointers about cropping. I am definitely going to review the photo and possibly get better results in a re-take. I don't really think that cropping out the sky is an option, because if I do I lose alot of the bright sun-flare. However, if I try to crop out the bottom, I end up losing alot of the rocks, which I particularly like in this photo because of the way that the light reflects off of them. I think that I'll try fix these in a re-take
. Anyways - thanks for the comment
As for your photo, Zirkle, I like the way that it's composed. I see what you mean about the weather not cooperating, as I think that it would look better with either a clear/sunny sky. Also, you might want to try uncluttering the sides/top of the frame - or, if you don't have the space to do that, getting a bit closer so that the way you show off the tangle of branches isn't as distracting. Besides that I'd watch the lighting, as it's quite washed-out where I presume the sun is hiding behind the tree. It gives the other one a bit of a silhouetted look, which I (personally) don't think fits with the rest of the photo.
Anyway, nice pic! 3/5 as I think it has alot of potential.. And btw enjoy your new camera
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