sunsets from hell...

[BubblePixel]

I can't seem to take a decent sunset... what is the matter with me?!! :banghead:
Looks like the sun gets doubled and there's lots of noise...
Can anyone help me out?

I used my 70-300 sigma lens with a CPL and a tripod

Thanks for looking (don't laugh!)

Appreciate all/any comments that could help me out!

 

[fightheheathens]

looks like you got lens flare on the second one, (and thusly im assuming the first) dont know how that would happen though...

 

[JamesD]

Looks like flare to me, as well. Try a graduaded ND filter, or two exposures merged in Photoshop. ND Filter is the best bet. Also, avoid using a zoom lens if you can; they have lots more internal surfaces to help cause lots of flare. If you center the sun horizontally, flare artifacts will tend to appear in a vertical line. Same with centering it vertically. If you center it vertically and horizontally, flare artifacts will be centered in the image.

Good luck!

 

[BubblePixel]

Thanks for your comments!

I'll definatly take your advice! I don't have an ND Filter but next time I'll try without the CPL... and see how that works!

 

[Digital Matt]

A sunset picture need not always include the sun in the shot. I look for sunsets that have clouds, where the sunlight is perforating the clouds in interesting places. I shoot when the sun is behind a cloud. Use a graduated neutral density filter, to get some more detail from the foreground. Expose for the sky, keeping in mind the filter factor.