Requesting c&c please

[mrstravis]

Went out to the local beach last night and tried to capture the sunset. It was very difficult and I realized today that I did not have my ISO up high enough. Anyhow, lesson learned. Here is my favorite shot. Rip it to shreds. Thanks in advance!

 

[dots]

Are you able to straighten the horizon?

 

[mrstravis]

I didn't even notice that it wasn't straight. I am using the free version of photoshop so I am not sure if I can straighten it or not but I can certainly try. Thanks, I will try that.

 

[KmH]

I didn't know there was a free version of Photoshop.

 

[dots]

 

[KmH]

The devil is in the details, like a straight horizon when a body of water is in the shot, You can often use the focus point indicators in the viewfinder to help you make sure the camera is level:

 

[mrstravis]

Yes, the free version of photoshop is just the website. It offers very limited functions. I will eventually buy an editing software but I am trying to work on taking great shots pre-editing instead of taking crappy shots and attempting to fudge my way into a decent shot. If that makes any sense. Love the edit, what software are you using?

 

[mrstravis]

Ahhh, so you just tilted it? Outside of the crooked horizon, how is the picture? Is it interesting, well composed, etc?

 

[camz]

I feel as if the foreground is lacking in details and the background is blurred out and in result is lacking in details as well. I would've compensated by shooting at smaller f-stop to have the water clear(and the sun) or lighting up the cone and needles in the foreground. Either one in order to have some sense of concentration.

 

[dots]

http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm


I've seen worse You used a Coolpix camera?

 

[dots]

It allows you to straighten, cut/boost shadow and/or highlights, change the color balance of red/green/blue channels, apply unsharp mask (better than regular 'sharpen') etc

 

[WesternGuy]

Other than the tilted horizon, which has been mentioned, the foreground is just a bit too busy and cluttered for me - but then that is just me, I do like your thought though, of hiding the sun behind the cone (if that is what it is). For me, I like to see the sun and maybe some reflection off of some clouds and the ocean in focus, but again, that is just the traditional me and my likes for sunsets. Instead of having your ISO up higher, you could try some neutral density filters, probably the graduated kind. This would allow you to get the sky exposed properly with the foreground - my 0.02¢ FWIW.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[mrstravis]

I feel as if the foreground is lacking in details and the background is blurred out and in result is lacking in details as well. I would've compensated by shooting at smaller f-stop to have the water clear(and the sun) or lighting up the cone and needles in the foreground. Either one in order to have some sense of concentration.

I'm using a p&s so I don't have the option of a smaller f-stop but I will keep that in mind when I upgrade. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[mrstravis]

http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

I've seen worse You used a Coolpix camera?

Yes a Nikon Coolpix L120. It's great as far as p&s go.

 

[mrstravis]

Other than the tilted horizon, which has been mentioned, the foreground is just a bit too busy and cluttered for me - but then that is just me, I do like your thought though, of hiding the sun behind the cone (if that is what it is). For me, I like to see the sun and maybe some reflection off of some clouds and the ocean in focus, but again, that is just the traditional me and my likes for sunsets. Instead of having your ISO up higher, you could try some neutral density filters, probably the graduated kind. This would allow you to get the sky exposed properly with the foreground - my 0.02¢ FWIW.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

My thought was to hide the sun behind the cone bc my photos were coming out tool dark when I tried to get the sun without something to divert the brightness. Because I am using a p&s I don't have the luxury of using filters which would have been great in this case. Thanks for your input!