Sunrise Silhouette C&C

[fjrabon]

The main thing I'm after here is which of these people like the best, though any comments on how to improve any of the individual shots, what people liked and disliked about each would also be GREATLY appreciated. Really trying to get a feel for what works and doesn't work for this type of shot. These are my first sunrise shots I've ever taken, and in a way they don't even really count as sunrise shots, since they were as much about the tree silhouettes as the sunrise. (don't worry, I also took some other sunrise shots that capture the sky's coloring better, more at between a 90 and 45 degree angle to the sun, and also completely opposite the sunrise, but I just thought this C&C would work better if I stuck to a consistent theme).

All were taken with a Nikon D3100, 35mm prime lens ISO 200 at f/11 (in retrospect I probably could have gone with a larger aperture, or at least tried some at a larger aperture).

edit: I also used a CPL filter on the lens, at about the half way setting.

Location: Atlanta, GA; Piedmont Park; edge of the 'lower bowl'; sunrise

1.

DSC_0060 by franklinrabon, on Flickr

2.

DSC_0059 by franklinrabon, on Flickr

3.

DSC_0056 by franklinrabon, on Flickr

4.

DSC_0039 by franklinrabon, on Flickr

5.

DSC_0035 by franklinrabon, on Flickr

 

[JMBriggs]

The first is my fav. They all seem kind of busy. But the first I could def see as an ad for running! It makes me want to get up at the crack of dawn and jog!

 

[D_Alishouse]

My comments are mostly on framing. I like the first one the best out of all of them as well. I think it has a lot to do with the balance. It feels like when you frame just the two trees (even though the one on the right has a double trunk, which is kind of cool) the balance is off. I find the tree that appears on the left much more interesting visually than the one on the right. That being said I like the 2nd from the bottom as well, because the most interesting tree is the focus.

Overall I like your idea of the sunrise through the silhoutted leaves. It makes for some cool play with light and the shadows. I like these shots.

D Alishouse
Casie Zalud: Boulder Photography

 

[fjrabon]

My comments are mostly on framing. I like the first one the best out of all of them as well. I think it has a lot to do with the balance. It feels like when you frame just the two trees (even though the one on the right has a double trunk, which is kind of cool) the balance is off. I find the tree that appears on the left much more interesting visually than the one on the right. That being said I like the 2nd from the bottom as well, because the most interesting tree is the focus.

Overall I like your idea of the sunrise through the silhoutted leaves. It makes for some cool play with light and the shadows. I like these shots.

D Alishouse
Casie Zalud: Boulder Photography

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, during the 'shoot' I thought "does that grouping of the two trees close together count as one tree or two?" while in retrospect that seems like a dumb question. Of course it's one composition/balance wise. I think next week I'm going to reshoot this, and bring along a 'model' to give some yoga and running silhouettes. Since the one with the runner seemed to work the best, but I'd be tied to whoever happened to run across my picture.

In retrospect I also kind of wish I had shot this scene a few times at a 45 degree angle. Oh well, I hope the fog is going next week again, though I think it does that most every morning in November at that part of the park.

 

[Derrel]

1 and 2, simply damned good work!!!

The first image would be a great stock seller, for all types of articles.

 

[JMBriggs]

My comments are mostly on framing. I like the first one the best out of all of them as well. I think it has a lot to do with the balance. It feels like when you frame just the two trees (even though the one on the right has a double trunk, which is kind of cool) the balance is off. I find the tree that appears on the left much more interesting visually than the one on the right. That being said I like the 2nd from the bottom as well, because the most interesting tree is the focus.

Overall I like your idea of the sunrise through the silhoutted leaves. It makes for some cool play with light and the shadows. I like these shots.

D Alishouse
Casie Zalud: Boulder Photography

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, during the 'shoot' I thought "does that grouping of the two trees close together count as one tree or two?" while in retrospect that seems like a dumb question. Of course it's one composition/balance wise. I think next week I'm going to reshoot this, and bring along a 'model' to give some yoga and running silhouettes. Since the one with the runner seemed to work the best, but I'd be tied to whoever happened to run across my picture.

In retrospect I also kind of wish I had shot this scene a few times at a 45 degree angle. Oh well, I hope the fog is going next week again, though I think it does that most every morning in November at that part of the park.

I would love to see how the yoga ones turn out!!!!

 

[KenC]

Agree with others that the first is the winner. I would crop the top a little because the light sky area in the upper left is distracting. If you don't want it to become that much of a pano, you could crop the tree on the right and that might even improve the composition a bit.

 

[Futurelight]

The last is My personal favourite although I do think you need to ease up on the photoshop colour balance. The contrast is too high and the reds are too strong. Though that is just me and my love of purity. (I don't even use filters when I shoot) Hope this helps

 

[snowbear]

I like them all, but love #1 - the person and dog make the shot.

 

[fjrabon]

The last is My personal favourite although I do think you need to ease up on the photoshop colour balance. The contrast is too high and the reds are too strong. Though that is just me and my love of purity. (I don't even use filters when I shoot) Hope this helps

I actually didn't do much with the color in photoshop. I added a little contrast. I think the redness is just good old Atlanta, GA pollution, haha.

 

[fjrabon]

Agree with others that the first is the winner. I would crop the top a little because the light sky area in the upper left is distracting. If you don't want it to become that much of a pano, you could crop the tree on the right and that might even improve the composition a bit.

what do you think about this?:


DSC_0060 - Version 2 by franklinrabon, on Flickr

Thanks for your help! I can't believe I've been doing this for almost a month now, crazy how much I've learned and how little I know. Seems like it's simultaneously been longer and shorter than that, even though that doesn't make sense.

 

[KenC]

Agree with others that the first is the winner. I would crop the top a little because the light sky area in the upper left is distracting. If you don't want it to become that much of a pano, you could crop the tree on the right and that might even improve the composition a bit.

what do you think about this?:


DSC_0060 - Version 2 by franklinrabon, on Flickr

Thanks for your help! I can't believe I've been doing this for almost a month now, crazy how much I've learned and how little I know. Seems like it's simultaneously been longer and shorter than that, even though that doesn't make sense.

Works for me. Seeing it cropped this way I think it's better as is than with the tree on the right side cropped.

 

[D_Alishouse]

I like the idea of bringing along a model for controlled action! I can't see the picture in this post and am thinking you are talking about the one with all three trees (one of them having two trunks) on your flickr page. If so, I also like this one better for composition.

 

[Ron Evers]

I cannot see #1 "unavailable" but I think #2 could be a bit over exposed.

 

[fjrabon]

I cannot see #1 "unavailable" but I think #2 could be a bit over exposed.

hmm, no idea what happened. It's fixed now.

Yeah, the combo of the sun hitting directly off the fog below and the dark trees had me really guessing at exposure the whole time.