What could have made this shot better?

[tcarson]

I feel like the balance is off, but I am not sure what I could have done to make it more balanced? Perhaps have the plant silhoutte more to the left of the picture so that the sun was kind of sitting behind it? But then that would make the right side seem empty with that plant that is out of focus being on the left side. I don't really know, that's why I'm asking you guys!

 

[Light Guru]

I like the silhouette but don't like that the tip of the plant was cut off.

 

[PaintBrightStudios]

Depends really on what you are trying to achieve. This photo is fine if you would like to produce a photo depicting just the sunset, from a ground's point of view.
If you'd like to show more details of the plants, then you can try to prolong the shutter to be able to gain more light, while lowering the ISO.
Also another tip: start trying to use higher pixels. 960x720 won't do any good nowadays.

 

[Designer]

I feel like the balance is off, but I am not sure what I could have done to make it more balanced?

Basically, you have to recognize what object(s) will balance with something else in your composition. It might not be readily apparent while looking through the viewfinder, and it might take a lot of fiddling; move this way and that, higher, lower, move something out of the way, etc.

As to this photograph, it seems underexposed and misframed so I don't hold out much hope for it.

 

[Derrel]

I like the silhouette but don't like that the tip of the plant was cut off.

I agree with that. I think eliminating the left-most plant, and including the tip of the main plant, and cropping to square might have helped quite a bit.

 

[The_Traveler]

While I think that silhouetted-against-the-sky stuff is too much of a visual cliche, this could have been improved by not clipping the top.

 

[Pejacre]

Lew's edit really makes the shot better. All I can add is maybe to tidy up the featured plant before shooting - those bits sticking out bug me - this is badly done but you get the idea.

 

[AlanKlein84]

Lew's really does fix it up. Gets rid of the too much dark space at the bottom at restores the plant tip. (How did you do that Lew?)

 

[shaylou]

I think this is a good example of when the rule of thirds would of helped. IMO there is too much room or open space on the right side and also on the bottom. Also agree that the top being cut off really hurts it. One thing that I always try to do is look all the way around the frame before I take the shot. This makes me responsible for everything that is within the frame.

I hope that helps.

 

[The_Traveler]

Lew's really does fix it up. Gets rid of the too much dark space at the bottom at restores the plant tip. (How did you do that Lew?)

This is easily done a couple of ways but certainly the very easiest is using content aware fill

First use the crop tool to extend the image and reframe it.

Then define and copy a sizeable chunk including the space to be filled and the abutting area you want to use as a model to a new layer - AND SHUT OFF THE BASE LAYER so it is not considered in the calculations.

Most important - erase the parts you don't want to be considered in the content calculations. This can be done roughly with no harm

Then reselect the area you want filled and do a 'content aware fill' (Shift F5) and that will give you a potential fill. If you don't like it, try again.

When you get one you like, turn on the base layer and merge the two layers.

Now use a channel mask to isolate another leaf end, select and copy that to a new layer and move it into place.

I copied the green channel.

using levels and curves adjustments I made this into a perfect mask to cut out a piece of another leaf end.
For more detail on making and using channel masks, do a search for tutorials.
They are incredibly useful for making finely detailed and even fast masks.

 

[tcarson]

Wow, you guys are fantastic. I consider myself a 'noob' with photography and photoshop stuff. I did take a photog class in high school, but it was probably the biggest waste of time as far as time spent in classroom to what I learned ratio. I'd like to get into photoshop and start playing around with it, because just from what Lew did you can tell what magic photoshop can do to a photo.

Thank you all for the feedback! It is very much appreciated!!

 

[astroNikon]

I'm looking at buying Photoshop Express ... the full version of PS is too much $$$ ... I'm blaming Lew on this purchase ...

 

[tcarson]

Seriously though... after I buy a new camera, my next splurge will be on PS.