I know what you were striving for, I've tried it myself many times. However, the overall effect is harsh to the eye. The sun added interest, but it's still hard to look at without squinting. Maybe a small reduction in saturation and contrast will make it a little "softer"?
I've always been disappointed when I have tried to capture the mood and quality of beautiful light playing on the water, or sunsets as well. In order for these images to work there usually needs to be additional points of interest in the foreground, background or both. The sun adds some interest and focus, but not enough to work for me.
If you want to keep it very simple, which maybe works for you, I'd crop half the sky in the first image. There is nothing going on there. Then you have the pattern of light leading across the water to the most distant hill in the background.
Scott
ok thanks for your advice like i said im very new to this, these are my first atempts at sunsets, heres a couple others im really finding it hard getting the colours and crop right
thanks
ok, ideally id like the man in the foreground to be sharper and darker but i couldnt work it out how the crop? i didnt play with it in that respect thanks
You said you were having hard time with composition.
Heres some tips on composition.
Try to put the main subject in the 1/3 area around the picture (see rule of 1/3 with google) if this is confusing
In landscape, have the horizon at 1/3 or 2/3 depending on whether you are emphasixing the foreground or background
If a subject is in the picture try to have room in front of where he is moving.
Lanscapes are generally best when:
The orientation (lansccape vs portrait) matches the flow (big horizon =landscape, waterfall falling portrait)
Best to have foreground interest, lines leading into the middle to pique interest and a backgorund interest
Try to have it all fit together so that there is not a line cutting off one portion of the picture.
1 Horizon is too centreds (see tip above) and it leaves tension between sky and ocean. As sbeme says crop lots off top to improve. In addition it needs more interests in foreground (see above) and background (see above), as mentioned by auntipode.
2 would be better landscape (cause the lines are horizontal) and more space in front of where he is going. (see above)
3 the man does not complement the people in the water. they are action. he is thinking and for me this is not complementary. This guy would work watching the sunset. These people woudl work without the guy in lanscape mode (consistent with lines) with the tree to frame it.
Hope that helps. Lots of people think that following the rules is too formualaic but usually really good composers do follow the rules without thinking about it. And in any event, I have spent 15 years in karate where we first learned the basics and then we learned to be creative and I think most people need to follow this route or flounder a lot at the start, because in the real world basics are repeatable and dependable and allow you to be proficient while seeking to be different flex from the rules).
