This is my first landscape post. It is a location I visit frequently and while not obvious in this image it is quite common to see a great sunset behind the old deserted pier. What I am looking for is advice on framing this image better. This is my first foray into landscape so there is probably a lot of room for improvement. Suggestions welcome.
My suggestions would be try bumping the exposure a tad, as it appears a bit underexposed, and you have some noise apparent in the blue sky that needs to be dealt with.
I agree that compositionally this looks good to me. As far as the noise and exposure, well, its there. But you effectively "saw" the image you want and I think that is the important thing. The tech stuff will follow just fine.
Paul
Just a quick description on the "tech stuff" related to this image.
I just got a 1d4 and was shooting wildlife at a national park with my 500/f4 around dusk. When the light got too low for birds and deer I headed back to my car and walked past this potential shot. I switched out the 500/f4 for my 16-35 II and captured a few images of this scene, guessing about the exposure. I mostly like to shoot f8 and 1/250 for this type of image; and use ISO changes for better exposure.
I would much rather use a tripod and bracket the images with a lower ISO for better exposure, but did not have time to walk back to the car and get my tripod before losing the light.
My experience has been that when I shoot a great red and gold sky there seems to be much more light and it is easier to get better exposures, but I was a little late getting to this location for the shot.
"Rule of thumb" Keep the horizon out of the middle of the frame. Use "Rule of thirds" and either take in more sky or more foreground.
Rules are meant to be broken though! So dont be afraid to try different things.
I would like to see your position a little lower, the horizon on the bottom third and the old pier stickin up into the colorful sky as it shrinks off into the distance.
-or-
Crop the sky and a bit of the right side to have the horizon on the top third then bump the exposure on the lower half.
Just my opinion, I would love to be in a location like that right now. We Just got 2 feet of snow, and are expecting about 20" more for tomorrow.
Good tips above. My quick suggestion for this shot, along Slay's thoughts, crop about 2/3 of the empty sky, to a pano format.
I like the line-up of pilings heading out to sea. Not bad for a quick hand-held shot. Normally for such a scene, I like longer exposures for cool effects on the water.
Next time.....
Welcome into the Landscape side. You have already gotten some great suggestions from the others, but a comment here in regards to your shutterspeed choice. Since you said that you had switched to the 16-35mm, there is no reason even handholding to have shot this at 1/250th. You could have easily handheld this at 1/50th and then used a lower ISO. And you can bracket even if you aren't using a tripod. Photoshop has a function to Align Layers, and you can use that when you handhold and there is slight movement in the camera.
It definately looks like you should be spending a bit more time shooting landscapes!
I often try and make the sky the dominate feature in the image, sometimes at the expense of the landscape. Unfortunately in this image the sky was way to clear.
Here are links to a couple of my previous images where I really liked the sky, the first two shot close to where the posted image was shot
I often try and make the sky the dominate feature in the image, sometimes at the expense of the landscape. Unfortunately in this image the sky was way to clear.
Here are links to a couple of my previous images where I really liked the sky, the first two shot close to where the posted image was shot
I quite like several of these!
http://www.pbase.com/tommy2guns/image/38085077/large
Personally, I'd crop just a little off the bottom. Not to meet some absurd 1/3 ratio, but just because - to my eye - the dark/black slightly overbalances the scene.
(IMO, having the arbitrary 'rule of thirds' bouncing around anywhere in your head is downright counterproductive, particularly when shooting sky/weather-scapes such as yours. Depending on foreground detail and shape, you seldom need more than a sliver of earth in the scene, just enough to 'ground' the image. Or go ahead and dead-center the horizon! They symmetry is often quite attractive. In short, take a long look at the scene, find a composition that nicely balances light, color, shapes, textures, etc., and shoot what looks good to your eye!)
