Desert Sunset

[unmanedpilot]

Well Ive been here at POTN for a month and really haven't posted a shot yet so I figure its about time.

This is one I took a few weeks ago, and like it, but don't love it. I think the horizon is off as is the balance as the cactus and mountains seem to add weight to the right side. That's what I think anyway but would like to get some other opinions as well.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3614745129_bed3d41df0_o.jpg

The vignetting is from PP.. I'm really not sure why I put it there anyway... Oh and sorry about the lack of EXIF. Its something like F.8 and an appropriate shutter speed at ISO 800 (forgot to change after previous photo.)

[lindsaytblum]

First off, I really like the colors.

Secondly, because the left bottom corner is so dark and there are trees in the background, the left cactus loses attention. The cactus on the right is clearly visible, and much more interesting. I might try cropping out the left-hand cactus, and see how that looks.

I'm so jealous of the views people get in Arizona. I've only passed through Arizona while on a road trip from LA to back to Saint Louis, and we passed through before sunrise. I missed everything!!! :-(

[mattmainster]

Beautiful shot! I love how the colors in the sky come together.

[chopper5654]

personally, i would come more square-shaped with your crop....almost make it landscape instead of vertical. i think a lot of the darker sky loses meaning, and i would cut a third of it out...down to where the clouds start, or a bit farther. i would also bring the bottom up a bit to the point there is hardly any black at the bottom.

i love the color. your shot is well exposed for my tastes, and i like silhouettes, too. so, i think the shot works and the composition is fairly good. just in need of a little tweak.

however, i dont know how to take a pic and edit it and repost it, so i hope my words articulated the crop fairly well.

[DerekSimon]

I really like the idea but if it was me, I would crop this into a square. There's just too much to look at. I think that focusing on the catui would make it cleaner. Nice shot.

[philmar]

I would have used a landscape perspective and included more cacti - they are more interesting that the sky.

[elisesanchez]

The left cactus gets lost in the background trees. Maybe you could shift a little left, right, up, or down. I think the vignetting adds to the photo.

[jgrussell]

Try cropping it down to just above the cacti.

[unmanedpilot]

however, i dont know how to take a pic and edit it and repost it, so i hope my words articulated the crop fairly well.


No worries I understand what your saying!

I took the suggestions and made 2 crops:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/unmanedpilot/Cactussunsetcrop1.jpg

and

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/unmanedpilot/Cactussunsetcrop2.jpg

Obviously I straightened out #2, I think it brings the focus back to the cactus without the blank space. Which one I would use? Well I guess that depends on the situation. :D


Thanks for the input everyone!

And Arizona does have some amazing views, followed by long stretches of bland boring dirt and bushes :D Flasgstaff is by far my favorite part, however I'm stuck down in the south. But its cool... well rather hot really.. but nice down here :)

[lindsaytblum]

I really like the second, lone cactus cropped photo. Nice!