Lido Beach, Sunset

[Kincaid Photo]

While attending a family reunion, my wife and I decided to sneak away for a Florida summer sunset. Boy am I glad I talked her into letting me take my gear.

Two very different concepts I was trying for. Both taken with my 1D3 and 16-35 II. As always, C & C would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[robonrome]

Wow, colours go POW!

[Kincaid Photo]

Originally Posted by robonrome

Wow, colours go POW!

Thanks. When I lived in California we had some pretty good sunsets. From what I can remember though, none were as colorful as this one. I was thinking of getting them printed on metallic paper, what do ya'll think?

[Kincaid Photo]

Hmmmm, either they are really good, and no one has criticism; or, more realistically, they are so bad they aren't worth the time. Could I at least get a "They suck, sell your gear newbie!" ?

[Cubix Rube]

Well...the sun is centered in the frame on the first shot. I'd like to see it in the right third. It also looks a little soft.

That white spot (moon?) in the second one is actually a bit distracting to me, and I think there's a lot of dead blue space. I'd like to see a crop of just the bottom half of this shot, so it was in landscape orientation.

Keep it up...and if you just get completely frustrated, just send all your gear to me!

[siejones]

I prefer the second one as it feels more like a painting.

The first one looks like it has technical problems. It's either motion blur from a slow shutter speed hand held or it's a HDR made of 2 exposures but there was movement between the exposures. Maybe that's something you were going for? but it doesnt work for me.

[Kincaid Photo]

Originally Posted by Cubix Rube

Well...the sun is centered in the frame on the first shot. I'd like to see it in the right third. It also looks a little soft.

That white spot (moon?) in the second one is actually a bit distracting to me, and I think there's a lot of dead blue space. I'd like to see a crop of just the bottom half of this shot, so it was in landscape orientation.

Keep it up...and if you just get completely frustrated, just send all your gear to me!

Thanks, this is what I was looking for.

I have some other frames of the first shot that have the sun off center right that I will work through and put one up. Same applies for the second shot, I have a few more that are in landscape orientation that I will go through.

[Kincaid Photo]

Originally Posted by siejones

I prefer the second one as it feels more like a painting.

The first one looks like it has technical problems. It's either motion blur from a slow shutter speed hand held or it's a HDR made of 2 exposures but there was movement between the exposures. Maybe that's something you were going for? but it doesnt work for me.

Thank you, I appreciate your honesty.

The first shot was a slow shutter speed, but it was on a tripod. Only one exposure. I was trying to time my shots between waves (standing in knee deep water to avoid getting people in the shot) and the tripod may have shifted because of a wave, although I had it dug in pretty well. I have several other shots of the first I will look through and post when I get home tonight.

[Kincaid Photo]

Take two:

[mykayel]

I have to learn how to do such wonderful sunset pictures... your colors are just amazing.

[Kincaid Photo]

Originally Posted by mykayel

I have to learn how to do such wonderful sunset pictures... your colors are just amazing.

Thanks! I am still learning this side of photography myself.

[jrader]

I'm going to be honest, so don't take it to heart.

It looks like you've overused the highlight/shadow tool, and maybe oversaturated. I can't tell. The last image is the only one that looks not overcooked in PS, but you have some sky issues in it as well. This may be because of the use of a polarizer across a wide angle, or that it is two images stitched together in which the images are two different exposures. I don't know, but it just doesn't look right to me. I would really like to see the originals if these aren't them.

I think you should keep shooting landscapes though. Practice makes perfect.

Just my 2 cents.

John

[Kincaid Photo]

Originally Posted by jrader

I'm going to be honest, so don't take it to heart.

It looks like you've overused the highlight/shadow tool, and maybe oversaturated. I can't tell. The last image is the only one that looks not overcooked in PS, but you have some sky issues in it as well. This may be because of the use of a polarizer across a wide angle, or that it is two images stitched together in which the images are two different exposures. I don't know, but it just doesn't look right to me. I would really like to see the originals if these aren't them.

I think you should keep shooting landscapes though. Practice makes perfect.

Just my 2 cents.

John

I can take it, and I appreciate honesty. I will post up the originals when I get home tomorrow. The only filter used on any of the shots was a Reverse GND. As for the sky in the last shot, The sun was just below the horizon, about 30 degrees out of camera view. (assuming that the issues you were talking about was the blue getting really dark across the sky.) I haven't stitched an image yet, don't have the PP skills to make it look right. (haven't even tried HDR...)

[Kincaid Photo]

Sorry for the delay all, been a really busy day.

The originals, straight from camera with no adjustment, crop, or otherwise from take two: (forgive the nastyness that was on the sensor. Couldn't see it in live view and wasn't about to open my camera up on the beach in the water!)

[rouxeny]

I like the 2nd one, it's almost a bit abstract.

Are you using a GND? I think it might help.