First sunset C&C Appreciated

What could have been done to make this picture better? Opinions? Thanks

Exposure: 1/500
Aperture: f/5.6
Iso: 100
Program: Manual
Focus: Manual
Metering: Evaluative

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ekphotography/5​545496104/

A nice picture for sure, and having the sun in the frame makes it very difficult to pull off. Contrails are the bane of sunset/sunrise photographers..

If you can pull up more of the red/orange color in PP, I think the picture might be more compelling - the cloud textures are very nice, even with the contrails.

I have found that unless the air near the horizon is very thick (common in tropic oceans, less common elsewhere) you sometimes have to wait until the sun is at least partially blocked before you can get the full range of colors - otherwise, it's just too bright/strong and washes them out.

Wow! That is intense. I like that. Did you do any pp on it? Only thing I would suggest is to crop it a bit, I feel like there is a little too much space from the from the sun to the top.
Kinda like this.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Hartley wrote in post #12059672
A nice picture for sure, and having the sun in the frame makes it very difficult to pull off. Contrails are the bane of sunset/sunrise photographers..

If you can pull up more of the red/orange color in PP, I think the picture might be more compelling - the cloud textures are very nice, even with the contrails.

I have found that unless the air near the horizon is very thick (common in tropic oceans, less common elsewhere) you sometimes have to wait until the sun is at least partially blocked before you can get the full range of colors - otherwise, it's just too bright/strong and washes them out.

Thanks for the advice! I'll put that to practice next time I shoot a sunset. Here I bumped the reds and yellows, which I think had a positive effect. I also cloned out the sun. I'm kinda iffy about this change but figured I'd get someone Else's opinion before throwing away the idea. Is it too strange or obvious? Thanks again.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ekphotography/5​545826452/

MrJack787 wrote in post #12059689
Wow! That is intense. I like that. Did you do any pp on it? Only thing I would suggest is to crop it a bit, I feel like there is a little too much space from the from the sun to the top.
Kinda like this.

Thanks! No the first version includes some PP.

It's a nice shot, but I think it should be cropped do that the sun is bigger & not in thr center (although I am assuming your intent was the clouds/sky)

It's a nice shot. Love the colors. I just think it needs to be crop a little bit, like Mrjack did.

I like you edit without the sun,you could crop out the right side all together, leaving the "sun" offset.

I like it. It's nice and simple and the colours were adjusted nicely in post. However one thing about the PP that really stands out to me is you seem to have the clarity bumped up to full. It's noticable and is creating some shadowy artifacts around the clouds. Try bringing the clarity Waaaaayyy down, it's something to be used in moderation. Good start though, your PP isn't that bad and is on it's way!

ShaneKPhotography wrote in post #12059388
What could have been done to make this picture better? Opinions? Thanks

It's a nice picture but with something interesting silhouetted against that sky, maybe also covering most of the sun would make it a better picture imo. I know that doesn't help you improve this picture but maybe it will the next one you take.

edit: Just noticed the title... the acropolis is where you should have been taking that!

Thanks for all of the input guys!

andrew_patterson wrote in post #12061879
I like it. It's nice and simple and the colours were adjusted nicely in post. However one thing about the PP that really stands out to me is you seem to have the clarity bumped up to full. It's noticable and is creating some shadowy artifacts around the clouds. Try bringing the clarity Waaaaayyy down, it's something to be used in moderation. Good start though, your PP isn't that bad and is on it's way!

When I get home I'll try fixing this. Thanks.

binliner wrote in post #12061911
It's a nice picture but with something interesting silhouetted against that sky, maybe also covering most of the sun would make it a better picture imo. I know that doesn't help you improve this picture but maybe it will the next one you take.

edit: Just noticed the title... the acropolis is where you should have been taking that!

Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely consider it next time. And sorry for the confusion it's Athens, WV lol.

There are athens everywhere! including AL, TX, ME,LA, NY, OH, etc. lol

European mistake!

binliner wrote in post #12062362
European mistake!

It's quite understandable lol.

I like the colors. I tend to prefer that the sun isn't centered though.