sea and sky at night

Taken with Canon 550D, Canon EFS 15-85mm

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having trouble reducing photo's down to only 150Kb and still holding physical size on here, any tips and ideas welcome.

If you have a flickr account, you can link them from your account and keep a good sized image.

That orange sky is spectacular! I'd prefer to see both images with a level horizon.

Thanks for sharing your photos.

The first one with the sailboat is way too overprocessed and oversaturated for my liking--there is too much contrast in the image. Also, I'm not really feeling the composition of that photo--it looks like a snapshot.

The second one, however, was great. I love it. I love the tones, and I love the "whirlpool" like clouds around the sun. I can definitely identify with the sunset image and it gives me a warm happy feeling.

Keep shooting photos like your second one!

First off, 'sea, sky and night' is not an easy combination! A lot to consider. So, good effort but a few comments.

#1 I agree with toastyphoto about the composition. A lot of sea at the bottom, which is largely obliterated by sunlight - maybe a polarising filter would've helped - and it looks like the sun was really strong.. possibly a bit too much contrast, so a lot of the sea is 'blown'. If you shot in raw, maybe ease back on the contrast? Also, a lot of sky at the top which is a bit bland. It's not dramatic, like in photo #2 unfortunately. In the middle, the land and the yacht, little detail in the land or the boat. Maybe darkening the entire scene and having a silhouette of the boat? And I think a landscape orientation may have been easier? On the plus side though, an interesting scene and if you'd got it right, could've been a great shot.

#2 Cracking scene, especially the sky... stunning! Straightening the horizon will make this a nice shot, as Messerschmittman said. The setting sun's a bit strong - taking this a few minutes later when the sun was behind that ridge could've made it even better - but otherwise, a really nice and interesting shot.

I love seascape shots - all us 'brits' have an affinity with them! - and especially at sunset, so I found both shots interesting. Keep shooting and posting them up here... I look forward to your next ones!

Im only gonna comment on the 1 that I like which is #2. Awesome point of view. Good colors and focus.
One thing you can do to make this shot better is get rid of the clutter in the bottom right of the photo. The sky is too beautiful to have to compete with distracting objects.

This is a quick edit with a slight crop for better composition.

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I see what you've done here whoty and to be honest, I'd probably have went for the same 'deserted' and desolate sea shore view if I'd taken the shot. But in this case, I'm not sure... I like the fact that people are still laying on the beach and in the water at sunset... it gives a feeling of... 'a place I want to be!'... warm, inviting and at night... I agree with cloning out the platform lower right, but I think maybe the people add to the shot in this instance? It's all subjective I suppose... nice edit tho'!

Definitely straighten the horizon tho'. A lovely shot!

Here's my take on it. I've straightened the horizon, dulled the sun, cropped a bit and removed the platform... just my opinion tho'.

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Thank's very much for your critique, appreciate it, I do like both edits, JimMcrae's just just snatches it for me as I think the people just give it a bit of detail. I'm just not up to your standards of your editing yet, especially the whole of the platform and fencing. Also still learning photoshop. Great editing.

The first one seems tilted
The second one is very nice. Great colors. It may not have been possible but I would like to see a comp from farther to the right so the curve of the shore is more towards the lower left corner of the frame. That (along with the great clouds) would really lead the eye in.