Cold Sunset

This is my first HDR attempt, C/C welcome. I am just beginning to learn. I used Magic Lantern to shoot it.

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Well HDR aside, the photo looks very underexposed. The horizon is tilted. The subject isn't very compelling either. You have a weak foreground, a middleground that is uninteresting but takes up a decent chunk of the image, and an uninteresting background. Without these three elements properly balanced, a landscape is not going to work so well. Basically the top 1/3 of the image is bleak looking sky, the bottom 1/3 is underexposed snow with dead weeds, the middle 1/3 consists mostly of an uninteresting river and the only clear subject of interest is the lighthouse with the sun behind it and that takes up very little of the image. What were you trying to capture with this shot other than the sunset? It seems that the only other interesting element was an afterthought.

Wow! Ok, I guess I asked for that. Honestly, I am probably trying too many things at once while I try to learn more about photography. The sunset was my main "focus" and I thought the lighthouse added interest. I didn't know what to do with the foreground, I'll admit.

We barely see the sun in the winter here so bleak looking sky is all we get. I guess I will have to wait until spring or summer to get more interesting skies.

From your comments, it seems I need to back up a bit and get a good book or tutorial on basic composition.

Take a look at these two books, both good:

http://www.amazon.com …ds=understandin​g+exposure

http://www.amazon.com …earning+to+see+​creatively

With landscapes, what I tell people is that if it takes more than 3 or so words to describe what you were trying to capture with your shot, you need to revisit it.

Also what I tell people is that sometimes photography is about knowing when not to get out the camera and instead just enjoy the nature or place you are in. I go out many times where the light just never happens the way I want it to, and there is nothing you can do about it. At that point you can either get the camera out and take mediocre pictures, or you can just enjoy the scene and being out in nature. Or look for something else that what you wanted to capture which may present itself and be a better opportunity in the light that is available.

That said though, I took many bad photos and many mediocre photos before I myself learned that.

So is that a pier or something there in front of the lighthouse that you can walk on? You could setup there and make the lighthouse much bigger in the photo. Or is it not in front or not open to public? If so, throw on the 75-300 and zoom. Don't automatically assume that landscape photo = wide angle lens.

Thank you for the links. I will check them out. You make good points about trying to make something out of nothing. I am just so eager!

Yeah, I can walk on the pier. Since it was covered in ice, I didn't want to brave it so we drove around to the other side of the channel to get the lighthouse with the sunset. Again, I am realizing that I need to learn what makes a good shot.

Good point on the zoom. I kinda forget about it.

I do appreciate your help. I am looking forward to the day that I take photographs instead of snapshots.

Not a problem. Keep practicing and you'll get there. Feel free to message me if you have any questions, I enjoy helping other photographers get better.

I assume that is St. Joe, which is a great lighthouse to capture. If you live close you will have many great chances at shooting it in a good sunset, as well as the many marinas around there.

May be cool to try blocking the sun with either one of the buildings, as well as zooming in a bit to get a better feel for what they look like

Nowiser wrote in post #15557498
I assume that is St. Joe, which is a great lighthouse to capture. If you live close you will have many great chances at shooting it in a good sunset, as well as the many marinas around there.

It's actually Grand Haven.

Nowiser wrote in post #15557508
May be cool to try blocking the sun with either one of the buildings, as well as zooming in a bit to get a better feel for what they look like

Yea, I will keep trying different things. I do have a shot that I took with my xsi that I shot with the sun shining through the glass in the lighthouse. I was on the pier side for that one and now that I look back, it was a much better shot.

Thanks for the suggestions.

NewCreation wrote in post #15557063
Wow! Ok, I guess I asked for that. Honestly, I am probably trying too many things at once while I try to learn more about photography. The sunset was my main "focus" and I thought the lighthouse added interest. I didn't know what to do with the foreground, I'll admit.

We barely see the sun in the winter here so bleak looking sky is all we get. I guess I will have to wait until spring or summer to get more interesting skies.

From your comments, it seems I need to back up a bit and get a good book or tutorial on basic composition.

I'm guessing, but about 20 minutes after you took this the sky probably lit up like a laser show. Sometimes you don't have to get the sun in a sunset.

And the darkeness of the image leads me to believe that this wasn't a bracketed shot. From a single exposure?

If you had taken enough exposures to eak out the DR and waited for the sun to get below the horizon and throw pinks and purples onto those clouds I'll bet your image would have had a lot more interesting elements.

bpiper7 wrote in post #15564106
I'm guessing, but about 20 minutes after you took this the sky probably lit up like a laser show. Sometimes you don't have to get the sun in a sunset.

And the darkeness of the image leads me to believe that this wasn't a bracketed shot. From a single exposure?

If you had taken enough exposures to eak out the DR and waited for the sun to get below the horizon and throw pinks and purples onto those clouds I'll bet your image would have had a lot more interesting elements.

I was a bracketed shot but the light show never occutred. The best I got was just before it dipped below the cloud line. I am learning all the while though, so that's alright with me.

NewCreation wrote in post #15575064
but the light show never occutred. The best I got was just before it dipped below the cloud line.

<chuckle> I hate it when that happens.

I think its a very nice image. most photographers will scrutinze other work mainly because it was not their artistic view and the would have viewed it different. ie. Crop / Composition etc. if this is what you wanted and what you saw then great job.. keep pushing at it.