O'ahu Waianae Coast

Aloha, I am new to this forum and new to photography. I took this picture yesterday around sunset. Just wondering what you all think. I took many more but for some reason I like this one.

Comments and suggestions most welcomed. Mahalo.

shutter: 3.2 seconds
f/Stop: 8
white balance: cloudy
ISO: 100
taken with 18-55mm lens, @18mm using the canon rebel xt.

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Welcome to the forums. It looks like an interesting place, and comment-wise, the photo has a blue colour cast to it. You could also give it more pop by adjusting the levels too. I've had a quick fiddle to show you what I mean, but I won't post it unless you say so as you have not enabled image editing in your CP.

Thanks. I don't have a problem with you posting it. I just did a quick check in the CP and did see anything about allowing image editing? I would enable it if I new how.

Thanks for the comment/help!

Here's a version of your photo with the colour cast removed, and the levels adjusted.

Clip on "User CP", and then "Edit Profile" from the options on the left. Scroll down the page, and in the "Additional Information" section, you'll see "Image edit and repost permission". Choose the "Yes" option.

That is much better. After I responded earlier I made some adjustments on the RAW file. This is what I did. But I like yours better.

Thanks!

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You're welcome! Your second image just needs a little tweak with the Levels option. There are three sliders on that option. Just drag the input shadows slider (the black one on the left) in towards the centre so that it lines up with the start of your histogram. Then move the output highlights slider (the white one on the right) in towards the centre until it lines up with the end of your histogram. You can then try tweaking the gamma slider (the grey one) slightly until you get a look you like.

I've atached an image for the levels for your revised image.

Thanks for all the help. I was able to correct my image accordingly thanks to your help.

What do you think of the shot from a subject perspective? Do you think it was a decent shot? It was taken just after sunset with the settings I mentioned above. The 18-55mm lens is all I have so far.

Assuming the subject is decent, how would you have taken the shot? What settings?

Is it common to have to make so many corrections to pictures or is that do to the photographer?

Would this be a boring picture?

A warm welcome to the forums, mcapper.
Its a lovely photograph, particularly after the post editing. In terms of composition, its very personal. I might have cropped some of the sky, I think. There's not a lot of detail in it and perhaps detracts from the hills and sea.

looking good bro!!

You're most welcome.

The composition is fine, and as Trevor mentioned perhaps a slight crop of the sky would give more focus on the interesting areas.

You may find that you'll have to do some cropping to make a stronger image, some rotating to ensure straight horizons, and some levels to give a photo more pop. Indeed exposure-wise on some of mine, I sometimes need to select several areas to adjust the levels in order to make a semi-decent photo. Finally, some unsharp masking can be useful, but make sure not to oversharpen. You'll also find that as you improve photographically, and make the correct composition and exposures when taking the photos in the first place, then the amount of post-processing will be minimal.

No, not at all.