Sunset photo, not like I like... Help??

Hey guys, well just a little while ago I walked upstairs only to notice the blueness of the sky outside as the sun was setting. I quickly ran upstairs, changed some setting, and ran outside to catch a photo. This is the result:

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

This is more of a dusk shot than sunset as there is no hint of sun in the shot. However, that's not answering the question!

Your settings need to change for better results.

Rule number 1 when it is this dark is to use a tripod with a shutter release cable or self timer - this is to reduce the amound of camera shake and therefore reduces blurring.

Next is to get a higher Aperture value - somewhere between f/8 - f/16 for a greater depth of field.

Now, you also need to reduce your ISO. You don't need a fast shutter speed because you have your camera mounted on a tripod and there are no moving objects in your shot. Drop your ISO all the way down to 100. At 1600 ISO you are almost guaranteed to get noise, which shows in your shot. Noise reduction software helps get rid of noise but you also sacrifice detail and sharpness so try not to use it if you can.

Shooting in RAW is also good for bringing out more detail and colour when processing so try to use that too.

You'll have to experiment with different shutter speeds as these we cannot tell you

See how it goes and show us what you get. Good luck!

Cole_Schmitt,
Well for one you are wrong!
Jpeg is not probably a big reason, the one who set the camera is. As the photo is extremely under exposed!

Obviously a much smaller aperture would help have more in focus. Also like michaelgreen78 said a much longer exposure with a tripod and shutter release cable or set on timer with a much lower ISO would give better results.

Just my opinion of course

Tripod. That's the key word here. You needed a good one, which would open the door to making the other revisions suggested, including

- lower ISO
- smaller aperture
- higher exposure

Images need enough exposure to provide a range of values. This one is probably not much different in terms of conditions than yours, but there are some back-lit clouds on the horizon that are bright highlights.

tripod, tripod, tripod.

1. Seeing as you didn't mention you had a tripod, handholding a lens with 1/4th shutter speed is IMPOSSIBLE to get in focus shots.
2. ISO 1600, and a shutter speed of 1/4th, it must of been extremely dark, this is where a tripod and remote release come into play.
3. Use an aperture of F/8 to F/16 as mentioned already as this will get more in focus.

The main reason your photo looks dull is because of camera shake (low shutter speed) and it is severely underexposed.

Landscape rule #1: Tripod & remote release
Landscape rule #2: ISO 100

Hope i helped!

I did use a tripod.
I figured out my problem was that I was using a low aperture but I now know that using somewhere around f/11 will allow me to keep the whole picture on focus. Thanks guys!