Balanced Sunset

I took these shots a bit over a week ago. I found these balanced rock things someone had set-up so I figured they'd make some interesting foreground interest.

I'm not too sure how I like these overall. Honestly, I'm only really happy with 1 image, and another I am on the fence about leaning towards liking it. When I took the shots that night I remember feeling like these would turn out amazing. The image on the LCD looked great, but then I started editing after a while had passed and I didn't get that same feeling.

I'm curious what others think, and if there is anything I should have done different to be more appealing. Please offer some C&C if you have the time. Thanks.

1) I thought this would turn out spectacular, but after editing I'm not so sure. I know the moving clouds screwed me over a bit, and I fixed them a bit, but I dunno.

I like the last one because the log draws your eye to the sun, which is the point of interest in these photos. Concerning the others, your composition is good, but I feel they don't work as well since you are trying to have the rocks as the point of interest while they eye is naturally drawn to the sun since it is so dominating.

The last one for me too

Composition is pretty good

Woohoo, I've been there!

These shots are amazing. I really love how they make me feel. I believe the rocks balanced on each other was to signify that a love one was out fishing (I think) and it wished them a safe journey home.

Very Nice photos, I like them all very much.

Desolate America wrote in post #8661980
I like the last one because the log draws your eye to the sun, which is the point of interest in these photos. Concerning the others, your composition is good, but I feel they don't work as well since you are trying to have the rocks as the point of interest while they eye is naturally drawn to the sun since it is so dominating.

Good point about the dominate sun. It'll always be like that because it's a bright area. It's a hard balance.

nprdavid wrote in post #8662456
The last one for me too

Composition is pretty good

Thanks. I agree this one has the strongest composition.

24alpha wrote in post #8662484
Woohoo, I've been there!

These shots are amazing. I really love how they make me feel. I believe the rocks balanced on each other was to signify that a love one was out fishing (I think) and it wished them a safe journey home.

I've never heard that about the balanced rocks. There are literally hundreds of these things all over the beach usually. If you walk up and down the seawall you can find them all over the place.

stuman16 wrote in post #8662734
Very Nice photos, I like them all very much.

Thanks a lot. I appreciate the comment.

I think the composition of the last shot also. The tree leads the eye towards the horizon, which is great.
The first 2 are very good exposurewise, but i think the composition is just too busy.
In nr. 2, there seems to be a halo in the upper right corner.
But nonetheless, very nice images with the last one as a standout!
Thanks for sharing.

Wow. Amazing shots

wouter88 wrote in post #8664111
I think the composition of the last shot also. The tree leads the eye towards the horizon, which is great.
The first 2 are very good exposurewise, but i think the composition is just too busy.
In nr. 2, there seems to be a halo in the upper right corner.
But nonetheless, very nice images with the last one as a standout!
Thanks for sharing.

I agree about the busy composition, especially after viewing #2 for some time now. I really should have done something more to show better depth, and contrast the rocks better.

Yeah, I forgot about fixing that halo, so thanks for the reminder. I had to shift over the sky in one layer to fix the moving clouds, so that caused a few issues with my mask. I'll have to go back and paint that out.

Thanks for the comments.

acpstunts wrote in post #8665690
Wow. Amazing shots

Thank you.

I love #4, and am a big fan of #3 as well. I like the bright/hazy color in #2; it makes me want to squint, just like I would if I were really looking at the sunset like that .

Very nice job on these, and thanks for sharing them with us.

That last shot does it for me. It has everything; great foreground interest, nice composition, excellent colors in the sky and clouds and nice reflection of the sun!