Landscape Spanish Sunset

paulelescoces · 01-18-2010, 03:21 PM

Hi All, first critique here... also first image uploaded so apologies if I do something wrong.

The linked image was taken this weekend, had a wonderful sunset. Other than straightening have done no PP, interested to know how I would make it better.

full size image available on Picassa.

Álbumes web de Picasa - paulg_scotland

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Last edited by paulelescoces; 01-18-2010 at 03:42 PM.

jimH · 01-18-2010, 04:38 PM

That's a beautiful sunset picture! A fun photo!

Jimbo · 01-18-2010, 04:46 PM

The colors are excellent throughout the image. I may have cropped the top off slightly to try to keep the horizon not in the center. The exposure is dead on. I may have increase the saturation slightly to add a little mood but thats me. Was it the right place at the right time or did you get there and wait for it? JIM

Jimbo · 01-18-2010, 04:47 PM

Forget what I said about pumping up the saturation. Its fine. JIM

goddo31 · 01-18-2010, 10:47 PM

This is a nice image

IMO, cropping a bit off the bottom - so that the water comes out of the bottom left corner would help. Then *maybe* cropping the top to suit, or maybe not - I think that's a bit more subjective.

In any case you've got something pretty good to work from.

paulelescoces · 01-19-2010, 12:33 AM

Thanks for the critique this far. I actually have many variations of this same shot with slightly different crops, I will have a look this evening and see how they compare when I relook.

On the saturation, I was actually unsure myself... on these types of shots I would typically boost saturation to increase the effect... reality is that this night the sunset was so strong that I was actually thinking at one stage to dial it down... I was a bit concerned that it maybe looked artificial, Real life was actually very close to what I see in this shot.

On Jimbos question if we waited... spent the day in the area and then a walk around here sometime before sunset... had some intentions of taking sunset shots When I took this shot we were actually walking back to the car, was actually a bit dissapointed at first, the sunset started very weak... although in the space of only around 10 minutes it changed to the amazing yellow/orange/red covering half the sky.

juu · 01-19-2010, 01:28 AM

Re: saturation I wanted to say you've oversaturated it in PP until I read that you haven't done it.

I think it is a great picture, I like how the dark sky on top contrasts with the orange sky below it.

What you might try is cropping the bottom to give a more traditional proportion between sky/earth and have the shore line come out of the corner and thus maybe be stronger.

Last edited by juu; 01-19-2010 at 01:17 PM.

paulelescoces · 01-19-2010, 12:43 PM

Hi All, thanks for the critique this far.

I have cropped the image so that the water enters at the lower left corner. Also in this format horizon is exacty 1/3 from the bottom of the image.
Not sure what i think... maybe need to go back to 50/50 by cropping more sky?

juu · 01-19-2010, 01:15 PM

Actually I meant to crop it like this, if you don't mind:

I like it better as I think it makes the diagonal stronger and makes the proportion between sky/earth a natural golden ratio. But that's just my opinion.

paulelescoces · 01-19-2010, 01:59 PM

Juu, i was actually in 2 minds when doing the last crop myself... you are right, is better as you have proposed. Thanks

01-19-2010, 12:33 AM	#6
paulelescoces Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Switzerland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 252 Original Poster	Thanks for the critique this far. I actually have many variations of this same shot with slightly different crops, I will have a look this evening and see how they compare when I relook. On the saturation, I was actually unsure myself... on these types of shots I would typically boost saturation to increase the effect... reality is that this night the sunset was so strong that I was actually thinking at one stage to dial it down... I was a bit concerned that it maybe looked artificial, Real life was actually very close to what I see in this shot. On Jimbos question if we waited... spent the day in the area and then a walk around here sometime before sunset... had some intentions of taking sunset shots When I took this shot we were actually walking back to the car, was actually a bit dissapointed at first, the sunset started very weak... although in the space of only around 10 minutes it changed to the amazing yellow/orange/red covering half the sky. Last edited by paulelescoces; 01-19-2010 at 12:47 AM.

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01-18-2010, 04:38 PM	#2
jimH Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Central Nebraska - USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,771	That's a beautiful sunset picture! A fun photo!

01-18-2010, 04:46 PM	#3
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	The colors are excellent throughout the image. I may have cropped the top off slightly to try to keep the horizon not in the center. The exposure is dead on. I may have increase the saturation slightly to add a little mood but thats me. Was it the right place at the right time or did you get there and wait for it? JIM

01-18-2010, 04:47 PM	#4
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	Forget what I said about pumping up the saturation. Its fine. JIM

01-18-2010, 10:47 PM	#5
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	This is a nice image IMO, cropping a bit off the bottom - so that the water comes out of the bottom left corner would help. Then maybe cropping the top to suit, or maybe not - I think that's a bit more subjective. In any case you've got something pretty good to work from.

01-19-2010, 01:28 AM	#7
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	Re: saturation I wanted to say you've oversaturated it in PP until I read that you haven't done it. I think it is a great picture, I like how the dark sky on top contrasts with the orange sky below it. What you might try is cropping the bottom to give a more traditional proportion between sky/earth and have the shore line come out of the corner and thus maybe be stronger. Last edited by juu; 01-19-2010 at 01:17 PM.

01-19-2010, 01:15 PM	#9
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	Actually I meant to crop it like this, if you don't mind: I like it better as I think it makes the diagonal stronger and makes the proportion between sky/earth a natural golden ratio. But that's just my opinion.

01-19-2010, 01:59 PM	#10
paulelescoces Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Switzerland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 252 Original Poster	Juu, i was actually in 2 minds when doing the last crop myself... you are right, is better as you have proposed. Thanks