REDMIRES AT DUSK

Sooty_1 (Critique Team)

2

17 Feb 2013 - 1:05 AM

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The problem with places like this is finding a way of holding the attention, or finding something interesting in the frame, in order to make one want to look at it.

In that respect, v1 is better, but not that much. V2 has nothing to really grab the attention, and to make matters worse, the sky is looking bland and so is the water. V1 has at least a little foreground, but it isn't very interesting, making you want to look past the fence and find something else.
Maybe you need to find a device to draw you into the picture, such as leading lines or geometric shapes, using the fences/hedgerows, shorelines, trees and hills. A long exposure would smooth the water for better reflections, and also allow the sky to double it's colour impact.

I'm sure the light was beautiful and it all seemed magical at the time, but it doesn't really come across. I wonder if you might have been better making more of the colour in the sky rather than the untidy blackness of the fence? I'm also guessing you hand held this, judging by the settings. Using a tripod allows you to use a smaller aperture and not worry about shutter speed, so you are freer to try different settings without compromising. Wide open, your lens doesn't perform at its best...stopping down to f/8 or f/11 would give better quality.

I'd try wider angles too and include more sky-it looks like it has more to contribute here, but your exposure has washed it out a little in an attempt to get texture in the shadows. Often useful to try exposures either side of the meter reading, as it can be fooled.

Hopefully, as its only five minutes away, you can go back when the light is good and try some more things...but don't stop shooting just because it gets dark. Some wonderful light and colour can happen when you think it's too late. Don't forget a torch!

Nick

Mike43 (e2 Member)

2

17 Feb 2013 - 10:14 AM

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As Nick mentioned above where is the subject matter to your shot?? and you are right you arrived 5/10mins to late, if the light is gone then there goes the shot, come back another day.
There is a lot of talk about how to take a good photograph, but every little about planning the shot, when I go out with my camera I know what I am after (Mind you most of the time I don,t get it) but I keep trying.
V2 is better apart from the fence, go back and retake them.
Mike.