Still learning Sunsets

canon400d

I took this shot an hour ago over the Solway Firth, D & G Scotland. I used AEB and then put it through HDR Photomatix. I then tweaked it using Viveza plug-in as you will see from the second image. What are your views? Please tell me where I can improve these shots as I am damned determined to master these sunsets if at all possible.
Regards
Bob
1.

2.

canon400d

canon400d wrote:

I took this shot an hour ago over the Solway Firth, D & G Scotland. I used AEB and then put it through HDR Photomatix. I then tweaked it using Viveza plug-in as you will see from the second image. What are your views? Please tell me where I can improve these shots as I am damned determined to master these sunsets if at all possible.
Regards
Bob
1.

2.

Is this so bad I shouldn't have put it on here?

Huzband

As a nOOb here, I'd say no, it's not so bad that you shouldn't have posted it.

If you're "damned determined" to improve, I'd say this is the place to learn.

My take;

Composition is good, i.e., foreground is in the first third.

Sky is too orange. I'm all about saturation, but it needs to look real.

Water looks purple. Water's never purple. Probably a side effect of the sky being too orange.

I like seeing the color of the forescape in the second shot.

NorthernFocus

Don't take the lack of response personal, Bob. There is a good bit of traffic on the landscapes plus I think people just get tired of sunsets. I posted one a bit back with limited comment as well.

As for my comments, I find that due to the sheer number of sunrise/sunset images around, a colorful sky just doesn't get my interest any more. The real thing does, but not a photograph. The trick is finding that something different...

As to your image, I find the pre-HDR version more interesting. For one thing the HDR version just doesn't look natural. Secondly the grass in the immediate foreground is OOF which doesn't work for me. Increasing the contrast a bit on the clouds and darkening the foreground into a true silhouette would have improved the original image. If you can get down to the rocky beach, they usually work pretty well as foregrounds for a sunrise/sunset image

canon400d

articblooms wrote:

Don't take the lack of response personal, Bob. There is a good bit of traffic on the landscapes plus I think people just get tired of sunsets. I posted one a bit back with limited comment as well.

As for my comments, I find that due to the sheer number of sunrise/sunset images around, a colorful sky just doesn't get my interest any more. The real thing does, but not a photograph. The trick is finding that something different...

As to your image, I find the pre-HDR version more interesting. For one thing the HDR version just doesn't look natural. Secondly the grass in the immediate foreground is OOF which doesn't work for me. Increasing the contrast a bit on the clouds and darkening the foreground into a true silhouette would have improved the original image. If you can get down to the rocky beach, they usually work pretty well as foregrounds for a sunrise/sunset image

Thanks both for your comments which I have taken on board and truly appreciate. I did notice the grass on the second image was OOF. I will continue to try and improve if I possibly can.
Regards
Bob