#47 My First Try--C&C Appreciated

slpollett

Well I really haven't had any great ideas for this theme yet. My 14-yr old daughter decided that a sunset would be just great and she knew just the spot to go. She convinced me to try it even though I really didn't want to do it, so off we went.

I'd appreciate any suggestions and/or feedback. Lordy knows I'm no pro--just a struggling hobbyist. I'd really like to improve these shots and I could use the help.

1. Day's End (version 1)


2. Day's End (Version 2--same as Version 1 but with a lens flare)



3. Day's End (Version 3--a little different angle plus my daughter waving bye to the sun)


4. Version 4 I wish the airplane's trail were more visible.


5. Version 5--the sun's a little lower & the sky is more blue


6. Version 6-- last peek of the sun


I think I would have preferred a night with a few clouds but we are forecast for clear skies all week. :dunno So, is any one of these worth keeping or do I hunt for some other idea?

Thanks everyone for looking and commenting.

Sherry

WhatSheSaw

I like the last. Try a crop to cut out the rectangle in the FG in the lower left. Or clone it out.

tinamarie52

I like the last one. My nit is that if you keep the horizon level, the tower is leaning. Try a crop with the tower straight and the horizon unlevel and see which feels better.

Chris

rteest42

I like!! (the last a bit better than the rest....) nice idea of ending...

AndMan

WhatSheSaw wrote:

I like the last. Try a crop to cut out the rectangle in the FG in the lower left. Or clone it out.

slpollett

Thanks to each of you. I like the last one too. The rectangle in the lower left front is a barn with the Texas flag painted on the side. I didn't think it showed up in the last one (my eyes didn't catch it), but it's definitely visible in #5.

I'm going to keep an eye on the sky and hope for one evening this week with a few clouds so I can try this again. I'd really like a more spectacular sunset than just a yellow/orange dot.

I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Thanks again.

Sherry

Kinkajou

I like #3, #5 and #6. Were you zoomed out more when you took #6? It seems like it's a wider shot than the first handful, and I like the tighter crop better, but all are really lovely

Tango

#2 for me

KevXman

#5 for me. The leaning windmill can be fixed using the perspective tool in Photoshop without having to tilt your horizon (if you want to). If you do, let me know and I'll show you how.
— Kevin

slpollett

Thanks Kinkajou, Aaron, & Kevin.

I have really mixed feelings about all these shots. I like & dislike each one for various reasons. I kind of like the last one the best, but the horizon is a little crooked. I was so careful in the other shots to insure that I had it straight, but as it got darker I couldn't see as well and didn't do a good job there at the end (lol).

I have a virus on my computer so I've had to move to my daughter's newer set-up for a few days. I didn't realize my monitor was so dark. When I moved to my daughter's bright monitor NOW I see that barn in everyshot, plus I see some car headlights that I missed before. Jeez, I know my eyes are bad, but I shouldn't have missed those. I thought I had that foreground darkened so that stuff didn't show.

Anyway, forecast includes some clouds Thursday evening so I'm going to try again. I'm also thinking of another idea that I might be able to try Friday.

Thanks again everyone for your comments. They really do help. Kevin, I tried playing with that perspective tool but I wasn't able to do what I wanted with it. I may take you up on that offer for a lesson! My photoshop skills are minimal, so I'm definitely willing to try something new.

Cheers,
Sherry

angevin1

slpollett wrote:

Thanks Kinkajou, Aaron, & Kevin.

I have really mixed feelings about all these shots. I like & dislike each one for various reasons. I kind of like the last one the best, but the horizon is a little crooked. I was so careful in the other shots to insure that I had it straight, but as it got darker I couldn't see as well and didn't do a good job there at the end (lol).

I have a virus on my computer so I've had to move to my daughter's newer set-up for a few days. I didn't realize my monitor was so dark. When I moved to my daughter's bright monitor NOW I see that barn in everyshot, plus I see some car headlights that I missed before. Jeez, I know my eyes are bad, but I shouldn't have missed those. I thought I had that foreground darkened so that stuff didn't show.

Anyway, forecast includes some clouds Thursday evening so I'm going to try again. I'm also thinking of another idea that I might be able to try Friday.

Thanks again everyone for your comments. They really do help. Kevin, I tried playing with that perspective tool but I wasn't able to do what I wanted with it. I may take you up on that offer for a lesson! My photoshop skills are minimal, so I'm definitely willing to try something new.

Cheers,
Sherry

I have to agree with the daughter, the location is neat.

Suggestion: Try the same locale, but this time include her and you silhouetted, standing side by side or in fact arms around each other side by side and watching the sun go down. Perhaps in like in the first photo or second and you two in the first lower left third. and use differing crops for the effect.

cheers,

travelways

I personally like "2. Day's End (Version 2--same as Version 1 but with a lens flare)"

leaforte

A lot of good elements, including your daughter. I would play with them all some more and see all the different possibilities. I Like the daughter element, but not so sure about "waving bye bye". Maybe just standing in awe. Bye bye seems understood. I would also like to see the windmill either face straight on or pointing full away (wind at your back, etc). These are all nice shots, thanks for sharing, and they follow the theme nicely.

slpollett

Thanks Tom, Tatiana, & Lea. Tom & Lea, I really like your suggestions for re-shoot. I'll have to see what I can come up with. The windmill is at the edge of a parking lot sort of close to a road. To get the setting sun in the background at a good angle for the windmill is a little tricky due to an embankment that has a drop off just about where you'd want to stand. I think I can work with it though.

I'll be able to reshoot without a problem, but I'm worried about what to do with them after I take them. My computer has a virus that I haven't been able to fix. I have all my image files on external drives, but photoshop is on the bad computer. :cry I don't know if I'll get it back in time. :cry :cry :cry

Finally in the mood to do photography again and my computer wants to give me grief!

Thanks again,
Sherry