Opinion Wanted, Please

Bryce Wilson

I'm spending a few days in Key West with my family and of course had to do the obligatory sunset shot. I am really happy with the composition of this one (took forever to get a seagull in the right place) but am having a difficult time deciding on a treatment for the finished item.

I like the one on the left, but it almost looks like a moon scene rather than a sunset scene. The one on the right looks like a sunset, but I'm uncertain about the lack of definition in the sun.

Please weigh in with your opinion.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60399337@N06/5595413018/&quot; title="Sunset Treatments by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5595413018_2b1da6c03d_b.jpg&quot; width="800" height="500" alt="Sunset Treatments"></a>

eoren1

The right for me...like the warm colors more than the muted ones to the left. Prefer the sun as it seems much larger and, again, warmer.

Sam

I like the image on the left better. You can warm it up and or change the color.

Sam

Stella7d

I like both of them!

scootog

Left...

Doug Solis

The right side definitely looks more like a warm sunset shot. As to the sun definition try to use a curve adj layer -pull the cruve diagonal to the left and up to way overbrighten the image, then fill the layer with black to hide all and come back with a brush and low low opacity and try to paint it in. start with a small circle and gradually make it larger to the size you want it. The key is small and low opacity painting, you may have to do this on two layers or first try and simply duplicate the layer after you have are done and see how that works. sky is very tricky to work with so, hopefully you can make it look natural.

SYMPL

I think the one on the left might make a nice B&W image.
I prefer the warmth of the one on the right as a colored image.

CameronMiller

I like the one on the right. The lack of definition in the sun shifts attention to the birds and boat. My eyes are drawn directly to the sun in the image on the left, and I feel this distracts from the image as a whole.

Looking_Searching

The colors of the right image...

With the original sun. That would be ideal! (IMO)

jpc

Right

Bryce Wilson

Thank-you everyone for taking the time to post a reply. It is appreciated.

Doug, being as I am somewhat digital manipulation challenged, I will work on your suggestion with this image and maybe even learn something.

For now, because of everyone's comments, and within my current "Photoshop" capabilities, I kind of decided to split the difference between the two original treatments and am somewhat satisfied with the result. Until I have time to play with Doug's suggestions, I am going with the following: