Lake in Millstream.

[marshall2]

Jay and I were out for a drive this evening when we came across this lake. It's not a very spectacular sunset, as we don't have many like that around here. Maybe 5 or 10 a year if we are lucky. I do not shoot much landscape or scenic stuff, But I really enjoyed shooting this.

Does the background being so out of focus work? What about the composition? All comments and critiques are welcome and much appreciated! Feel free to rip it apart.

http://www.photozo.com/album/data/507/0113.jpg

[eddie haskell]

Brad...I think it would work better, draw your attention to the reeds/grass, and the softness of the background not being an issue then, if you'd crop the bright sky down to the top of the clouds...

[marshall2]

Eddie, thank you.

I tried the crop. I'm not sure yet if I like it or not.

Any feedback is appreciated!

[traveler36]

Try it with just a small delineation above the cloud line. Your crop may be a tad too tight. JMO.

[WCW]

My eye want to go to the back of the frame so the grass is a distraction. It might of worked better if the SDF was reversed and the background was in focus ?

[marshall2]

Thanks Ron and WCW. WCW, I find the same thing. I've been working on it trying to improve it, but I think this will take a reshoot.

[PPPhoto]

Brad, let's see if I can say something new to add here.

Since it is a vertical, and the reeds are such a large percentage of the overall image, I think it's okay that the background of OOF. Your original works much better than the cropped version.

Now, or should it be "but", a lower angle, putting the color behind the reeds more, would help out. It might also be nice to have a bit of light on the reeds, but that might be a bit difficult without putting too much light there.

A horizontal image, with the background in focus, and much of the reeds eliminated, might be a stronger image, and more pleasing to most people.

Like they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat.

[marshall2]

Thanks for the great suggestions, Craig. Next time we get a colourful sunset, I plan on going back to try and improve upon this.

[yellalablady]

I think you have in essence two subjects, the sunset and the reeds. I find one or the other distracting. Since the reeds are in focus, I would crop the shot down on top to eliminate all of the sky. This would leave the reflection of the tree line and clouds in the water as a backdrop to the reeds. Remember this is just my opinion.