Backyard Sunset

[erikzen]

Something about this photo grabs me. I like that it seems geometric without being too symmetrical. The light on shows some kind of life.

On the other hand it kind of seems a bit ho-hum, like a "typical" sunset photo.

What do you think and how could it have been improved?

Thanks!

[hminx]

You could try cropping at roof top level and just leave the top of the trees silhouetted.
Doesn't a sky like this do your stress levels the world of good.

[erikzen]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll give that crop a try and see what it looks like.

One of the things I liked about the shot though was that it included a home and signs of life, like the car and the outdoor light. So many sunset shots are just of the sunset taken out of context. To me, having the home in the shot makes it a part of every day life and somehow that makes me more thankful for a beautiful sunset. "I'm just sitting here at home, with my family, on a typical Tuesday night, but right outside my window is nature in all her glory." It connects the sunset to man as opposed to some disconnected event. Or perhaps I'm just talking a lot of BS.

I also like how the reflection adds to the shot, but perhaps that makes it too busy.

I spent a week last month on vacation, staying at the house to the left of this one (it's behind the trees so you can't see it). It was right on the water, facing west so every night we had a gorgeous sunset, one more beautiful than the next. It was the least stressed out I've been in years!

[Frog]

I wouldn't crop it. I like the water and reflections and the silhouetted house roof too.
You might want to clone out that pole sticking up from the right side house or just clone the trees in to it and the light so it appears there is no house there. Oh! Then you'd have to do it in the water, too, and that might be a bit tricky.

[jetrim]

Composition is great, no need to crop. I do think a curves adjustment would make the colors in the sunset much more vibrant and give the shot that "punch" it needs.

[LeeIs]

lovely sky. I don't know. I think it's good the way it is. maybe some fill of the shadows to bring back a bit of detail to the dark area? if you shot this raw that might be something to try, but having said that, i like it just how it is.