umbrella by the beach (sunset)

[skyline315]

I posted this a while back before we got the new forum system here. i really wanted to go back and look at some of the comments, but it's gone, so i guess i'm out of luck. im very curious to get some feedback on it. does it evoke any positive feelings or is it just one of those pictures where it is what it is, and nothing special to talk about. would you change the composition? exposure? shot with my nikon n80 and 50mm f/1.8D lens on a tripod.

[pythag]

does it evoke any positive feelings or is it just one of those pictures where it is what it is

I can't really say whether it gives positive feelings or not. I guess in my mind I'm looking for the feelings of a sunset after a hot summers evening, but the picture doesn't really give that (and I don't know if that's what the picture is about anyway).

I did like the reflections of the railings - it kept the bottom area interesting. I found the way the umbrella was in line with horizon quite distracting though, I think slightly above (just enough to see some horizon below the umbrella) might have been better.

Do take my views with a pinch of salt though - I'm new to the world of photography and still don't really have the eye for a good shot.

[skyline315]

i agree about the ubrella line on the horizon. i love this picture, but that is my biggest complaint.

[mikehulsebus]

Whoa. Colors. I don't think you can get a much better exposure than that one.
Really there's a whole lot you can do with such a situation. A closer up shot of something could be cool if we can see the sunset through it or past it. You also could reflect something in that water that I see in the bottom right. Its not really the umrbella line as much as it is the umbrella being the only black thing on the top half. Just a matter of shooting a whole lotta stuff and figuring out which ones you like best.