Langkawi Island

[devkumar]

Hi, I'm from Malaysia and new to this forum. Also an amateur photographer trying to improve on my photography. Attached is a photograph I snapped recently in the tropical island of Langkawi in the northern part of Malaysia.

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Mode: Av
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/16
Shutter: 1/50

I don't think the photo is sharp. I'm unsure if the photo would be vastly improved if an ND filter or polarizer was used. It was midday, the least appropriate time to take photos.

Some constructive feedback would be very much appreciated.

[n8]

Welcome aboard.
I agree that you could have used a polarizer in this to get some more blue and green out of it. You could have also maybe exposed for the sand, then popped some flash to fill the foliage on the left. If you have the software, I'd look at trying to bring down the exp on the right side.
Using a an nd filter would have been pointless...you could have just increased your shutter speed.
Good hdr candidate here

[LeeIs]

I think it has a really nice remote islan / LOST, kind of feel to it. love the framing on the left side. Also, i think it's a tad overexposed. Especially the sand. I understand the tree would've been darker if you exposed for the sand, but I think that would've been a better fix to brighten up the tree a bit rather than trying to fix the sand now. overall, good job, a very pleasing photo.

[GB1]

Welcome devkumar. Great location, and very decent composition. It makes me feel like I'm there, but that the beach is lonely.

Technically, the shot really suffers from blow out and extreme contrast. It appears that you exposed for the foreground tree and roots, but that this blew out the sand, water and sky. It's really hard to control contrast sometimes; polarizers and/or graduated neutral density (GND) filters can help. But I think that a scene like this is better taken later in the day, near sunset, or perhaps very early, up to an hour after sunrise. That really creates mood that you just can't get in mid-day, at least w/o people in the scene (a volleyball game, surfers, sunbathers, etc). Another technical note is to watch the tilt of the horizon, which is the water in this situation. Should be flat.

I keep thinking something should be in that big empty space on the right. But the fact that it's empty creates its own statement.

Anyway , welcome and hope to see more.

G

[devkumar]

Thank you very much for the all the feedback. Truly appreciate.

1) A polarizer would not have worked as it was midday. The sun was right above me. It would probably work if the sun was 90 degrees.
2) Agree that an ND filter too would not have worked.
3) I agree that the horizon is tilted. I chose not to straighten it in Photoshop as I wanted to submit the photo as it was.
4) Midday sun is unforgiving. I agree that the shot should have been taken later in the day. In this case I had no choice as I was at that particular spot for a short period during that time.
5) I have a few shots of the same scene with my family filling up the empty space. But the composition was not right.

I'll have to practice and practice till I get it right. I will also learn how to create HDR images.

Thanks again for the time in commenting on the photo.

[ScapeGrace]

I love this, so soothing. I can almost smell the ocean. I am considering trading in my 40d for the 60, how is it treating you? I've never had the privilege of seeing the ocean, here it looks so clean and pristine, and that sand! Gorgeous shot!