My first sunset

[depack]

As you can tell from the photo I'm a beginner and need a lot of advice. My first question is how did I get the extra yellow circle in the picture. Also, always welcome how I can improve on my shots.
Thanks for helping me out

[ozbuc]

This is from a amateur who is going to attempt his first sunset and other nightshots soon. Looks to me like you composed the shot pretty good mabye its some sort of reflection. But as I said I am an amateur, I am sure that more experienced folks will give a more informed critique.

[gahspidy]

Your framing of this is pretty good. The problem is the sun was up too high yet and completely burned out in the shot. To keep the sun exposed right, you would have had to reduce your exposure significantly to the point where everything else in the scene would be silhouettes with not details. The extra yellow circle in the picture could be lens flare which happens alot when shooting into the sunlight

[depack]

So what you are saying is the only thing I should do is wait until the sun goes down a little more? Thanks for your help.
Depack

[Frog]

I'd pay attention to Gary on the light and sun.
Compositionally, the mast/pole on left leads off screen and you have a bit of a mast on right which is also distracting.
Looks like a good photo spot.

[depack]

Thanks for the tip.This is a picture from our park so I can keep trying until I get it right.

[gahspidy]

So what you are saying is the only thing I should do is wait until the sun goes down a little more? Thanks for your help.
Depack

In this particular scene I would say either wait for it to go down some more or just expose for the sun which would have reduced your exposure time quite alot. Ideally, for a sunset with the sun in the sky like you have attempted, a large warm soft glowing sun that happens at certain times of the year mostly would be best. Also, some cloud formation around the sun diffusing the light and softening the intensity helps alot and also creates more interesting and dramatic colors and swirls to go along with the scene.

[depack]

Thanks for the helpful advice. I will try it and see what happens.

[GB1]

Not bad to me at all. I like the lighthouse and the verticals. They seemed to be well placed in the frame at the 1/3 inflection pts. The only bad part is the darkness of the boats. The sky color is pretty, like a sepia. Looks like lens flair to me btw

[depack]

Any advice how to fix the darkness of the boats. I appreciate you taking time to help a beginner

[GB1]

Any advice how to fix the darkness of the boats. I appreciate you taking time to help a beginner

A graduated neutral density (ND) filter. They're expensive, but often the only way to go.

The problem here is that the sun is so much brighter than the light reflecting/illuminating the boats.

The camera must set the exposure to only allow a small amount of light in due to the sun being so bright. This means that so little of the light from the boats is let in that they come out dark.

Add a graduated ND filter with the dark part of the filter up where the sun is. That will allow the lighting to even out more.

Otherwise, you could try to correct in Photoshop or something, using masks or other filters, but it may be difficult and/or may not come out very good. Always better to get it right at exposure time.

Good luck!

GB

[freygr]

Yes a graduated ND filter would help and you also have lens flare. The composition is good but for the timing. I would of waited until the sun was lower but then you would get more of a silhouette. I would check ebay, you can find inexpensive new Chinese (main land) filters but you need to also purchase the adapters and etc.

[gahspidy]

I don't think an ND filter will do much good in a shot exactly as this. an ND filter offers 1,2 stops maybe 3? to keep this sun from blowing out, I would imagine the exposure would have to be reduced at least 6 stops or more. most of the light house would be completely silhouetted anyway as it would be covered by the Nd filter.
Reducing exposure and making everything silhouettes may have been the best one could do at this moment.

[depack]

Thanks for all the advice. Since I am a beginner (I mean really a beginner) I think I need more practice before I go out and buy more lens. I need to get better with what I have and understand my camera more. Lots of the stuff I read on this site are way over my head but I am learning. I took some pictures tonight, let me know if I've improved and what I should work on next. Thanks Oh by the way, I took the easy advice and just shot them later with clouds!!

[GB1]

This shots are really pretty. Only additional advice I could give would be to not center the subject in the frame. I liked all four of your shots you posted.
GB

[depack]

Thanks, as I was looking at the pictures tonight, I remembered that I wasn't suppose to center them. I guess I cannot get anything by you guys!! I did remember not to put too much extra stuff in the pictures if you noticed that. See I do try and take advice from all of you.

[LeeIs]

Your last shots are gorgeous. I agree with GB1 on not 'always' centering the subject. I'd add to not 'always' fill your frame with it either. As you can see the last three subjects extend all the way from the top to the bottom of your frame. I'd give it some space.

As far as your first one, how about hiding the sun behind the lighthouse? that way you don't have to worry about burning it out. I always try to hide lights behind stuff.

Your shots are awesome for a "beginner"

[depack]

Thanks so much for the kind words. I thought they were the best pictures I did so far. Believe me, I've come along way since my first shot in December. I bought this camera to take shots of the girls basketball team without the slightest understanding of what shutter speed, ISO and aperture are. I owe so much to this site for helping me get to this point. Thanks for the tip about hiding the sun. I will try that for sure (I like the easy tips which I understand) I also will crop better and keep more space in the frame. That is a useful piece of advice. I'm going out later today to hopefully get a few good pictures.
Depack

[readingr]

I think the last three could be a nice tryptych with the lighter lightouse on the left then the sailing boat and then the last lighthouse.

Roger

[depack]

That's a great idea, I think I will do that.