October Sunrise

[jmartin325]

Hello everyone - new to the forum - simply looking for constructive feedback/comments on this one.

Thanks!

Jay

Camera: Canon
Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/20 sec
Aperture: 10.0
Focal Length: 18mm
Flash Used: No

[LeeIs]

The colours are nice but the shot overall suffers from softness. The large black foreground also I think hurts it. There's something about it that I can't put my fingers on that bothers me about this.

[jmartin325]

Thx for the feedback Liban. This image is SOOC, and I agree it is soft - all I did was convert it from raw to .jpg, and resized it per forum attachment limits - it was also taken using the kit lens that came with my XSi - not the greatest lens of course, but it's the widest one I've got. Appreciate the critique!

Jay

[OldClicker]

I agree that there is too much black at the bottom. Also, maybe try playing with the positions of those three prominent electric poles by cropping - more symmetry, less??? – TF

[jmartin325]

Thx TF - how about now? I didn't crop too much off the right so as to not lose some of the highlights in the sky on that side. It doesn't make the poles symetrical within the shot, but I still like it like this, and it removes a good portion of black at bottom. I also very slightly straightened the shot so the poles are pointed straight up, as well as applied a bit of sharpening.

[JoshD]

Was this shot taken without a tripod? I am guessing it was. 1/20 is kind of pushing it as far as clear sharp shots via handheld, especially at night.

The clouds are great though, love the reflection on the water. Very cool.

BTW, I used that 18-55 kit lens when I got my XSi, for almost a year. It is actually a pretty darn good lens for being a "kit lens", once you get some practice with it. I took some great shots with it.

[jmartin325]

Thx Josh - Surprisingly, no tripod, I hand held it believe it or not - the lens has IS, as you know, otherwise I could not have gotten away without the tripod at that slow a shutter. I'm slowly upgrading lenses (no L's yet), and considering a body upgrade, but cutting my teeth on the XSi has been a great learning experience.

[LeeIs]

Your edit is definitely much better than the original. big improvement.

[JoshD]

Thx Josh - Surprisingly, no tripod, I hand held it believe it or not - the lens has IS, as you know, otherwise I could not have gotten away without the tripod at that slow a shutter. I'm slowly upgrading lenses (no L's yet), and considering a body upgrade, but cutting my teeth on the XSi has been a great learning experience.

I would upgrade your lenses before the body itself. The camera itself is great, in my opinion, just add some better lenses.

[jmartin325]

Thx Liban - I agree, the edit is a definite improvement.

Josh, I'm actually already going down that road - just recently purchased an 85mm f/1.8 USM prime, and loving it. I have yet, however, to go down the pricey L road...Considering going to a FF body too - like 5d Mark II. I know good glass will be important with FF and higher res. I'm avoiding the EF-S line in case I do end up with a FF body.