Sunset Pictures

[jonpugsley]

Just wondering what you thought, what I could do better so on and so forth

The first is looking over Lago di Varese in Italy, and the second is sunset over the Reichstag in Berlin

[fx101]

The first one has a really nice pink tone, but the sky and the water are too soft and they seem to be one and the same. Depending on the resolution of the original, you might be able to really work and get something nice out of it in photoshop. The second I'm afraid is unsalvagable unless you shot raw. I assume you used center-weighted metering because the sun is exposed perfectly and the rest is severely underexposed. In situations like this make sure to use spot metering and aim at something other than the sun, then while the shutter is half-way pressed (usually how it works) aim normally and take the picture. I think some post-processing work will get the first one to something you will be proud of.

[MB1]

I like the pink one=I'd crop quite a bit of the foreground off until there was just a sliver of land showing. I'd tilt it until the horizon is level. I would crop off the left edge since I find the plants distracting. I would really like to see this one in a panaromic format.

[jonpugsley]

First of all, thanks to both of you
Ive attempted to take on board what you've said about the photos.
And with regards to the Berlin photo, ive attempted to improve it slightly, but it was difficult to get some reasonable detail into the foreground without losing the quality in the sun. I'll resize them both again and see what you think

[GB1]

The both have potential and are 'close.' The first is OK here, but I'm betting that with the more panoramic view that you see in person that it was a lot better. The second has some power to it. The geometrics seem to add structure and stability. But the sky is somewhat of a letdown and like FX has noted, there isn't much detail in the foreground. Still, there is something in the shot: Like the first, I think that subtly is hard to capture in photography -- sort of like going from a book to a movie.

GB