Night and Morning Low Clouds

[Coastal Flyer]

Every weather forecast in San Diego begins and ends with, "Night and Morning Low Clouds." The clouds do not last long but we begin and end each day with a marine influence. Here is tonight's layer just beginning to form.

CF

[danic]

Compositionally, it seems too centered, both vertically and horizontally, but perhaps you wanted it that way.

It seems like a really tough shot exposure wise, you have the bright lights from the freeway(?) and the dark bushland there as well. Perhaps a HDR is on the cards?

I do like it, but I think you shot under trying conditions. Just calling it how I see it

[Hexnut]

Balboa Park Bridge looking west?

[Coastal Flyer]

Danic/hexnut:

Thanks both for leaving a comment. Danic, you are correct it is tough exposure situation. The city of San Diego is surrounded by, and made up of canyons. This freeway runs between two hills forming a canyon into the dowtown (hexnut: yes, the Laurel Street Bridge looking west) so the location has the dark hill sides. What caught my eye as I was walking over the bridge is the low clouds lit by the city lights. It was an eerie sight that I thought was captured fairly well. What I was hoping viewers would appreciate is that I have the streaking lines of the freeway lights, but the clouds are not blurred or over exposed. But, I appreciate the feedback; this site is all about comments and critques and I appreciate any I can get.

CF

[Ron Kruger]

I think the composition, exposure, lighting, shutter speed and everything else is excellent. Not every scene should be off-center. In fact, I think that is overdone these days, just as centering every shot was overdone years ago. And this is a very dynamic shot already. HDR is not needed at all.
I think you captured it very well and can offer no constructive criticisms.

[Shebang]

I like the scene centered. But, I am curious - how would one compose this shot using the "thirds rule?"

[GB1]

CF - Nice shot in many ways. The composition is good and it's execution is mostly on. But there are a few glitches. There might be just a tad too much negative space on the sides, and the highway and signs are slightly over exposed. See what you can do in PP if the detail isn't gone. I like the city but wish there was one or two buildings rising above the others. The clouds and blue sky are nice but to be honest I think you got there a little too late, as I would like it better if they were brighter.

[Hexnut]

BTW.. Works for me.

[Coastal Flyer]

Thanks all very much for your comments. They all are very constructive and I will take them to heart. Great to hear from you all. Thanks again.

David

[jetrim]

David,
Not sure how this one got by me, but I like it. Have you tried framing it as a vertical oriented shot? I think it might work out even better.

[Don Schaeffer]

This is a one time shot that just is. The strange sort of static composition works for me. It tells a story of clumps stacked one atop the other, like heaven, earth, and underworld. I like it.

[Coastal Flyer]

Don/jetrim:

Thanks very much for leaving a comment. Don, interesting view you have on this shot. Makes me think a bit. Thanks again.

David

[Greg McCary]

CF I don't see this one as being centered. The lower portion of the buildings would be your horizon, it is just the trees are growing above it. If you crop this image you will only hurt an otherwise nice picture. Some detail in the trees left and right would be my only nit pick and are the signs in the lower portion sharp?

[JETA]

Oh boy. This one stopped me.

I'm really liking it. The only thing is there is so much solid black. Overall I really like this though. It makes me stop, look and study. I like photos that do that.

[Coastal Flyer]

Greg: Thanks for the comment regarding the centering. I didn't consider it centered either given the freeway; what is center? I have not yet printed this so it is hard to tell if the signs are as sharp as they need to be. But, I understand what you are saying. Thanks so much.

Jetta: I'm with you regarding the black, but I thought it was a positive given the subtle way the freeway lights bring the eye into the city, then the highlights of the clouds above. I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder. The other option is to shoot it vertical, which I also did, but the scene becomes entirely different. It loses something in my estimation.

Regardless, comments are great and I really enjoy getting feeback. Thanks so much.

David