Eye 4 it

Using a Sony a55 on the automatic sunset mode this is what I get. Granted, the color was magnificent. These are not cropped or retouched. 2 questions: 1) Is this too much color for a sunset? 2) What is the general rule for where the horizon should be on the picture...bottom, middle or top of the shot...or is it just preference?

Candlewood Lake


Candlewood Lake


Indian River

Timarron Loc: Southwest

You will no doubt get a few people referencing our old friend the Rule of Thirds, but I think it is all about preference as well as the subject. For example, if there is a great reflection, with color in both the sky and water, I think a horizon right in the middle is perfectly fine. However, if the sky is where all the color is, then that should probably be two-thirds or so of the photo.

As far as color goes, if it is naturally brilliant or vibrant, by no means should you tone it DOWN. Bottom line, if it looks good to you, then it is just fine.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Ordinarily I don't comment on sunsets probably due to my color blindness but I think these are very well done. Yeah, you gotta' pay attention to the rule of 3rd's here.

The bottom one is dynamite! Probably a wall hanger.( you may want to lose the bird) Oh, and how can you screw up a photo when you use a Sony?

Can you re-post the bottom one by ticking on "store original"? This way we can hit "download" and see a bigger image. Thanks.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

The colors look great to me...nice.

Yes...I'm going to mention the rule of thirds. It's not IRON CLAD as was mentioned but it exists because some person a loooonnnnngggg time ago realized that humans gravitate towards "thirds" distributions...i.e. put the horizon on the upper 1/3 line of the photo or the lower 1/3 line and GENERALLY it will be more visually appealing.

You decide that according to which is more important...the sky or the water...(or other considerations like stuff in the frame that shouldn't be there)


The thirds rule also goes to "numbers of objects"....we LIKE (for some reason) odd numbers of things in a frame...i.e. 3 ducks as opposed to 2 ducks....etc.

As the poster above said...nobody will shoot you if you crop in the center but it's good to know the rules and use them as a good guide and then you can break them when you understand why they are there and how breaking them improves your photo specifically instead of just willy nilly or by accident because you didn't know this principle.


I hope that helps...these are two more good shots you've taken! Keep it up.

PS: I was bored so i took your first shot and superimposed the 3rds grid on it and cropped it...can I post it here to illustrate the difference?

vislp Loc: Level Pebble

They all look good to me. The only thing I would suggest is to crop the limbs and lines out of number 2. The color is fantastic! I have some photos that I took at a local State Park lake that are like these, full of color. They were right after a storm that went through the area. It left the sky with some magnificent color. (also straight out of the camera) They're much like yours, silhouetted. I could post a couple of mine if you'd like to see them.

VisLP

Eye 4 it

Sure!

Eye 4 it

Sure! I'd love to see it.

Eye 4 it

That would be great...thanks!

Eye 4 it

I will repost. Thanks for the tips. I am just getting to know my Sony. Change is hard for me. ;-)

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Change is good. I think you will learn to love this camera and all of its' capabilities.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Ok....this is an illustration of what the rule is and the second shot is your picture crop at 3rds.

The sun is at a 1/3 junction point.

the hut is also.

the horizon is at a 1/3 line.

I chose to crop the sky because it started to wash out a bit at the top...

You can decide if you think that the "center-of-the-photo-horizon" crop is better or the "upper 1/3" crop is...it's up to you...I was just explaining it for you.

this is the crop grid in Lightroom...you can see the elements on the photo lining up with the 1/3 crop lines

Eye 4 it

3rd photo with stored original option

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

O.K. A couple of things here. As you can see, the rule of 3rd's was well demonstrated. However, I wonder if it should be applied in this case because the entirety of the sky adds to the photo in my opinion. I would like to see what others have to say about it because I am usually wrong. I still think you need to lose the bird because I think it still detracts from the photo.

Very important!!! You have spots on your sensor or lens. You need to correct this. It is not difficult. If you do not know how, take it to a camera store and they will show you how.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

One last comment about this picture now that you've uploaded the original.

The "small res" size posted in the OP does NOT do this image justice at all...

It really sings at full res and it's even more impressive seen large...

good shot...it really is.

Eye 4 it

Thanks for the spot warning. I usually chalk it up to my kids touching my computer screen for the spotty look sometimes. I really hate changing lenses because I feel like dust is floating everywhere all the time and it's bound to land in my camera. I guess it did. Rats! I don't know enough about any of this to touch the inside of my camera.