Fred Hartman Bridge Sunset

[Fishn2photog]

Here's a shot I took of Saturday 9-25-2010's sunset over looking the Fred Hartman Bridge.

I know I need improvement, so feedback is welcome.

Thanks :)

[rab3rd]

Id crop it starting at the line created by the orange. In other words get rid of the blue sky and the bright area of clouds. Personally I find that portion of the picture distracting.

[Shane Jennings]

I prefer the blue sky and brightly-lit clouds myself. Maybe a touch of "Recovery" in Lightroom to draw any detail that may still be there in the almost blown-out highlights would be helpful. Other than that, it's beautiful!

[rab3rd]

cropped like so...

[rab3rd]

I think the sky and the bridge compete with each other compositonally speaking.

[Fishn2photog]

I was trying to keep the proportions correct for print. That is why I didn't crop it more. Although I agree, the cropped version looks better.

I don't have lightroom or anything like that. I have gimp the free download and don't actually even know how to use it yet. Post processing is where I am weak.
I do however want to learn more of every aspect.

Thank you so much for your feedback and comments. :)

[rab3rd]

The less you learn to lean on PP the better... ;-) Get it right in the camera...

[the kid]

I like it just the way it is. The space upper left provides a little relief and gives the rest of the image nice movement. Beautiful shot. I think any other changes are nitpicking or debatable. The crop to horizontal by rab splits the frame in an interesting way and is another way to go.

[Fishn2photog]

Thanks so much.
I was trying out my new lens and everything in Manual Mode.
It's all trial and error right now. Sometimes things work and sometimes they don't.

I appreciate the feedback guys.

[rab3rd]

Please dont get me wrong in my feedback, the picture is a very nice one. I just thought the compostion could be improved a little.

[Fishn2photog]

Oh no, it's all good and thank you.

I like the cropped look better myself. Just got stuck in the mindset that it needed to fit a conventional print size. But I guess that isn't always the case. Or doesn't have to be.

[rab3rd]

Depends on who you ask really. Some say cropping is the devils work, others say cropping is ok. I fought against it when I first started shooting cause I though it was like fibbing. Now I have no problem cropping a picture if I think it makes the compostion better. As far as printing goes, odd sized pictures are what matting is for. :-)

[rab3rd]

I worked in a frame shop while going to college so I cut all my own mats now and do all my own framing. Its really pretty easy. Saves you a boat load of money too. Frame shop prices are insane...

[Houston-X]

I like the first pic but if your main object is the bridge I think the cropped version looks better.

[venchka]

There are no "conventional" print sizes. Your crop appears to be 1:3. If not, try that. It is a classic print size. 7x17 is another classic wide format size. If you have Lightroom, aspect ratios are easy to set and Lightroom remembers them. I crop practically everything to 5x7 unless the composition dictates something else.
The subject is a natural for exposure blending.