sunsets & trees

[crisscross]

a spectrum of mostly tree and a bit of sun to almost pure sun (broke it taking number 3; araldite worked structurally but the joint shows). Comments of all sorts invited.

[Bm7b5]

Very nice images.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Chris,

Were these taken this evening?

I noticed it was 'that kind of a sunset' whilst driving home from work. I should have stopped and got the camera out myself, but I had company who might not have appreciated that!

I can't decide on a favourite, they're all good compositions for differing reasons and I'd have been pleased to have taken any one of them myself.

Well done,

[Davey]

I like the blood red/orange hazy sun in 2 but got to say 4 is my favourite. I really like the angle and position of the sun beind the trees but not obscured. It looks sort of faked, but in a good way, almost like you've added the sun in pp photomanipulation. I say sort of faked look as it's still natural lookin' but my eyes don't expect to see the sun there so has an unexpected surreal feel to it.

Only thing I would change with pic 4 (which isn't possible in camera) is pull down the background treeline blacks a bit to make midway between what they are now and the foreground silhouetted trees. Just to increase the impact a bit, although might ruin the pic for many people. Does that make sense? Sorry I cannot explain very well.

When you say you had to araldite it, what are you refering to? I presume a lens filter but could have the wrong end of the stick. The amount of times araldite rapid has saved my boots when the soles have come off at inopportune times (not any more, my current boots have glued, screwed and stitched soles just to be sure ).

quick edit to show you what I meant, hope you don't mind.

I left your exif intact so my tweak prob wont show (other than I used cs4 in vista) so all i did is pulled mid/shadow curve down a little and added a sharpening mask to the trees directly in front of sun to make impact more and blur brushed over a few other bits.

[crisscross]

thank you all for kind comments

Dave: they are from 2 evenings, the 17th with distinct clouds, the 18th with only misting apart from cirrus higher up

Davey: I think you are right. So far a selection from a lot more possibles, now have an indication of which to work on further and how, thanks. The araldite was just a joke as if I was actually photographing a suspended light - there is a jet trail that makes it look broken. I use Evostick for boots.

[Dave Humphries]

Ah, the (araldited) penny drops!

Superglue is useless at high temperatures, so don't try that.

Cheers,

[Keith]

Nice shots Chris, what's that large orange disc?
I've seen that somewhere before!

[CNelson]

WOW! Very nice. Only suggestion I would have is to clone out that line on the bottom half of the moon on the fourth image.

Chuck

[Brigitte]

Very beautiful pictures.

[crisscross]

additional thanks Keith, Chuck & Brigitte
Still plenty of variations, a couple from tonight's show. Note use of our local rather small supply of reflective water

[Davey]

Aha now I see the araldite reference upon re-reading. Man I think I'm slow sometimes hehehehe. I read it in a completely different way and wondered what the hell you were talking about but now it's obvious when I re-read it. The fact most superglue doesn't work at most high temp doesn't necessarily apply to some AB epoxy glues like araldite since epoxy resins tend to be heat stable although they set quicker (many set underwater too making useful for swimming pool repairs, eg miliput epoxy putty). Still using them on the sun might be a touch over their effective temp range.

[wallyir]

Not wanting to racially profile myself but Australians know a thing or two about Sunrises and Sunsets (and being baked between them) My Aust opinion is that they are all too good ...... Fantasic Images ..Wally

[Brigitte]

Oh, that is balm for my romantic soul

regards,
Brigitte

[Yan Zhang]

The second picture are very nice, well done.