Sunrise at Fairy Bower/Manly

[Geoff]

I've been recently inspired by the weather Sydney has been putting on lately..so the early bird catches a good sunrise!! Was there ready to go at 5:35am and I think it was worth it. The entire gallery can be seen at : http://geoffyates.smugmug.com/gallery/7162779_MW6vi#459724716_gYGXV

Comments/critique appreciated:

[Glen]

Very nice work Geoff, the early bird does catch the worm

[tommyg]

Love the colours in the first 2, especially the reflections off the water and the slightly different hues these show.

The last 2 appear a little over exposed to me, with the sky capturing my eye too quickly

[radar]

Geoff,

looks like you may be catching the bug

You got some beautiful colours in the sky and the nice reflection on the water. Looking at the exif of the photos, you had 1250 ISO. For me, you should have been shooting at a much lower ISO. Effect of that is that you would have had longer shutter speeds and then you get that nice silky water look. That's if you like that effect, all a matter of taste. Between 1 to 4 seconds would do it but you can adjust depending on your taste.

A few things to try on your next outing over there, zoom in on those "antlers" and isolate them in your composition, I think that would look nice. Also keep those horizons straight

Looking at your gallery, all the photos seem to be in landscape format. I like to do both landscape and portrait versions when I can. Sometimes back at the computer, the one version will actually be better and then you don't lose resolution for having to crop. BTW, I do like the last one, I don't mind the bright sky, gives it that de-saturated look. Certainly a lot easier to row downhill

Keep them coming,

Cheers,

André

[stubbsy]

Geoff

I oike all but the third which seems to lack a central focus point. #1 and #2 I'd give a grad ND in PP to darken the top and you'd have them nailed (I'd think about removing the light top right in #1 as well).

I like the look of #4 btw

[Geoff]

Thanks for the comments guys.
Radar, unfortunately by the time I got to the location I was in a bit of a hurry (had car trouble damn it!) and I had forgotten to reduce my ISO down to 200! Lessons eh?!

Horizons are something I definitely need to work on too!

A landscape shot in PORTRAIT orientation? Serious? I think I took one but didn't upload it cos I thought it looked s*&t

Tommy - I didn't feel the sky was too overdone (exposed) but can certainly see how you could think that, I did like the contrast. I think (as Wocka suggested) I need to invest in a grad filter or two.

Stubbsy - the third one doesn't really work but I was hoping that the railing would provide a 'leading line' kind of effect, but I don't think I succeeded this time around. I will clone out the light in the first one, and might even turn it into more of a pano style shot, just having a quick go then I think this could work.

Cheers.

[sirhc55]

Lovely pics Geoff and at a great time of day. Just remember you have a lovely wife at home

[Geoff]

Just remember you have a lovely wife at home

I know...I asked her if she wanted to come with me!