Worshipping The Sun

[deejaykyle]

Well. Just something to start off my first post.

I'm inspired to take photographs of the sky, the clouds - thanks to someone I know who has sorta made me appreciate the little things in life people would otherwise not notice. I dedicate this to her. And of the many photos that I snap of the sky and the clouds most turn out to be unspectacular, some have potential but need some editing in Photoshop. However, one noon I decided to point my camera straight up 90 degrees and my heart shouted 'eureka'! I think this composition turned out surprisingly balanced and there are quite a few elements to engage anyone who comes across it. (This photo taken with -1/3 EV at 36mm equivalent focal length. No editing or cropping.)

C & C most welcome. (:

[wunderkind]

I have a little problem with a little X-shaped rainbow colored "structure" (reflection from the lens?) in the top left corner. It can be easily removed in Photoshop though.

[deejaykyle]

Originally Posted by wunderkind I have a little problem with a little X-shaped rainbow colored "structure" (reflection from the lens?) in the top left corner. It can be easily removed in Photoshop though.

Thanks for your comments, wunderkind. Well one of the first things that went through my mind the very first time I reviewed this shot as "what's this?". It didn't look like the lens flare I've seen before but I don't remember it appearing through my viewfinder too. I assume it's an artifact of the lens but it hasn't showed up in my other photos that day. I am also quite sure that my lens was clean. (I'm quite anal about it.) Back home I looked at it. I thought it should be left alone. Besides I'm crap at Photoshop and I convinced myself it was an interesting element (hey it's a mini rainbow!) and without it it would make the composition less instead of more. If I had enough time on my hands I'd try editing it to see how it would look without that x-shaped rainbow. For now I'm just learning to like the photo for what it is. Cheers and thanks for your comments again. (:

[eyes]

Originally Posted by wunderkind I have a little problem with a little X-shaped rainbow colored "structure" (reflection from the lens?) in the top left corner. It can be easily removed in Photoshop though.

That's the problem... nowadays people just used photoshop. Instead of improving their skills on the camera at the scene they slog their precious time on PC editing skills and end up becoming a graphic designer instead.

Try printing a edited image and chances are it will be caught when scrutinised under a common 8x scope- not to mention the industrial standard in 10-12x.

Back to C&C...

Your title suggest worshipping the sun which suggested your intent. So where is the worship? You need another subject to project this. As a photographer, chances are you are not part of the story so if you are the one who's worshipping the sun, you need to be in the frame, if not where's the point?

Just as you would like to keep the tailing rays by allowing more space at the bottom, you've created an unnecessary distraction of voidness.

Not including the main subject (ie. the Sun) is okay but the direction of the rays seem weak an impression as you cropped with rays angled too steep to nowhere.

As the clouds lacked volume and intensity, perhaps it is not a good idea to include the whole cloud as it only present a weak smoke up in the air.

As for the X, it's just a common lens flare created by stray lights bouncing around the barrel of the lens. Try a polarising filter or zoom in a little.

As a whole, this picture lacks drama and composition.

Sorry pal, this won't work for me.

[deejaykyle]

Guten abend!

From your comments I didn't think my message got out of the photo because:

1. It's not me who's "worshipping the sun". It's the clouds!
2. If you akin them to animated objects, it might be a dragon and a small dog in the form of those clouds.
3. The point is it's as if the clouds are worshipping the sun. According to psychologists we humans subconsciously look for faces or living objects we can identify with in seemingly unrelated things. So in this case it's the clouds. I'm pretty convinced that the average person can feel this coming to them when they look at the photo. Yeah.
4. I couldn't do anything about the rays. They just showed up. I'd prefer to have rays then none!
5. It won't be a "weak smoke" if you refer again to 3.
6. Drama is out because I just want people to feel relaxed (and happy) looking at this photo. Working with clouds, composition is a tricky thing to talk about.

This might not work for people because what they are looking for from the photo but be different from what I'm attempting to convey. As I've not succeeded in being able to directly communicate to people like you what I'm attempting to convey I've already failed in some parts. And I will work hard on that.

A big Danke for your comments nonetheless! (:

[JeeT77]

I think by T/S title, he is refering to the cloud forming a shape of a "sun worshipper" kneeling/praying to the "sun" as indicated by the rays of the sun...

It's a nice abstract shot... however i would try to use a circ-polariser to see if it could actually a richer blue sky/ whiter clouds... but of course I donno if that will actually cut down the rays as it is an integral part for the title of the pic.

I agree that there's a wee bit of "dead space" on the bottom...

my 2 cents. Keep shooting

[wunderkind]

Originally Posted by eyes That's the problem... nowadays people just used photoshop. Instead of improving their skills on the camera at the scene they slog their precious time on PC editing skills and end up becoming a graphic designer instead.

I do not think - which is of course only my personal opinion - that there is anything wrong being able to achieve a desired result (in this case a good shot) using a variety of approaches including simple image editing. Photoshop is just a tool to get what you want.

For example, a common problem of compact cameras is not being able to get a correct exposure when one has to shoot both brightly lit and very dark objects in the same frame. The only way to rescue such shots - and as a result to be able to see some or any details in shadows or to get clouds on the sky instead of white washed-out background - is to use 'Shadows/Highlight" correction in Photoshop.

And if one knows what to do it will take a minute or two to edit out this "structure" in Photoshop. Not much slogging of one's precious time.

Just my own opinion.

[deejaykyle]

Thanks JeeT77 for his comments. I try to bear in mind the "keep shooting" philosophy for myself too. And it does pay off. (:

Don't know if I should invest on that add-on for my camera. An adapter is needed to fit filters onto my camera.

Wunderkind, I agree with what you're saying about compacts like we use. But I have reservations that are justified by what 'eyes' said about being caught when "scrutinised under a common 8x scope". I tried to also imply I'm lazy about Photoshop and will only use it unless I'm sure it's really needed (hehe). Will be posting some of my other photos which have undergone some PS-tweaking. Really appreciate all of your C & C. (:

[Yatlapball]

Originally Posted by deejaykyle 2. If you akin them to animated objects, it might be a dragon and a small dog in the form of those clouds.

Now that you mentioned it, I *think* I can see it.

I don't agree with the negative space below either... Although I wouldn't recommend pointing your camera directly at the mid-day sun, the inclusion of the sun itself might have made it a better photo based on your title...

Oh and yes, I don't like that lens flare in this particular shot either. Maybe you would like to explain a little on why you think it adds to the composition rather than clutter it?

[tribal.snake]

not much of a composition...

[deejaykyle]

Originally Posted by Yatlapball Now that you mentioned it, I *think* I can see it. I don't agree with the negative space below either... Although I wouldn't recommend pointing your camera directly at the mid-day sun, the inclusion of the sun itself might have made it a better photo based on your title... Oh and yes, I don't like that lens flare in this particular shot either. Maybe you would like to explain a little on why you think it adds to the composition rather than clutter it?

Thanks for your comments. Due to the brightness I had to use the optical viewfinder and I'm glad I avoided looking at the sun! Well I'm sure the shot could do without the flare and it'll be good. I'm not entirely fine with it in the photo from the onset. I'll read up more on Photoshop before I attempt any editing though.

Not much of a composition. But then again it's only clouds. (: