Sunset at Anna Maria Island
by Ja-9

Comment by spiritualspatula:
Hello and greetings from the Critique Club-
Since I voted on this challenge, I will provide my vote and an explanation for it.
I gave your entry a 5. While you no doubt stumbled upon a gorgeous scene, it is quite another thing entirely to have a composition with a sunset that strengthens it (it̢۪s quite difficult, in my opinion). It seems as though you wanted to convey the greater scene and context a bit here, but it is somewhat incomplete because the water is so dark and the beach is non-existent. Surely, it̢۪s there, but it is completely obscured. The tree also does not feel particularly relevant to the shot, it not having a conceptual connection to the ocean nor the sky, which is compounded by the fact that it is a very strong element in the scene. It is so strong as to dominate and subvert the sunset, which is what you wanted your subject to be. A focus on the sunset itself as the subject would benefit things, in my opinion. It is also, of course, notoriously difficult to enter sunset photos here at DPC, owing to the laurelled history of the subject matter, so there̢۪s that too. Not a bad shot by any means, but lacking something to set it apart from the others.

Navajo Spirit Rising
by Ja-9

Comment by ytshuva:
amazing light here!very powerful!

Sunset at Anna Maria Island
by Ja-9

Comment by Denise:
beautiful image, colors are amazing

Sunset at Anna Maria Island
by Ja-9

Comment by KarenNfld:
A gorgeous sunset, lovely rich colour.

Reflections
by Ja-9

Comment by dahlin:
I gave it a 9 when voting in May 2010, but somehow I've missed it when I've gone back in the past. Fantastic composition.

Sunset at Anna Maria Island
by Ja-9

Comment by SJCarter:
Breathtaking... Just beautiful.

DSC_7461-Edit
by Ja-9

Comment by Alicia:
Very nice. The colors are brilliant, so is the sharpness. The red stripe top and bottom leads the eye. I'd lose it. Perfect image for FS.

DSC_4658-Edit-Edit-Edit-2
by Ja-9

Comment by Alicia:
Still awesome, though.

DSC_4658-Edit-Edit-Edit-2
by Ja-9

Comment by Alicia:
I don't see any difference. I've clicked back and forth until my mouse was smoking.

Christ Church Established 1879
by Ja-9

Comment by bohemka:
Great processing to make this pop from the background. So crisp and clean. Tones are very nice and there's a special feel to this. Maybe not what you were going for, but it's a very cool photo.