Hi Jason, I'll give it a go for you. Number 2 is much less visually interesting than Number 1, so I'll concentrate on Number 1 instead.
With regard to composition, both the focal point (sun) and the horizon line are located in the horizontal and vertical centers of the frame. You might try experimenting with the rule of thirds to see if you like the result better. With regard to leaves on the trees, solar flare has extinguished shadow detail and left the outlines of the leaves in less than sharp focus. The best feature of this shot is the dramatic sky. I would describe the emotional tone of this shot as "somber" or "moody," definitely a darker response from me (like in a horror film). But looking around the frame, I don't see anything that repeats that emotional response, like a sad forlorn looking something in the corner. In the end, I'm left with a bunch of leaves that aren't even growing in a wierd pattern. Maybe if you got closer and tried to find a different line (using a different camera angle) or a single branch to silhouette, I might have had a different response. Now, I don't mean to trash your shot because you obviously have an eye for flair -- I'm just not sure that this particular shot communicates your vision as well as it might otherwise. Overall, it's a decent shot that lacks a compelling element for a true "wow" factor. |
