First image of 2013

[jeeperman]

Not to mention first sunset of 2013. Had to start out the new year with a good'ol college boy try.
Could have had a better bit of clouds and color, but I am happy with it.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice start to the year. I like them both. Checked out your SmugMug galleries. Some nice stuff in there.

Happy New Year.

[jeeperman]

Thank you Dan. Now that I come back and look, I think I have a slight green cast in the second that was not there before downsizing. Have to go check it out.

[dje]

Great composition Paul - the sweep of the freeway leading to the city and the mountains in the background. Well done. It's interesting to try different times of the evening for shots like this. Both images have their own appeal but I think I prefer light conditions in the first.

Dave

[Bobobird]

You have moved off birds to landscapes very easily.

Nicely done on these 2.

[gregj1763]

Nice work Paul, both are very nice. Well done.
Cheers, Greg

[jeeperman]

Thank you, Dave. The exposure on the lighter one was just a little bit tricky but I wanted the color in the sky and the light trails. The color came and went quickly while there was too much light out to get a long enough exposure for such long trails. I was happy to have worked it out as well as I did.

Thank you as well, Bobo. Moved off birds? Nah, just a little break while there are so few close and the light has not been super with solid cloud cover whenever I seem to have the time. There are many birds to come I am sure.

[jeeperman]

Thanks Greg.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Agreed. Fantastic photos Paul, a nice kick off for the new year. If I may suggest something, I would possibly consider cropping the tree off the left side of the images. Not a big deal, but I think it would remove a slight distraction. Other than that, beautiful work.

[Mike Buckley]

The soft, muted colors in the first one make it for me. I especially like how the pink color in the sky complements the red lights in the cars. Well done!

[jeeperman]

Thanks Matt, yeah that tree was a bit of a worry but....it is Seattle so I decided to leave it rather than lose the stadium which in itself is slightly distracting in the second image but again it is Seattle and I would be shot for not including it.

Thank you, Mike. The soft pastel light was kind of cool as the sun was still above the horizon the thin cloud cover helped colour the city for a short time. Although, the light did make the longer exposure for the light trails a bit tougher to achieve.

[tbob]

Both are good. I prefer the darker one. Purely a matter of my taste. I really like the fact you captured some cloud detail, really sets off the city nicely and provides another great element.
No problem with the tree, pretty unobtrusive.

[jeeperman]

Thanks Trevor, I think you are correct....with these it will likely be about ones taste as they are quite different in mood and appearance.