Composition advice needed

Hi Grahame. The moon's position seems too low to me in the first image. I find the second one better because the moon looks higher and the clouds and reflection of the moon add to the scene. May be the scene would look nicer if the moon was a bit more to the RHS. I also like the pale orange color around the moon and in its reflection very much.

WOW; great :)

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Originally Posted by bnnrcn

Hi Grahame. The moon's position seems too low to me in the first image. I find the second one better because the moon looks higher and the clouds and reflection of the moon add to the scene. May be the scene would look nicer if the moon was a bit more to the RHS. I also like the pale orange color around the moon and in its reflection very much.

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Hi Binnur,

Agree with all you have said. The one of the pair that has the moon low I posted really as an example of how it was easier to achieve an overall exposure when the moons dimmer and the ambient lighting is greater but the picture has no soul to it, it's flat and boring.

The second of the pair is better, disregarding the moon position, in that we have the additional interest of the lighting around the moon and reflection in the water, neither are really enough to give good impact. Smoothing the water additionally depletes the impact of the reflection.

I still far prefer the first image in that we have a moon with detail, the tree reasonably lit and the muted sunset colour in the sky, but the water lets it down. If only I had also undertaken a long exposure for the water on this as well to blend in PP.

On a technical note and with respect to the very first shot (the one I like) I believe I know how I would tackle this if I get the chance again to make it easy;

Using 'Program Mode' take the exposure as in that shot 1/30s, f/8, or the one applicable at the time with overall lighting conditions. Then add the ND and simply adjust the 'Programe Mode' to set the Shutter speed you want for smooth water.

This would then give you an identical exposure (without having to think or aligning the meter) making it very simple to replace the bottom of the short exposure image with that of the long exposure image. The tree trunk in both images would be exposed identically.

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Originally Posted by Wavelength

WOW; great :)

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Thank you Nandakumar

If I had to choose one out of three, I would choose the very first one in post #1 too Grahame.

Though I agree about the very first one being best so far, I feel even stronger about your persistence in attempting to make an even better photo.

Hi Grahame,

Nevertheless, they are all lovely. I'm a little torn between the 1st and the 2nd as my favourite, simply because I love the dark blue tones and stark dark feeling conveyed in the 2nd image. Thank you for sharing a wonderful learning thread with some beautiful pics.

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Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

Though I agree about the very first one being best so far, I feel even stronger about your persistence in attempting to make an even better photo.

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Thank you Mike,

I've never tried shooting a scene previously using the moon so it's all a matter of experimentation. I have of course taken shots of the moon with a 200/300mm, said ok I have done that and binned them:)

Reading up further today and looking at examples there's another aspect I can explore and that's using the moons light (moon out of scene) to take a long exposure so I have a plan for tonight whilst it's at 98% waning gibious.

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Originally Posted by Brownbear

Hi Grahame,

Nevertheless, they are all lovely. I'm a little torn between the 1st and the 2nd as my favourite, simply because I love the dark blue tones and stark dark feeling conveyed in the 2nd image. Thank you for sharing a wonderful learning thread with some beautiful pics.

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Hi Christina,

Glad you liked them and as for sharing the experience hopefully some will find it useful, possibly get ideas from it and more importantly demonstrate that at times we have to think and plan whilst learning.

I like the original shot, the first one, the cloud of the second one of the pair below is most striking because of the clouds. I like the darker shot better between the two though the first one seems to show the overview of what else to come next, PP or real shot..too many variables...

I can't see any suggestions of a panorama shot with the moon further away on the right. It gives you another option if the setting allows it.

After all your efforts, I still prefer the first. Of the later two, I prefer the second. I cannot give reasons, just my general impressions.

John

I think all three are nice and for different reasons. However,that tree isn't going anywhere and the full moon comes monthly so you have many opportunities to get it exactly how you want :D

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Originally Posted by pnodrog

I can't see any suggestions of a panorama shot with the moon further away on the right. It gives you another option if the setting allows it.

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A panoramic view of this tree is fine if the sky/water areas enhance the overall scene. All of my very early morning shots of it have been panoramic because generally the sea is like glass and the pre sunset colours of the sky help to make the picture as well.

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Originally Posted by JohnRostron

After all your efforts, I still prefer the first. Of the later two, I prefer the second. I cannot give reasons, just my general impressions.

John

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Thanks John, I'm in agreement and there's not always a need to analyse why we prefer something.

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Originally Posted by Barbara Ponder

I think all three are nice and for different reasons. However,that tree isn't going anywhere and the full moon comes monthly so you have many opportunities to get it exactly how you want :D

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Thanks Barbara, hopefully that tree will remain and at times I have managed to get shots with a small fishing boat tied to it and other times I have been to it and found car tyres pushed over the branches:eek:

The best thing about that tree is that it's surroundings vary drastically, here's an example http://fijitime.smugmug.com/Fiji-Sce...apes/i-CDZHNpp