First of all, a wonderful image and awesome capture. I've already added a comment, detailing advice to the composition and the contrast with the silhouetted foliage. More of the foliage would be more pleasing to the eye and a more solid black would create a greater impact. More contrast in the clouds would be nice as well, adding a bit of texture and depth to the background. I think the two best things in the image are the mast and the color. Such a wonderful glow in the sky, a unique, beautiful color that we almost never get to see (especially me...living in Seattle)and the mast makes a great interest point, breaking up the composition.
It is a very good shot, although I wish there was more of the silhouetted foliage, it seems a little unbalanced between the black and golden colors. It would also be nice if the black was a little more solidified to make it a more powerful and solid silhouette. I'm glad that you included the architectural man-made feature in the image because it gives the image lines that go in a vertical direction, breaking up the lines from the clouds and trees. Just as a side note, it would be so awesome if you found a location with more foliage, but thinned out to make it seem like there was black lace falling over the golden background. That would look SO cool.
Thank you very much for your comment, and especially your critique.
Based both on your comments, and that from PixlPhantasy, I will at some point go back to the same vantage point to get another shot. Will just have to wait for a day with the some good cloud formations.
Just two questions.
When you say more contrasts in the clouds, should I be looking for clouds with more depth, or should I be doing that in post processing? I have become very careful of not doing to much post processing, as it easily makes the photos look over manipulated, especially with contrast.
Regarding the foliage, how far up do you think it should fill? I am thinking it should fill the entire bottom third.
Just add a tad more in post-processing. It's hard to find perfect contrast just in nature unless you have reaaally good light. Mess with the proportions, you won't really know unless you see it. (I sometimes take 300 photographs just to get one.) You can always crop it later.
My first thought was going directly to the contrast controls, but that was not pretty. What actually helped in highlighting the clouds was adding more shadow to the clouds, which in hind though actually makes sense.
I have been focusing primarily on taking photos, and trying to find good shots. Think I will start to train give post processing some more. It definitely can make or break a photograph.
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