Opinions on a half moon?

[Skyclad]

Half moon taken 5/11/12 at 3:30 AM

Canon SX130IS
Shutter: 1/50
F:8.0
ISO:80

camera at highest setting for pictures (4000x3000)

Used Gimp (in this order to) sharpen it by 75 (Don't remember the exact number but it was about that) then resize it to 2000x1500 and cropped it.

 

[theambitiousstranger]

Half moon taken 5/11/12 at 3:30 AM

Canon SX130IS
Shutter: 1/50
F:8.0
ISO:80

camera at highest setting for pictures (4000x3000)

Used Gimp (in this order to) sharpen it by 75 (Don't remember the exact number but it was about that) then resize it to 2000x1500 and cropped it.

Nice shot, love the diagonal line between the darkness and the half moon. Someone might say there's too much dead space on the right, but in my opinion it adds to the pic.

 

[Edsport]

Not bad but i think a bit of contrast would be better and you should sharpen after you resize...

 

[Skyclad]

Thank you True, some might say that, but as for me (with this shot) I feel the negative space is a positive. It gives the picture a sense of depth, if you will, rather than just a center crop of the moon and gives more of a postcard effect.

 

[Skyclad]

Not bad but i think a bit of contrast would be better and you should sharpen after you resize...

Contrast I didn't think about. I'll have to remember that next time. As for sharpening, I did that earlier this week with a full moon picture and for some odd reason, the sharpening looked horrible when done after resizing. I have no idea why. But to be 100% sure, ill do that right now and reply with the photo PP in that order (cant guarantee the crop will be exactly the same though, lol.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Portrait crop would work better. The dead space doesn't add anything. It just looks like arbitrary use of the RoT's.

 

[Skyclad]

Used Gimp (in this order to) resize it to 2000x1500, then sharpened it 60%, added 10% contrast, then cropped it.

Looks like I learned something

True, it is a usage of RoT's. But as far as that goes, I think thats gonna be a 50/50 split on if its better to use it on this or not. Many will like it, and many will like it. Theres no way to rule which is absolute. I'm just using it because I like it for this one.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

One thing to take into account with the 50/50 split, would be how well the commenters understand composition themselves.

Just sayin'.

 

[Skyclad]

True enough. But even still, I think it will be a 50/50 split as per personal preference: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But to cover the other half, here you go.

 

[cgipson1]

I agree with Bitter! The original has way too much dead space. The image above this is optimal on framing.

 

[RxForB3]

Hate to be picky, but I think the last version has too little space. It may be my perception, but you need enough room at least for the mind to fill in the dark side of the image. Try picturing what the moon would look like in the frame as full, then leave a small bit extra.

 

[Joel_W]

I really like the last edited version so much more then the original. Much better use of space, and the added contrast just jumps right out at you.

 

[Skyclad]

Hate to be picky, but I think the last version has too little space. It may be my perception, but you need enough room at least for the mind to fill in the dark side of the image. Try picturing what the moon would look like in the frame as full, then leave a small bit extra.

I agree, that does make sense. This one was just a quick crop was all. Though I should keep small details like that in mind even when doing quick edits/touchups/etc on a photo. It would be a good habit to get into.

 

[Skyclad]

I really like the last edited version so much more then the original. Much better use of space, and the added contrast just jumps right out at you.

Edsport was spot on with his suggestion on the contrast and sharpening after resizing. Bitter and Rx are both correct about it not having so much dead space, but just enough for framing.

I learned quite a few valuable tips just from one photo with thanks to the kind and more experience photographers of the forum.

 

[Edsport]

Used Gimp (in this order to) resize it to 2000x1500, then sharpened it 60%, added 10% contrast, then cropped it.

Looks like I learned something

True, it is a usage of RoT's. But as far as that goes, I think thats gonna be a 50/50 split on if its better to use it on this or not. Many will like it, and many will like it. Theres no way to rule which is absolute. I'm just using it because I like it for this one.

When i said to sharpen after you resize, i meant to resize then sharpen, not resize, sharpen and then crop lol. Your cropped posted version is 747x514, this is the size you should sharpen then post on here and sharpen should be the last thing you do...