Sunrise this morning... (advice appreciated)

[pniev]

We had a nice morning this morning. So I went out early to a spot where they shot a movie yesterday. Too bad I wasn't there because the cows were much better visible. Anyway, here is my attempt. Your advice how I could improve is much appreciated!
Thanks for your help.
Peter

[View attachment 75154

Note: the first one is a crop to see the cows a bit better. I only had the 35mm (50mm FFeq) with me. I think I need a telelens soon. In situations like this I almost wished I had bought the D800E.

 

[bartjeej]

Very nice shots!
On the second one, the half-cropped house on the left feels a bit unsatisfying - I either want to be able to see it or not, but squished into a corner like that, and not seeing the entire building to give some additional context to the scene, is a bit of a bummer.
The last one, I do like the silhouetted tree, but I'd like to see just a little bit more of the wonderful colours, and mist, behind it - although the half-obscured background does make me look at the image longer. In fact, on second thought, I think it's fine as it is

 

[pniev]

Thanks a lot, Bart!
W.r.t. the second shot. It was difficult to move to another spot with the tripod. There was a bush between the house and my camera. I tool a shot with the bush but that didn't work. Perhaps I should have cropped it in PP. Next time I will try from another spot to get the house in fully (or completely out).
W.r.t the tree shot. I could not get entirely in because there was a lamppost (is that the right word for "lantaarnpaal") in the way.
Peter

 

[TraamisVOS]

There was a bush between the house and my camera.

This is where you live?? Maybe you should be giving us advice...

 

[Richard]

I think I like the third image best, as it has foreground interest I find lacking in the others. But I think that diagonal water element leads the eye out of shot - maybe it would have been better if it drew the eye into the picture, towards the rising sun?

-R

 

[pniev]

This is where you live?? Maybe you should be giving us advice...

Haha. The Brazilian ambassador lives in that house. It is one of favorite houses in this neighborhood. I've been thinking about photopgrahing the house but haven't done it yet.

I think I like the third image best, as it has foreground interest I find lacking in the others. But I think that diagonal water element leads the eye out of shot - maybe it would have been better if it drew the eye into the picture, towards the rising sun?
-R

I agree! However, I could not find anything to use a line leading to the sun. I tried several angles but nothing really worked so I thought to do it this way. I wasn't happy about using trees and bushes either because they were distracting rather than supporting. Nevertheless, I've been there now once (and know where the sun rises) so I will look again and see if I can find a better spot. Thanks.

Peter

 

[Gwen Quek]

Yeah I like your pic, its natural and true.
If you have a graduated ND then I think it makes a lot of different.
But over all its nice.

 

[Luke]

I like the quiet calm of the first one. There is so little color in the sky, that I just find it distracting. I think this could be exceptional converted to mono (and then you can really bend it twist the sliders and see what comes up). That's your homework for the day.

 

[pniev]

I like the quiet calm of the first one. There is so little color in the sky, that I just find it distracting. I think this could be exceptional converted to mono (and then you can really bend it twist the sliders and see what comes up). That's your homework for the day.

Yes, Sir! Herewith my homework. ;-)
And i see your point. It would have been easy to show structure in the sky but that was even more distracting with these colors. Did not think about B/W! So that's smart advice indeed.
Reminds me to bring the 60mm next time and look with a B/W eye.
This is the result. I thought some grain would be advantageous. I kept the dark grass in the bottom in the photo to accentuate the fog. Does this work better?
View attachment 75166

 

[grebeman]

The fact that there is more detail in the sky is an improvement (for me it's a shame about those annoying vapour trails), although I feel that the trees are perhaps a little more blocked. That's where a previous posters suggestion of a graduated ND filter would have helped. The original scene has such a high dynamic range that it's almost impossible to capture it without resort to some technical trickery.

Barrie