Subject: Boats and Marina at Sunset on Ocracoke Island, NC
There is the rule to remember to turn around and look behind you. I was shooting a very vivid sunset with a silhouette of a sail boat against a very orange sky, and when I turned around, this was the view. I wanted to capture the color and light of the sky, as well as the reflections in the water. There was a lot of visual chaos with the boats, dock, pilings, buildings, etc., so I cropped to try and simplify the composition. It was getting a little dark so I lightened the exposure in the foreground. I also touched up the luminance a tad. I didn't have a tripod with me, so this was handheld, I tried to get the angle closer to the water surface, but was limited in movement because I had to stay on the dock. My settings were capturing the very bright sunset and when I turned around, it was a darker. I was worried about losing the light and accidently adjusted the shutter speed instead of the aperture, but I didn't lose too much of the sharpness.
Camera: Nikon D5600
Lens: NIKKOR 16??“80mm f/6-4E
Settings: 26mm, 1/30 sec at f/10, ISO 320
Question for the group: Any thoughts on how to adjust this composition to lessen the visual distractions and/or get more out of the reflections? Suggestions for next time also appreciated.
6 comments posted
Elaine Miller
Hi, Shari. I love the colors in the sky and reflected in the water. I prefer the original even with the busy background so the entire reflection is included. The only suggestion for the future would be to move to where you only see the boats and reflection. This may not be possible, especially seeing it at the last minute. Posted: 10/02/2026 15:56:10
Shari Garnsey
Agreed. I really wished I could walk on water in that moment. Posted: 10/02/2026 18:25:02
Don Hill
Hey Sheri. I think I agree with Shari and Elaine. I like the original. I am not sure how I would edit this. Your observations were right on. Posted: 10/05/2026 00:39:14
Shari Garnsey
Thanks Don Posted: 10/05/2026 12:20:39
Janice Solomon
Hi Shari, I also prefer the original for the soft light and the crop. I think the edited version is too tight on the right, and the apartment building behind the boats too dark with harsh contrast. The original also has a nice foreground of calm, blue water. My camera has a tilt screen, so I can put the camera on the ground instead of myself to get a low angle. Posted: 10/05/2026 16:44:03
Shari Garnsey
My mirrorless has the tilt screen and def makes a difference. I was actually at dock level with this but opted for stability as opposed to hand holding it over the side since I couldn't see to frame it. Appreciate the comments on the original composition; I liked it too, but this is just one of those where I think I needed to be in a different spot. Posted: 10/05/2026 19:19:06
