Just after sunset

Your subject matter is very cool, however, if this was shot just after sunset, your exposure definitely does not reflect that. Your shutter speed of 1/8th is far too slow for not only the time of day, but especially for the lens you were shooting with - this shot appears handheld? IMO, I think a faster SS would give your viewer a better read on the time of day, and allow you more play with your post production, with having a sharper image and allowing you to play with levels and/or dodging/burning of details.

Jennifer,

I really appreciate your expert comments & critiques.

However, this kind of shot has to be made ad hoc (nature is not a studio), hand-held (there's no way you can use a tripod under such conditions), from a car (I leaned on the window will for stability), in near darkness (no flash as that would disturb the objects too much)....

I set the ISO 1 600 by hand in order to get an image at all. That it is grainy & not indicating darkness is of secundary importance to me. It's the roos I'm interested in  - and they are well visible indeed!

Thanks very much for your input.

Cheers,

Sam

 

pure nature, not a zoo shot