Beautiful Cloudy Day

I would very much appreciate it if anyone would give me some critical input.

If you don't like this photo or see flaws in it then tell me, I am trying to

improve.

I well appreciate the desire for feedback while learning new skills - I'm always in the same place. Please keep in mind that I'm viewing this on my laptop which isn't calibrated, so I'll stick to composition rather than color balance. Personally, I'd prefer if the image showed more of the trees instead of just showing their tops. If at least one of the birds were sharp, then you might crop the trees out completely. However, because the birds are not sharp, the image lacks focus (eye focus, not "sharp focus"). The key to composition (I'm not an expert by any stretch, so I'm simply quoting what I've been taught and what has worked for me) is to consider your scene as a story and then compose to that story. Here you have the tops of the trees and the birds in what appears to be evening migration or nesting. If they are heading to nests, then showing the trees ties the image together - birds nest in trees at night. Showing the entire tree(s) may help balance the image with the birds overhead. As I said, I don't trust the color showing on my laptop; however, I think a bit more contrast in the sky would help add punch to the image. Hopefully, this feedback will be of help.

Irene

Input from another source:

 I noticed that the trees were so nearly gone that I would crop them out altogether. I also looked at your histogram and decided you were overexposing, so I adjusted it.  (If that is new to you, search the web for "histogram", "digital exposure" and "expose to the right."

Jerry

Hi Ronald,

I do not wish to offer my critique but would suggest you to read the critique to a similar picture of mine - http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=16548772. Learning is a continuous process! Best regards, Ajay.

I want to thank you, this is exactly what I wanted: Intelligent critiques and suggestions. Irene, I wanted to show the trees but unfortunately they were directly behind a building so it probably would have been best to go with Jerry's suggestion of cropping them out altogether. I was afraid that without the trees there would be nothing to create interest. I am not a good judge of what makes a good "scene" I prefer photographs with a clear subject, that is why I requested a critique for this photo...Thank you all!

The colors in the sky make this photo interesting, the change from clouds to darkness is well balanced.  The positive/negative space is interesting because the dark trees and birds draw your attention just as equally as the clouds, even though the clouds are not very bold.  

I think the other PNfriends are too much...strict with you: too much low rates at the moments from them.