Palmetto Framed Sunset

Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated! Here's the deal--

you leave a comment for me and I'll come leave at least one for

you...sound good? Great!

Hmmmm....everyone always says my other picture in the same folder as this one is one of my best shots so I figured I'd shoot another version...judging from the ratings people either like it or hate it...not much in between!

Fantastic light and I like the tree as framework, a tropical feel. If you try this shot again focus on the tree and use enough aperture to get the DOF. The focus seems to be on the sailboats and not the tree, still a great idea and you have a very good eye here. The only other thing I would do is crop the bottom to include only between the top and second rail of the fence, here is the crop I like, just my opinion. Again, love the composure!

Tom--Thanks...I agree 100% with your crop. I actually noticed that as soon as I posted it. I TRIED to focus on the tree here, but guess I failed. It was getting so dark when the sky lit up that I had to manual focus. Are there any tricks to manual focusing, or is it simply look through and adjust until what you want sharp looks sharp? I think my aperture was f/8 or f/11. I would have used a higher number, especially since I have my nice new f/2.8 100mm lens on but the wind was blowing and my exposure was already about 10 seconds...so, it was hard to get the leaves in the foreground. I took about 10 shots, trying to shoot between wind gusts and this was the sharpest I got on the palmetto leaves. Do you think that what you are seeing as lack of focus on the tree is really me missing with the focus or is it possibly the wind blowing the leaves? Thanks for your comments...they are much appreciated...now, let me go try to put them to use. :)

PS-I stole your cropped version with the nice frame and replaced mine...thanks!

As far as the tree focus it very well may the lack of light for this shot and I know what you mean about wind and long exposures, been there and I try to avoid that.

This picture would make the coolest stamp ever...maybe you should try to sell this to the post office...You know the Palm tree is the symbol for SC. Im not kiddin...Id so buy this as a stamp (or picture for my wall). I love the way you seem to catch the most beautiful sunsets......I know Charleston is beautiful...but you make it seem like the most beautiful and peaceful place on earth. And ...Id rate it high up there....But by your pictures its #1! To sum this up....I love this picture!