Siem Reap Sunset, a photo from Siem Reab, West

Photographer's Note

Here is a repost of the very first photograph that I posted to TE when I joined in June 2005. Several critiquers didn't like seeing the sun slap bang in the centre of the frame (something I've learnt since joining TE - and which I now hate seeing myself) and I only uploaded it at 650 x 396 and with a file size of only 39 kb would you believe! (again, since joining I've learnt to upload everything at 800 for maximum impact and maximum file size for highest quality).

So I've recropped this to what I think is a more pleasing composition, and I've uploaded to maximum dimensions and file size.

I also used NeatImage to remove noise (which I didn't have in 2005) and I've sharpened this in NeatImage rather than using USM as I did with the original post. NeatImage has done a much better job of the sharpening.

I didn't touch the colour balance for this repost, so the colours in the repost are more natural (I enhanced the reds in the original post).

This is one of my favourite sunset shots, so I hope you don't mind me reposting it (that sun in the middle of the original post was bugging me!).

Please don't give this any points if you critiqued the original.

Serendipity, jan515, pboehringer, ktanska, plimrn, Charo, elmec, ChrisJ, gary91, AiresSantos, capthaddock, bakes888, robob, rabani, chaity, vinicio, jarvmobile has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

sothy81 (9646) 2007-01-28 12:33

Hi David. I must say this is a photo of the week on TE. Beautiful sunset, and it is beautiful with the palm trees there. Super sharp! You did a great job. Congrats. Sothy

vincz (19113) 2007-01-28 12:58

Extremely beautiful composition with the sun setting among the so elegant palmtrees. beautiful colours, beautiful silhouettes. A true masterpiece. Interesting to know it was your first post!

leonorkuhn (16237) 2007-01-28 12:58

Hi David,

Very nice shot. I like the sun between the palm trees, the wonderful orange and red colors of the sunset and the sharpen silhouettes.
Very well done
Leonor

Serendipity (1045) 2007-01-28 13:36

WOW, magnifique ! ça change du traditionnel coucher de soleil sur Angkor Wat, et pourtant ça n'en reste pas moins très cambodgien. Bravo ! Thanks for sharing.
Marc.

ElAprendiz (30) 2007-01-28 14:41

That colorful spectacularity of beauty and. The effect “fire sky” is too showy, as opposed to the composition of the silhouettes. A recreation for the eyes.
Contratulations.
John

jan515 (545) 2007-01-28 15:39

Beautiful composed sunset,the colours and sharpnes are perfect.Superb picture and job.
Congratulations.
Janusz

izmirli (3989) 2007-01-28 18:02

merhaba david
beautiful sun and very good colours.beautiful trees and silhouettes.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

kensimage (8563) 2007-01-28 23:20

Excellent composition, David. It's hard to be highly original with palm trees and a sunset, but the silhouettes here are particularly nice, and I like the way you placed the sun between trees but nearly filling the gap. Great color, too. Very mellow and tropical. Regards, Ken.

acordeiro (155) 2007-01-29 4:55

Very nice!

pboehringer (770) 2007-01-29 16:51

Hi David, I'm lucky that I didn't critiqued this at the first time so I can do it now, although you did already the job so perfectly that you didn't leave anything to bash on ;-)
Comparing this version with the first posting I can see clearly that you learned a lot in the meantime at TE. It seems to be flawless with the right PP just on target.
I love the detail of those two hanging leaves on the palm in the middle. Great detail!
Perfect framing of the sun!
Regards, Peter

rbcy1974 (20758) 2007-01-31 8:19

Hello David
Really beatuiful, not only are the colours wonderful
but the shapes of the palmtrees are very well captured
well done
Regards
Daniel

ktanska (44838) 2007-02-01 4:40

Hi David,
Interesting pair, the original and this. It symbolises the progress on presentation skills that most active TE members experience. 39kb file size does surprisingly well on a simple uniformly coloured scene like this.
Sometimes it would be interesting to see also a pair of shots where a photographer returns to same subject and place after the school of TE and see how a retake differs from original.
I also started my TE journey with a sunset, and still like them.
Kari

PJE (20758) 2007-02-06 0:23

Hi David. Well here i thought you had so much money that you simply traveled around the globe to take pictures for Trek Earth. Its really funny how we assume things about others. I trust your work will bring you back with some fresh viewpoints and times of inspiration with your camera. Right now I am in the process of gathering funds from extra work to upgrade to the XTi camera. Presently my 300D Rebel is giving me some error signals that hinder me from using it. Darn it all.

I do like this photo David. I think the palms themselves would make an interesting frame on their own. I think this photo would have more kick if you had zoomed in closer and allow the sun to be close to the center but just enough off to bring balance. That is my take on it David. I trust your work load brings you back to this site soon. Cheers David...Take Care!

plimrn (21344) 2007-02-07 11:06

Hi David,
The repost is much improved, it's amazing what we all learn on TE. The colors and this trees make it a great shot even in the original. Wishing you health, Love & joy, Pat

m_s_s (1691) 2007-02-17 4:36

Hello David,
great composition, sun is where it should be ;).
excellent colors as well. nice work.
regards

Charo (51290) 2007-02-27 15:53

Hola David
Excelente composición, sencilla pero con mucha fuerza.
Saludos
Charo

elmec (12210) 2007-03-04 16:24

Hello David!
I see You have very very nice place!
Amazing colour of the light, bust best is the compo of trees and sun!
Congratulations!
Best regards!

devimeuxbe (58557) 2007-03-05 9:58

Hi David
this is a beautifull sunset. Maybe classical but perfectly composed. The bloody red is impressive.
I look ate the list of the countries you visited already. It's very impressive !
Have a nice day
Bertrand

ChrisJ (171888) 2007-03-05 10:19

Hi David

Fantastic graphism & silhouettes, with wonderful warm orange sunset colours. I like the flattened perspective. Tfs!

gary91 (15348) 2007-03-05 16:37

Hello David,
What more to say about such a wonderful image...
I really would have loved to make it ! It is really much better than the original you posted which was already very good indeed.
Great picture !
Best regards, Christian

sergio1 (12152) 2007-03-06 17:51

Hi David

Lovely sunset and great compo with palmtrees.
Nice silhouetes and contrast.

Good work.
Sergio

AiresSantos (56155) 2007-03-09 3:32

Hi David,
Magnificent sunset with great colours. Vvery well managed the light and framed the picture.
TFS and greetings
Aires

anesugur (18789) 2007-03-10 14:15

Hi David,
This is a successful and very impressive shot!
Very nice atmosphere, superb light and good colors.
Thanks for sharing. Uğur

capthaddock (28790) 2007-03-10 15:22

Hi David - I don't recall seeing the original, but no apologies needed for this reminder, it IS an extraordinary sunset, because of the size of the orb, and the typical cambodian sugar palms.

Giorgio (11279) 2007-03-11 1:52

- This is really a perfect sunset, wonderful color and light the palm trees in foreground is a undeniable more, well done!
giorgio

bakes888 (18499) 2007-03-11 2:17

Hi David. Nice photo. The palm trees give this photo a very tropical feel and you have done well to have that one cloud to add interest to the sky. The cropping and processing are first rate also. Thanks for sharing again.
Cheers, Paul.

prumod (8300) 2007-03-11 8:23

hi david...
nice tone of red sky.... i like its richness and gradient... good quality also you have... if you could provide little more space at left i would more enjoy.... very nice....
take care
pramod

pinakie_slg (861) 2007-03-11 13:02

excellent DAvid

patriik (1935) 2007-03-12 15:49 [Comment]

Show Comment

darrasin (2860) 2007-03-13 4:08

Hello David,

Very well done! I absolutely love sunset silhouettes with palm trees. They make very dramatic photos and yours is well-executed. The details are very sharp. Thanks for the tip about sharpening with NeatImage, I will have to look into that.

Regards,
Doug

pedrocarmo (1295) 2007-03-13 20:41

Hi David

Great sunset, good colours and an original point of view.
Well done
TFS

Stepan (27210) 2007-03-14 15:42

Perfect shapes, in a beautiful sunset. You composed that perfectly. The realization is great too. Very effective.
Stéphane

robob (3648) 2007-03-17 10:26

Hello David,
Splendide coucher de soleil aux belles couleurs. J’aime beaucoup la position de ce soleil tout blanc et également les silhouettes des cocotiers. Félicitations !
Tu es un très grand voyageur, tu n’es jamais venu en Belgique ?
Amicalement et à bientôt,
Robert

jemaflor (147300) 2007-03-26 7:11

Hi David,
A great result for your shot, a good example for a well made sunset photo, congratulations i like it a lot.

vagabondtravels (6511) 2007-04-06 9:12

Hi David

Nice comp and great colors. Spot on with the exposure. Very sharp with good detail. I really like the palms. Well done.
Ben

rabani (9645) 2007-04-09 21:38

I preferred this too. A big red ball of white in a red sky is too much visually but with something else in the way, it is pleasing and peaceful, without making it less of a graphical impression. This work is strong, well balanced and impressive David.

P/s. The news photographer was way past of caring. With more than 10kg of camping and photography gears and many more miles to go, he was just too tired to bend down to remove those leeches.

chaity (1539) 2007-04-11 8:36

Hi David, want a lovely sunset shot and I think I missed it the first time. Glad that you like the support and critiques from TE members to point you to better your photos.

vinicio (23423) 2007-04-24 16:46

Great and wonderful backlight at the sunset David, really well done and with beautiful composition, light and colors, a masterpiece, compliments.
Ciao
Vinicio

jafadabret (56501) 2007-04-26 4:40

David bonjour.
C'est une des photos les plus belles que j'ai vues. J'aime la grâce de ces arbres devant ce soleil et ce ciel de feu. Du très grand art.
Jacques

MichaelTrezzi (3374) 2007-05-06 12:43

Hello David, really wonderful sunset or sunrise. Every color picture with just limited number of color tones is very special and this is just the case, the warm red and black composition makes it very appealing. Very good sharpness. Thanks for sharing. Michael

jarvmobile (571) 2007-05-08 17:23