Sunrise or Sunset Over Water (in colour)

I had come back to this one again and again and finally place this is 2nd place. Love the long exposure with the waves coming over those foreground rocks and just to have the sea rolling over the centre one like this is what makes this one a little more special. The two either side of it acts and makes a great frame for the movements in the water this creates that abstract look about it, that along would make a great images on its own. The horizon is on the thirds I also like the warm contrasts of colours between the sky and sea, the focal point is of course the sun and that is well place you could also had it in the centre that would have worked just as well, and that sunburst flair is also a nice touch and gives that extra detail. The image has depth, movement and drama and a very pleasing image to view.

Congratulations this is my winning image of the "Sunrise and Sunset over Water" Contest.

I love the idea of using that arch in the rocks to create the sunburst and sun flairs, this tells me that the photographer was definitely thinking about how best to take the scene and gives that sense of drama, also you can see an island through the arch as well this gives that little extra detail within the image. The timing was also spot on with the waves hitting the shore this in turn lead the eye towards the sun and back again so this creates that connection of the two main subjects. The off set composition also works with this one some photographers would have place the rocks and arch in the centre but way this has been composed gives space for the viewer to look around more. Exposure of the light and shadows areas are very well handled especially in the sky this crates a halo of light around the darker rocks also the highlights in the reflective light on the beach and sand this also separates the foreground.

My sixth place position. I love that foggy sunrise atmosphere in this with the warm looking sun rising just above those trees, the fogy always diffuses the sun and in this image that is no exception. The silhouetted light is very well handled and the shadow areas have detail and tones and in turn so do the highlights. The central position of the rising sun works and this gives the image that balance and focuses on that point of interest, and the reflections add the depth .

My 10th place entry. Its a classic sunset shot over water with the silhouetted trees breaking up the horizons like this , the reflections are main attraction as are those gorgeous looking golds and reds. Again the horizons are on the thirds, I love all the tree branches popping out of the water this gives the interest and structure , the two silhouetted trees on the far left and right make great frames and holds everything in, I think I might of have had a little more negative room above and below the central tree but never the less its a lovely looking image!

This is my forth place image it was knocking on the door of the top three place simply because of the gorgeous golden light and colours oozing from this, the misty atmosphere is a delight shrouding those distant hills and mountains and this in turn makes a great tonal backdrop then you come to the more silhouetted trees in the middle ground with the reflections of them, Love the diagonal composition of the pier and there is just enough separations of that and the tree reflections any closer than the image would have fallen apart. Love those rowing boats which gives the base of the image with all the reflective light within them, a really beautiful looking image that would grace any top 10.

My 5th place image and again as with the other top places this was floating in and out of the positions! For me this is a normal looking sunrise shot with the heron wading through the water but that's where the normality ends, lovely misty tonal ranges in the middle distance with just enough light to separate the darker shadows and silhouettes, of course the reflections are one of the main attractions here with the heron in the exact right spot, but its that sun is for me the main feature simply because it is half hidden by the clouds and that's the beauty of this image not a full sun like most images have although there is noting wrong with that but with this image it would not have worked as well, just a hint of the sun is all that was needed any more would have taking the interest away from the wading heron..

My 7th place entry. The composition of this is superb I love how those wind turbines act as a frame and the three either side of the sun gives that symmetrical look about it.

Fabulous colours in the sky and the lighter seawater and the highlights gives the contrasts, I also like the letterbox format although I might of cropped a little more of the bottom, but overall its a different approach to a sunrise shot!

This is my 3rd place image, its a simplistic looking image and tells many stories and that's it charm,. The empty fisherman's chair invites the viewer to sit there and watch the sun going down, it has warmth, ,calmness the sort of scene that you could look at for hours. The atmospheric light is superb and enhances all those moods and the diagonal composition of the two main subjects is well thought out, minimalism at it best!

My 9th place entry. Another lovely misty atmospheric looking image, love the muted colours with the only real strong colours coming from the around the sun. The foggy weather idea for a sunrise works extremely well with just enough detail and reflected light in the grasses and water and that surreal appearance hold the attention while you look around the image!