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Anonymous
Good? Crap? Good crap?

Tell it to me straight /p/, like you always do.
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>> Anonymous
the sky is really washed out. use a gradient.
>> Phesarnion
>>67015
Prize for stupidity goes to: you!!!
A: I assume you mean an ND grad.
B: Utterly wrong type of shot to benefit from a straightforward ND Grad.
C: The best technique to get the range you want would have to be HDR.

ND grads are all well and good for landscape shots with basically straight horizons, but not for this type.

To the OP if you're using a tripod, try using exposure compensation of -2 stops on one photograph (to capture the sky detail), than take another with no compensation, then a final one with EC of +2 for the bridge detail.
After that, there are a number of freem programs which will combine them, alternatively, you could do this by hand in photoshop (more time, but more control).

Compositionally: the building in the top right draws focus away from the bridge. try re-framing with the booth on the top left. also, there is no straight point of refrence in the photograph so the viewer cannot quite get their bearings as it were. Try making either the edges of the buildings vertical, or the bridge horizontal (i'd go for the former).

Everything above constitutes opinion only, so if you want to take the advice, make some changes of your own as well.
>> Anonymous
Wow, thanks for the comments. I was not using a tripod, and in fact this was taken moving at a good pace along the Chicago River on an architectural boat tour, so yeah. It was one of those cloudy days where it's still kind of bright outside. I was glad to see all the pictures I took weren't all overexposed. The camera did a good job I'd say.

I am very new to photography so it's always nice to get some constructive criticism, especially on composition. Thanks again.
>> Anonymous
>>67036
I think>>67015might've meant a black-to-clear gradient over the sky in a layer in Photoshop, which is one way people simulate a ND grad filter. I've never tried it and don't know how it's done, but some people do it.

I use an ND grad filter, even on a shot like this, because it's the only way to guarantee the highlights are blown. The parts that aren't supposed to be dark- say, the buildings- I dodge to the right tone or otherwise edit them in post. But it's impossible to recover totally blown-out highlights, period. Better a little more shadow noise from brightening those in post than no detail at all in the sky.

>>67040
The best way to learn composition is to go look at the great work photographers much better than anyone here have done. The best place to do this I've found is the website of the Magnum Photos agency. If you don't know, Magnum Photos is an agency dedicated to representing the absolute best photographers in the world who focus on documentary-type photography. With the exception of those whose work doesn't fit in with the "Magnum type," like those photographers who do mostly landscape work and s on, almost every single great photographer since Magnum was founded has been a member, and so their work is viewable at http://www.magnumphotos.com/.

Another person to study is James Nachtway, who IMO has the most raw compositional talent of any photographer whose work I've seen. He actually was a member of Magnum, before he left to cofound a new photo agency called VII. You can see his work at jamesnachtwey.com.

As far as this shot, >67036 is right. Also, it would've helped if you had waited until the boat moved a few meters further towars the bridge, I think.