Congratulations on your first photos with your new camera and especially your first photo post. We use the twelve elements of a merit image when we critique. Because you're a beginner, I'll list them individually for you. How it applies to your photo is in blue. We start with 12 points and deduct per element so you get a score at the end.
1. Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.Very little impact. This photo does not make me want to take a second look. The clouds are pretty, but the sun looks like a blown out circle and not very interesting. You would have a better outcome if you photographed the sun as part of a landscape. (-1)
2. Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought. Since you didn't state an intent, I'm not sure what your vision was. (-1)
3. Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the physical print. Your camera settings are good. clouds are exposed well but the sun is one big blown out highlight, which is to be expected given its brightness.
4. Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker. I do like the composition even though the sun is smack in the middle of the photo. However, the clouds frame it nicely.
5. Lighting—the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image. You captured the cloud lighting nicely, but the sun is an issue. (-1)
6. Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds. Since you're a beginner, you're still developing and learning a style (-1)
7. Print Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used should support and enhance the image, not distract from it. No distracting borders of watermarks. Good job there.
8. Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest. Your photo has a clear center of interest. The eye is immediately drawn to the sun.
9. Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image. Your title says "morning sun" so I would say the subject matter is good here.
10. Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect. The tones are rather boring which is one of the reasons your photo lacks impact. Some post processing would help this photo. (-1)
11. Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image. Again without knowing what your intent was, I have to deduct for this. From a technical perspective, your photo should have no blown out highights and no detail lost to shadow. You did well on the shadow part, but the choice of subject makes it impossible to not have blown out highlights. You could use some post processing filters to make it a little more appealing maybe. (-1)
12. Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image. There is not much of a story here. As important as the sun is to us, the sun by itself makes a boring subject (unless you're photographing an eclipse) (-1)
So your photo earned 5 out of 12 points, not too bad for a beginning shot of a very difficult subject. Check out some of the threads here like the daily photos and project 365 photos to get some ideas. Above all, keep taking photos . . . that's how you develop a good eye.
, took me a while to get a converter to save as JPG)
