Sail
Sunsets are photographs that I feel are the most misunderstood. No matter how beautiful the sky may be generally there still needs to be a strong subject in addition to the color of the atmosphere. The sky can make or break a weak subject but the pretty clouds are not enough to be the entire image.
This image is a good example of that hypothesis. The sail boat wound not be a very strong subject without the sky and the sky alone is just a semi-amorphous color. The texture patterns and colors in the water adds interesting detail to the surface of the water. I like the island on the horizon; this gives some substance to the line where the sky meets the sea.
The photographer may want to consider the placement of the subject and the horizon, both are on the center line of the illustration. Perhaps with the sky and the sea in equal proportion they are competing for our attention. I like bot elements but perhaps we need to choose one or the other for dominance.
Click on Image 
Sky Only 
No Sky 
Cropped #1 
Cropped #2 
Cropped #3 
February 4th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Beautiful capture! It would be hard for me to chose a best version.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Personally I would, if I had to pick, take the Cropped # 3 version. There is alot less distance between you and the subject, the sunset is also the defining moment of this picture. It is priceless. If only there was some way to brighten out that wave. Still beautiful picture, if I had a boat I would gladly see this on the wall.