Property photographs for church - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/24/2007 08:57:04 PM · #1

I was asked by a congregation, not mine, to take some photos of their church building. The building is being sold and they wanted some shots to preserve memories of their time there.

I do not really have the equipment to do large area inside shots....not a true wide angle, and only on-board flash - however I tried my best. I told them I would take the shots and if they didn't like them, they don't have to pay me. I did charge, a very minimal fee, and was there for about 3 hours.

For one of the outside shots, I cloned in some extra lawn to get rid of the road in front. I posted both versions so they can use them as they desire.

Also, the stained glass had very poor conditions around them. Ugly aluminum framing, outside had large overhangs causing dark shadows on the upper portion of the window, and odd up-lighting (you can see in the full sanctuary shots) just above the windows that caused odd coloring in some cases.

I would really appreciate some feedback on the gallery before I email them telling them the proofs are up. Thanks very much!

CHURCH GALLERY

Message edited by author 2007-10-24 20:57:43.

philup

Canon EOS-5D

10/24/2007 08:59:13 PM · #2

Judy, I think you did a great job!!

Message edited by author 2007-10-24 21:00:56.

Mydee1

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/24/2007 09:04:17 PM · #3

I think they are wonderful.

fotomann_forever

10/24/2007 09:05:33 PM · #4

I see no reason for them to be anything less than pleased with the images. You did well.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/24/2007 09:09:45 PM · #5

And I remembered to take my tripod (had to turn around and come back home to get it!) but I forgot the head that attaches the tripod to the camera! (my hubby had used it for a video camera.) Duh...so some of these have the camera very gingerly perched on top of the tripod with my hand right there to catch it! :)

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

10/24/2007 10:05:34 PM · #6

I think they'll be pleased with the work you have done. I just looked through your gallery and they all look very good. Congratulations on a well done photo shoot.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/24/2007 10:09:21 PM · #7

Thanks. I am getting ready to upload a collage to the collection as well. I appreciate the feedback very much. I especially was concerned about the interior shots.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

10/24/2007 10:17:30 PM · #8

WOW! Awesome shots. Mother nature granted you a beautiful sky (and your exposures are right on). Your indoor shots are nicely lit and appear to be color balanced well. I think #48 is awesome. 29 is very well done. The stained glass shots are perfect.

My only criticism ... is that I don't like the screwy angle of the shots of the portraits on the wall. And I don't even know what to tell you to do different. Maybe straight on would have been best? If not straight on ... then include more of the wall so it has some context to explain the angle of the shot. Of what you have though ... I wonder if Photoshop's transform could straighten them out?

But otherwise... I think you did a superb job! They're gonna love 'em!

David Ey

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

10/24/2007 10:27:08 PM · #9

It would have been nice to have a shot like the one from the rear looking forward with the congregation present.

Message edited by author 2007-10-24 22:28:12.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

10/24/2007 10:36:26 PM · #10

I agree about the portraits, but the rest look very good to excellent to me. They should be pleased and smiling. The best time of day for the stained glass would be early or late in the day, just before full daylight or in medium twilight using a tripod and longer exposures to not have the shadows at the top.

For the portrait shots, if your tripod had been functional, you could have used low ISO, and small aperture for long enough exposure to use off camera flash hand held during the exposure in order to get the shots straight on without too much glare from the flash. I am guessing that maybe your lens would not allow you to get back far enough to frame the portraits straight on?

I always carry an extra tripod quick mount plate mounted on a long lens in my bag. It has saved me from having the same oops happen a couple of times.

The outdoor shots are classy with the made to order sky.

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/24/2007 10:54:07 PM · #11

These are very good Judy. Well done. :)

10/24/2007 11:13:49 PM · #12

Originally posted by dwterry:

Thanks! Yeah..I'm not happy with the portrait shots. They were located in a very narrow hallway with windows on one side. I tried bouncing the flash off of the ceiling, but that still gave a bad glare. I think the ones I chose to use were not with the flash, but the glare is from the doorway window across from most of them. The last one is on the other side of the wall, and I had a little more room to work with because of a classroom doorway across from it and it wasn't facing the window.

Oh well...if something had to suffer, I probably would have chosen those shots. They are, after all, going to be leaving with the congregation - but apparently going into storage. So it's not like these are a one shot deal.

I was so happy with the weather! I planned the shoot to have the best lighting on the front of the church. The back suffered a bit, but I had to choose one or the other, or make two trips.

Thanks very much for the feedback. I have more confidence in them now. You know how it is when you charge - especially a church! I want to make sure they get their money's worth.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/24/2007 11:14:37 PM · #13

Originally posted by David Ey:

It would have been nice to have a shot like the one from the rear looking forward with the congregation present.

That would be nice. Maybe on the last worship service there, I can attend and take some shots. However, at least pews don't move!

Nikon D200

10/24/2007 11:44:45 PM · #14

Judy, I bet you can fix up those portraits using the skew/perspective tools. You'll lose the frame, but still retain the general idea.

10/25/2007 12:24:38 AM · #15

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

The outdoor shots are classy with the made to order sky.

I can't take credit for the sky :) But I was sure happy to see it. This church is 100 miles away from my home, so it's not like I can just run up there when the conditions are right.

I found out about the request two days before I had to be in this area for another photo shoot, so I arranged to do this one at the same time. I got lucky. :)

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

10/25/2007 12:39:56 AM · #16

You have a lot of good images for a 3 hour shoot of an unfamiliar place, and without being able to use your tripod for precise framing. Great job.
If they want better shots of the portraits, maybe you can get them when they are taken off the wall for storage so that you will be better able to control the lighting.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/25/2007 10:11:09 PM · #17

Yay...they really like them! I didn't charge them much because it's a church where they have provided facilities for a church retreat I attend twice a year. Plus, I just feel like money is not always the goal. I feel very blessed with doing photography. I have been able to provide services for my church, for a "free" wedding, for others who can't afford much and even a fund raiser for Habitat for Humanity. It's really nice to be able to do something I enjoy that helps out in some way.

They are getting the images on a CD. I did charge some since I'm saving for that new camera and lens. Now I have another $150 to add to the total! :)

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

10/25/2007 11:17:53 PM · #18

That is very generous of you to do the shoot for a small fee.
I feel the same way about money for shooting for good causes.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/25/2007 11:24:50 PM · #19

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

That is very generous of you to do the shoot for a small fee.
I feel the same way about money for shooting for good causes.

Glad it worked out for all of you ... I also offer "substantial" discounts to worthy non-profits which really can't afford the "real thing."

Quigley

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/25/2007 11:29:03 PM · #20

Judi:
You can give yourself a great big pat on the back, you have done an awsome job with these shots and they would be hard pressed to find such quality images anywhere. It does one proud to do things for others and you have done a wonderful thing for the church.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

10/26/2007 03:21:25 PM · #21

Originally posted by Quigley:

Well, I just re-read my post about the money and it sounds really, um, self serving and I truely didn't mean for it to come across that way at all. I'm sorry. I was just really happy that they liked them and just very happy to have a skill where I enjoy helping out. The church could have afforded more (and offered) so it wasn't exactly charity work. I just didn't feel right asking for more. That doesn't sound right either - okay I give up! Hopefully you get my drift :)

Ok...I'm done now.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

10/26/2007 03:32:37 PM · #22

Great collection of shots. I have to admit I like the ones featuring the road, and you can be sure there will be someone there who would recall walking along that road on their way to a special event, so perhaps the additional grass will not go down so well with them?

I am pleased you feel you can do something for others without money being the determining factor. It doesn't hurt to give a little in life :) Remember, what goes round comes round!

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/26/2007 04:12:06 PM · #23

Originally posted by formerlee:

Actually, I don't think anyone will realize the road is "not there"; I doubt anyone but a hard-core photographer would realize you can't get quite that perspective with the lens she has... I could have made the shot without cloning, easily, with my 10-22 mm :-)

Great job, Judy. You done well, gal.

R.

missinseattle

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/27/2007 01:02:16 PM · #24

I think you did an outstanding job!

Why are they selling it?

We go to a very small Lutheran church here and did pictures last year for our 25yr anniversary. I love these though. SOmething they will definetly charish!