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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> How can I have improve this photograph ?
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Showing posts 1 - 19 of 19, descending (reverse)
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05/17/2003 06:40:37 AM · #1
Like most others who replied, I think this is a great shot. I like perspective, the texture of the stonework, and the contrasting color of the dogwood. The only element missing for me is a blue sky with a few fluffy clouds. I think the perfect conditions underwhich to shoot this scene would be with the sun at your back and at a time when it was partly obscured by clouds. Then you would not risk overexposing the church itself, still get the great color contrast, and have a nice blue sky in the background. Not an easy feat if your weather is so unpredictable as where I live. Definitely a shot worth persuing though.
05/17/2003 06:11:37 AM · #2
Really like that edit, Chris - makes all the dfference.

RLS - other things to consider, apart from what Chris has done:

Graduated filter - though in that shot it would have the efffect of darkening the top of the tower too.

It isn't actually necessary too show all of the church to get the 'grandeur of the architecture': I wonder if there wouldn't be an intersting composition from quite close to the dogwood, shooting up toward the tower - especially if you got a moment with the sun raking the side of the church, which would really bring out the texture of the stone.

But it's a fine shot anyway.

ed
05/17/2003 04:17:04 AM · #3
Hope you don't mind. I also had a go at your pic. The only problem, as all others say, is the sky. I like the idea provided shooting throught the trees though. Anyway, I tried it with my poor photoshop-knowlede, this came out:
//www.pbase.com/image/16761660
05/17/2003 03:21:15 AM · #4
Hey Chris123, I'm starting my collection of cloud shots today!
05/17/2003 02:05:00 AM · #5
Another useless tidbit:
Usually for outdoors trying to capture the texture, contour, etc of a subject, the ideal lighting situation would be to have little or no clouds with the sun low in the sky. Shadows are more dramatic at those times. But I'm sure I'm wrong on all of this.
05/17/2003 01:53:03 AM · #6
RLS, great shot! I love the building/church, but the sky is too bland. Either a blue sky or coulds would be better.... I would like to see a very couldy "dark" sky for this shot because I think it fits the image.

So here's mine (I keep a collection of sky and cloudy sky pics for this reason):



This was a quick cut and paste. I cloned a little on the left, but you would want to zoom in more on the building edges and clone a little more to get it better.

I sharpened the building a tiny bit but didn't try to lighten it because the tone fits the cloudy sky I think.
05/17/2003 12:41:26 AM · #7
I just looked at the two images side by side and I like what you did. It brought out the texture in the stone as well as the contrasting wood around the door and windows.


Very nice.
05/17/2003 12:38:34 AM · #8
Originally posted by rll07:

I like this image, all i did was sharpen a bunch to bring out the texture and saturate to bring out the reds and greens and then adjust the sky to be white instead of gray..
what do you think?
Stone


It's a nice rendition. I like it too...

Bob

05/17/2003 12:34:22 AM · #9
I like this image, all i did was sharpen a bunch to bring out the texture and saturate to bring out the reds and greens and then adjust the sky to be white instead of gray..
what do you think?
Stone
05/17/2003 12:03:33 AM · #10
I agree with the sky comments. A bluer sky would've been preferred. There are a few things you can do, but they can drastically alter the mood of the image, but not always for the worst. You could desaturate it altogether and make the contrast a little harsher. It's a little more cold and goth, but it can be effective. I was faced with the same problem for this shot. //dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=13822

I desaturated all but a little of the red from it and it was pretty successful. When I left to take the shot, the sky was still a nice blue. When I got there, in a very short time the sky went from a little cloudy to downright overcast. That was a real downer. But I was there and shot some stuff anyway.

The moral of the story is that you haven't lost the image, but with a little experimentation you might make your viewers see it in a different light. I could see this picture being a little too tight on the crop at the top as well. I noticed that before the sky thing, but I think the others were right on in their opinion about the sky. Overall its a pretty good image, just needs the blue sky for a better contrast with the church. The church is slightly underexposed and the sky is slightly blue. Now you're on the fence - more exposure, white sky. Less exposure, darker church... This is a good balance of the 2 but its still a compromise that you don't want to have to make.

Hope that helps some - Bob
05/16/2003 11:56:50 PM · #11
Originally posted by cpanaioti:

You've got to take what you get in that regard. The overcast makes the church look dull. More defined clouds with maybe a hint of blue would add interest and would brighten up the picture.

Another thing to try would be to use a different vantage point and make the dogwood your focal point (brilliant colour by the way) and use the church as the background only. Then I think the sky would be less of an issue.


I'll look at my outtakes and see if I have one like you describe. Thanks !!!

Bob

05/16/2003 11:53:20 PM · #12
Originally posted by dsidwell:

I agree with cpanaioti. I think your shot accomplishes these aims! We can certainly see the interesting textures of the stones, and the point of view you've chosen shows the 3-D of the building itself. The dogwoods are very visible and are nicely contrasted against the stone, providing yet another interesting texture. Nice focus, by the way, as this is so crucial to capture these textures.

The sky is a problem, perhaps, and there has been many a photo I have discarded because of it. The lighting itself I find interesting because there are no harsh shadows to distract us from your goals. So yeah, a few clouds, or a blue sky might really help. If this is nearby, come by at different times of the day.

What would happen if you were closer to the building, shooting upwards and even closer to the trees, or perhaps even shooting through them? Would the textures be clearer, the architecture grander and the trees more brilliant? Maybe. But this more traditional view works for me, too.

Anyway, congratulations on a decent shot.


Thanks David. This was the most interesting of several shots from various angles.

Bob

05/16/2003 11:52:19 PM · #13
You've got to take what you get in that regard. The overcast makes the church look dull. More defined clouds with maybe a hint of blue would add interest and would brighten up the picture.

Another thing to try would be to use a different vantage point and make the dogwood your focal point (brilliant colour by the way) and use the church as the background only. Then I think the sky would be less of an issue.
05/16/2003 11:50:39 PM · #14
I agree with cpanaioti. I think your shot accomplishes these aims! We can certainly see the interesting textures of the stones, and the point of view you've chosen shows the 3-D of the building itself. The dogwoods are very visible and are nicely contrasted against the stone, providing yet another interesting texture. Nice focus, by the way, as this is so crucial to capture these textures.

The sky is a problem, perhaps, and there has been many a photo I have discarded because of it. The lighting itself I find interesting because there are no harsh shadows to distract us from your goals. So yeah, a few clouds, or a blue sky might really help. If this is nearby, come by at different times of the day.

What would happen if you were closer to the building, shooting upwards and even closer to the trees, or perhaps even shooting through them? Would the textures be clearer, the architecture grander and the trees more brilliant? Maybe. But this more traditional view works for me, too.

Anyway, congratulations on a decent shot.
05/16/2003 11:43:02 PM · #15
Originally posted by cpanaioti:

IMO I think you did what you set out to do. The only thing missing is better lighting. Mother Nature was not cooperating.


What type of sky would have been better? A bright cloudless blue sky? Maybe a few more well defined clouds? It was an overcast day the day I shot. Only chance to get the trees in bloom though.

Bob

05/16/2003 11:39:23 PM · #16
IMO I think you did what you set out to do. The only thing missing is better lighting. Mother Nature was not cooperating.

Message edited by author 2003-05-16 23:39:52.
05/16/2003 11:36:31 PM · #17
Originally posted by dsidwell:

I suppose before anyone can help you, what most attracts you to this subject? (I see a lot of nice things going on in the photo, by the way!)


I wanted to capture the textures of the stone, the granduer of the architecture, and the brilliance of the dogwoods.

Bob

05/16/2003 11:32:22 PM · #18
I suppose before anyone can help you, what most attracts you to this subject? (I see a lot of nice things going on in the photo, by the way!)
05/16/2003 11:08:06 PM · #19
I am still trying to understand more about photographic composition and techniques used to capture an interesting image. What could I have done to improve this photograph?





Bob

Message edited by author 2003-05-16 23:13:53.
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