Pics for Critique

[sirhc55]

The following two pics are identical - shot in RAW format on the 12-24mm.

The first shot is the original and the second with Velvia curve in PS.

Critique welcome:

Orginal:



With Velvia curve:



Chris

[Geoff]

Hi Chris,
I much prefer the processed shot with the velvia curve, it seems much more intense and the colours (especially the brown of the optus building) seem a lot deeper and not so washy. Interesting perspective, I like it! Cheers,

Geoff.

[lejazzcat]

Just on the velvia curve( is it a custom/ proprietary PS plugin/filter ?).
Well and truely oversaturated. Very unnatural, almost like a cross processing effect. To me, it looks like a very bad white balance .

For other subject matter it might be a creative effect - say fashion/art photos, but for architecture....? Not to my taste.

Oh and now that im here-
The converging verticals are a big no no - almost all decent architectural photogs use large format cameras with adjustable standards to compensate for this distortion. Very hard to fix with a 35mm.( i personally wouldnt waste my time doing architecture with a 35)

Compositions unbalanced as well. To many forground distractions leading the eye away from the main subject.

Just my opinion, mind you.
(Hopefully helpful )
regards

[sirhc55]

lejazzcat - I welcome your comments.

The Velvia curve was by Paul Bleicher - and yes the oversaturation can be seen in the lower right awning pipes.

I do disagree with you on the converging verticals. I am not an architectural photographer (when I did I used a PC Nikkor) but as a designer I do like (personally) the vanishing point that can be achieved with a 12-24mm lens. It does depend on the angle of subject to the plane of the camera. It can almost be said that this gives a very different perspective on a subject. I do also agree that this is a very personal thing.

I also agree about the unbalanced composition - very hard to adjust tho when you don’t have a ladder!!

Chris

[Greg B]

I pretty much agree with Geoff on this one, the richer colours on #2 are more interesting.

lejazzcat, I understand what you are saying about architectural photos etc , but I think the wide angle effects take a shot like this out of the architectural category - notwithstanding the the obvious fact that the subject is a building - and places it it the interesting perspective category. And given that we are just a bunch of d70 owners, and there are lots of buildings, this sort of thing is bound to happen

Chris, I like the shot.

[Onyx]

The green leaves have turned a bit too yellow, but I love those colours the Velvia produced! Sure it's unnatural, but what a feast for the eyes!!

[mudder]

G'day,
The custom curve seems to have boosted the saturation to more of an artistic image than a true-to-life architectural representation, but I must admit I preferred the modified presentation...

I've always been interested in architecture (was a draftsman for 10 years in a previous, non-IT life) and clients usually preferred a more dramatic or artistic approach, probably leading toward the wow factor to get the sale I suppose, so it might depend on what sort of end result you're after...

In a pure critique sense, a different angle may help with isolating your subject, but that's always tricky with a large city building with heaps of stuff in the way...

Dunno if that helps, but thanks for the examples of the different curves though... I'm obviously not very good at critique, maybe that lack of skill thang doesn't help huh

Cheers,
Mudder

[meicw]

I use a velvia curve in camera. I like the effects that it gives. I can remember someone telling me years ago that if you cant get the lines of a building straight and upright, then go the other way, and exaggerate the distortion.

Regards
Meic

[sirhc55]

I want to thank everyone for their comments. I believe that both positive and negative comments are essential and welcome.

Chris

[MHD]

Compasition wise, it annoys me that the optus logo is almost visible but not quite... very distracting...

But that is me

[sirhc55]

Compasition wise, it annoys me that the optus logo is almost visible but not quite... very distracting...

But that is me

Try the one in the bottom left hand corner

Chris

[lejazzcat]

lejazzcat - I welcome your comments.

I do disagree with you on the converging verticals. I am not an architectural photographer (when I did I used a PC Nikkor)

Amazing lenz ! i wish they made one for the new dcams (anyone?)
This guy makes his own ! thats keen !!
http://www.naturfotograf.com/28pc.html

but as a designer I do like (personally) the vanishing point that can be achieved with a 12-24mm lens. It does depend on the angle of subject to the plane of the camera.

I agree, given the tight situation of a crowded city block, that its a good choice of lens to get a workable shot. But I find the angle of the building on the right side to be too much.

It can almost be said that this gives a very different perspective on a subject.

Well if thats the effect you were going for, then go all the way - make it abstract - use the building purely as a shape.

I do also agree that this is a very personal thing.

As it should be. Its your story to tell.

I also agree about the unbalanced composition - very hard to adjust tho when you don’t have a ladder!!

I recall that the Northpoint tower( near that intersection- opposite the GPO) has a open viewing area that overlooks the entire intersection, but youd probably have to shoot during the working week to get access via the corporate/offices entrance.

[sirhc55]

Thanks for your reply lejazzcat - and that home made PC is amazing - thanks for the link

Chris

[Nicole]

I prefer the second photo as the colours have a lot more punch.

[ru32day]

It's a funny thing. I often experiment with curves in my own shots if I think they are a bit lacking in punch. I usually try Point and Shoot (prev White Wedding) first but often feel the result it produces is overkill.

Despite my general taste for more laid back colour, I really like the Velvia'ised shot much better than the original here.

I think it might be that in the first shot, which is more true to life, I am distracted by the non-vertical verticals. The Velvia'ised version, however, is larger than life and more apparently an artistic expression of the scene. Perhaps because of this, the verticals in the Velvia shot don't intrude on my overall viewing pleasure.

That's my one and a half cents worth, anyway - and might I also say that I'm sure I couldn't have done the shot as well myself.