Shapes, shapes can be found in roofs!

[krpolak]

Still searching. Found that outside my office I can find a lot of interesting shapes, especially if choosen perspective is proper one

Regards,

K.Polak

[Sheetshooter]

Well spotted again Kristian,

Perhaps a slightly more panoramic crop to avoid the ventilation pipe might strengthen the geometry.

Cheers,

[krpolak]

-->Sheetshooter

I agree, cropping into more panoramic format helps find patterns in this shot. You have got good I for this type photography

Regards,

K.Polak

[Sheetshooter]

Kristian,

I believe that if photographers wish to produce anything more than simple snapshots that they need to develop an eye for pattern and design. Even in reportage, photo-journalism and candid street photography the placement of the subject and the lines of power in their surroundings contribute enormously to the eventual perception of the subject or event.

Keep in mind that Henri Cartier-Bresson attended art classes long before he picked up a camera. There he was taught by André Lohte, a devottee of Jay Hambridge. And Hambridge was very concerned with shapes and proportions, devising a milieu called dynamic symmetry.

Like all 'theories' or sets of rules, the theory of dynamic symmetry is just as prone to be as much a burden as a benefit if followed blindly, but H C-B simply took the notions on board and they informed his work thereafter rather than confining it as happens with some others.

I see this roof shot as being an exercise on your path to mastery - it is not as striking or compelling as some of your other work of late, but these things have to be done. Relying heavily, as it does, on texture and repetition perhaps it would be enhanced by a further step to abstraction by rendering it in black & white. As it stands it IS very monochromatic, being set in the ochres and browns of terracotta. Maybe the colour presents a rendition too close reality. A departure from that could prove advantageous.

Minor White espoused a message which I have always taken to my heart (several actually):

'Not to photograph something for what it is, but to photograph it for WHAT ELSE it is.'

Cheers,

[sirhc55]

All that sheetshooter has said plus I would even clone out the skylight

[krpolak]

I had to put this roof aside for a while. It is just a roof and I found make it something more than that is quite challanging. But now it back.

I agree with you sirhc55 that skylight should be removed. I didn't do that at the first approach because unfortunatelly there was going to be a bit more work on that then it looks. However, now whole thing starts to be clearer.

You are right Sheetshooter that this roof is kind of exercise for me. Having some break from the subject I came back with fresh eye I. Also I agree with you saying 'Not to photograph something for what it is, but to photograph it for WHAT ELSE it is'. That is correct aproach.

Keeping this in mind I have done two versions. First one preserves natural colour with a bit lifted up saturation and cleaning. What I like in this version is that you can see two different however repeatitive shapes. They are different, but the similar hue keeps them together.



Here is the second version, following your advice. Converting this image to B&W cannot be done by simple desaturation or even mixing channels. Problem is that ripping this image from colour in simpler fashion makes things worse and we end up with two completly separated shapes. I found to keeps roofs together I must match lightness of closer roof to the second one. Then they can create a new impression based on repetition and texture.



What are your toughts about this attempt? Personaly I prefer colour version. For me have more impact, however also diffrent feeling than B&W version. Maybe becasue it is closer to my first intentions.

Regards,

K.Polak

[wendellt]

the black and white will stand the test of time, it's a classic

[krpolak]

Other roofy catch. This one is more difficult shot from street level.



Regards,

K.Polak

[krpolak]

Wendellt,

Quick update. After few weeks I must say that for me both of them stand the test of time. They are too different.

Regards,

K.Polak