Paget House

[Travis]

One of these I spent a goodly amount of time on.... the other was created in seconds.... I am interested in feedback...

[tegan]

I tend to suspect that your talents in the second one were more globally rather than selectively oriented and particularly toward contrast.

The work on the sky creates a great mood with the dark cloud and yet still some blue sky. The distortion on the right hand side however is too extreme as is the limited detail and colour in the greenery. I would like to see more detail, not enough to destroy the mood but more than what there is presently.

In making the white, pure white you seemed to have overdone it, lost detail and created a distracting blast of white near the door of the house. I would have selectively worked on the white and tried to get it a little more under control.

I would have also experimented with the software filter plug-ins to see if I could get what I wanted using those too.

Despite my critique, it is still an interesting experiment, well worth the work. I am just pointing out that there are always alternatives and new ways to experiment.

Tegan

[Travis]

I tend to suspect that your talents in the second one were more globally rather than selectively oriented and particularly toward contrast.

The work on the sky creates a great mood with the dark cloud and yet still some blue sky. The distortion on the right hand side however is too extreme as is the limited detail and colour in the greenery. I would like to see more detail, not enough to destroy the mood but more than what there is presently.

In making the white, pure white you seemed to have overdone it, lost detail and created a distracting blast of white near the door of the house. I would have selectively worked on the white and tried to get it a little more under control.

I would have also experimented with the software filter plug-ins to see if I could get what I wanted using those too.

Despite my critique, it is still an interesting experiment, well worth the work. I am just pointing out that there are always alternatives and new ways to experiment.

Tegan

You got everything right but one... the first image is just a 5 exposure HDR via PSPX2... nothing else done to it...

The second one i was picking up from our last discussions about selective colourization.... the purpose was to underexpose all area's around the subject in order to make it pop out...

I used a -2 exposure as the base and masked a +1 exposure over top..... then I erased the -2 over the house.... the clouds I left at -2... and the foliage I erased at only 10% to add a bit of colour.... it took a lot of time..... but as you know I'm kind of a PP wetback....

I agree with all of your other points..... in the end I prefer the plain old HDR over my other attempt...

it's a real bummer when you bury yourself in an image and it ends up blowing in the end .....

[Marko]

Good critique Tegan!

it's a real bummer when you bury yourself in an image and it ends up blowing in the end .....

Except that that's how we learn and we are FAR less likely to repeat our errors.

[tegan]

OK, I would have never guessed that the first shot was an HDR. I am not trying to put a downer on your work and enthusiasm but the reality is that with a good polarizer, good lens, and careful exposure, it is possible to get a shot of the house with more detail without resorting to HDR.

As for making the subject pop out, why not see if there is a trial version of Nik Software EFex 3 filters. If there is, it would be worth your while to experiment with them. They are faster and easier to use, I am sure, than your time consuming work and efforts.

Bottom line is that I like the second, but you need a lot more learning and the right software to get it done quickly and more correctly and effectively.
Keep at it.

Tegan

[Travis]

OK, I would have never guessed that the first shot was an HDR. I am not trying to put a downer on your work and enthusiasm but the reality is that with a good polarizer, good lens, and careful exposure, it is possible to get a shot of the house with more detail without resorting to HDR.

As for making the subject pop out, why not see if there is a trial version of Nik Software EFex 3 filters. If there is, it would be worth your while to experiment with them. They are faster and easier to use, I am sure, than your time consuming work and efforts.

Bottom line is that I like the second, but you need a lot more learning and the right software to get it done quickly and more correctly and effectively.
Keep at it.

Tegan

well... two things with the polarizer.... the first these were both shot at 12mm.... such wide angles can not always be accommodated effectively with the polarizer.... the second thing is the sun was setting behind me.... the polarizing effect is lost if not at 90 degrees... the polarizer for this shoot would have just ended up being a 2 stop ND filter....

passive HDR's and exposure blending are just something I'm into experimenting with right now... i think dodging and burning using multiple exposure layers might produce some desirable results... it's just getting the balance right that can be the trick...

the NIK plug ins you recommend are high on my list..... I just started shooting RAW again so I bought LightRoom2..... between that and PSPX2 I've got too much on my plate to absorb.... I'm tempted to download the NIK trials but I'm afraid I'll get hooked... I've already out grown my camera body and still need a 2.8 zoom... I think I'd have better cashflow with a crack habit then photography....

thanks for your input though...

[tegan]

well... two things with the polarizer.... the first these were both shot at 12mm.... such wide angles can not always be accommodated effectively with the polarizer.... the second thing is the sun was setting behind me.... the polarizing effect is lost if not at 90 degrees... the polarizer for this shoot would have just ended up being a 2 stop ND filter....

passive HDR's and exposure blending are just something I'm into experimenting with right now... i think dodging and burning using multiple exposure layers might produce some desirable results... it's just getting the balance right that can be the trick...

the NIK plug ins you recommend are high on my list..... I just started shooting RAW again so I bought LightRoom2..... between that and PSPX2 I've got too much on my plate to absorb.... I'm tempted to download the NIK trials but I'm afraid I'll get hooked... I've already out grown my camera body and still need a 2.8 zoom... I think I'd have better cashflow with a crack habit then photography....

thanks for your input though...

OK, why would you ever shoot a building at less than 28mm (35mm equivalent)? The distortion even at that focal length from some angles is difficult to correct. Without DXO software I would not even attempt shooting a building inside or out with a 12mm lens (18mm at 35mm equivalent) and even then only on rare occasions.

The problem with wide angle lenses is that they flatten an image from any distance and distort an image from close-up. It is necessary for the photographer to balance the two evils with just the right camera position on just the right subject. Certainly not easy for beginners.

My preference is a 28mm prime (35mm equivalent) or a zoom that goes from 28mm to 75mm or more that allows the photographer to control the amount of distortion or flattening in the image. Even then I too often tend to frame too tightly and not leave sufficient room for distortion correction.

Tegan

[Travis]

oh.... It may be a rookie thing... but I LOVE shooting structure wide and close. I think you can create a real sense of drama using this style. The distortion is relevant to the story I'm trying to tell.


EDIT: If I shot this 35mm I'd be standing on the road getting smoked by speeding tourists from Toronto..... the perspective also would have also been toasted because of a steep hilled driveway approaching the house..... even so.... if the surface was completely flat... I would have still shot at 12mm....

[AcadieLibre]

I like the perspective and the clouds in the second photo.