Tried Architecture again

12 years 9 months ago #98813 by mj~shutterbugg
Please go check out my new album. It's a work assignment with the goal of having future students see the campus up close and personal for the website. Critiques wanted.

www.photographytalk.com/component/simgal...c=viewalbum&aid=7751

MJ

Think Off-Center ~ George Carlin
www.mjbrennanphoto.com

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12 years 9 months ago #98839 by chasrich
The photos look fine. I was hoping to see some coeds though. Are there no people allowed in these shots?

“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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12 years 9 months ago #98845 by Rob pix4u2
Left you a comment on your album page- overall a good album

Remember to engage brain before putting mouth in gear
Rob Huelsman Sr.
My Facebook www.facebook.com/ImaginACTIONPhotography

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12 years 9 months ago #98865 by Graflex 4x5
Before I start, want to say that colleges want to be thought of as up right unwavering institutions. You're starting a journey of knowledge without confines (unless you impose them yourself) so here goes:

You have a lot of work to correct the perspective in most of the photos. If you can't do a software correction that's looks good, you may want to try a PC lens. You can always rent one.

A lot of your shots show too much sky and are rather narrow in width. Remember that 'pathway' to knowledge when you compose your shots .... and try a wider lens so you can show more of the building.

The shot with the tree lined walk ... looks like a confining tunnel.

See if you can get some shots with doors open, as if "welcome, come on in!" A quad looks empty and lonely without people, so do benches. If you need, get some friends to 'pose' ... some studying, others talking and a few laughing .... We're for learning as well as fun .... Get the idea?

Photos like these are used for advertising .... ask them what they want you to show.

I'd love to get on that campus ... the buildings are great!

No matter how fast I go, there's always someone slower in front of me.
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12 years 9 months ago #98925 by KCook
I could not find EXIF info. Nice compositions in my view. Many of the shots look rather underexposed on my screen. Of course if you hit the perfect exposure for the greenery and brick walls, that often blows out the bright sky. Some camera tricks to try are DRO, or cut the contrast way back, or both. But even with such tricks still expect to be left with a lot of PP to bring the scenery and sky together.

Kelly Cook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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12 years 9 months ago #99285 by mj~shutterbugg
Thanks Everyone. They wanted Summer shots with the greenery in bloom, but there aren't many students around right now. Plus I have avoided people as I didn't know legalities regarding model releases for students on a University website. These are the best of the ones I have taken and I know almost nothing about architecture photography and avoid too much post, but found to get the sky interesting I needed to really use the fill light but don't know how a speedlight would have lit an entire building.

Kelly I am unfamiliar with DRO? Would you be able to explain that? My education was heavy on the arts lax on the tech and science of photography. Garflex I used my 2nd widest lens (28mm )and since I am not being paid didn't want to rent one but maybe a 14 mm fish eye would be fun to play with. I have a 24 mm but I didn't think there would be much difference between 24 and 28- maybe I am wrong. This is all new to me. Thanks for the help.

Think Off-Center ~ George Carlin
www.mjbrennanphoto.com

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12 years 9 months ago #99377 by KCook
"DRO" is "Dynamic Range Optimization". Sony actually calls this feature DRO. Nikon calls it "D-lighting". Canon gets more complicated and splits it with two terms, "Highlight Priority" and "Auto Lighting". Here is a link to the Nikon explanation -

www.nikonusa.com/Learn-And-Explore/Photo...1/The-Equalizer.html

You can usually apply DRO either in the camera or in PP with the software provided with the camera. RAW shooters generally prefer to do it in PP. JPG shooters need to do it in the camera.

Advanced photo editors do a very similar effect that they call "equalization". Even my old Elements 4 has this tool. EQ is usually a very strong effect, so you need to create a layer for it, then fade that layer to suit. I have an example here -

kellycook.zenfolio.com/p167916449/h34f58c3a#h34f58c3a

Clear as mud?
Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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12 years 9 months ago #99393 by mj~shutterbugg
OK I know of the highlight priority on my camera and found the equalizer on PhotoShop. I will tweak these later hoping to balance more- Thanks Kelly.

Think Off-Center ~ George Carlin
www.mjbrennanphoto.com

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12 years 9 months ago #99475 by mj~shutterbugg
Here are two tweeks I did, please let me know what you think.





Think Off-Center ~ George Carlin
www.mjbrennanphoto.com

Attachments:
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12 years 9 months ago - 12 years 9 months ago #99741 by KCook
The top one was flattened too much. Gave up too much contrast. Need to dial back the EQ a little (assuming that was used). The bottom one is better, still slightly dark on my el cheapo screen.

Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

The following user(s) said Thank You: mj~shutterbugg
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12 years 9 months ago #99975 by icepics
You've got some w/really interesting perspective, I don't know if that's what they're looking for or not. The ones that I think look most like what a school website might use (did you look at other sites just to get an idea what they usually use?) are the one w/steps going up to a square bldg., a curvy stone and glass bldg., a walkway to a white doorway. Maybe a little cropping would make a difference just enough to bring attention to the bldg. like you did in the one w/the clock, I think that was good to start with and the editing made it better.

I don't know if their castle-y buildings are significant to them but there's one w/a tower that's really cool.

Sharon
Photo Comments
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12 years 9 months ago #99989 by Graflex 4x5
I like the first shot a lot more. The walkway draws you into the image and offers a way around the hedge blocking the straight through path. The clock implies time ... more like it's time to learn or the reason it's empty is everyone's in class because it's 10 after the hour. Think you also got just the right amount of sky too. Good work.

The second one just doesn't do it for me, and I can't really put my finger on it. :huh:

No matter how fast I go, there's always someone slower in front of me.
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12 years 9 months ago - 12 years 9 months ago #100295 by mj~shutterbugg
Thanks for the help everyone. I had my deadline and turned them in. So far the web master is quite pleased. I warned him that he could give me an honest critique and tell me they stunk, he's a friends spouse and a friend. Most of the work on the website has been done through windows or in winter by students. I have a lot of work to do to get good at landscapes and architecture, but I think I will keep trying- I like a challenge :)

Think Off-Center ~ George Carlin
www.mjbrennanphoto.com

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12 years 9 months ago #100415 by KCook
The nice thing about architecture is that the subject never moves :thumbsup:

So when in doubt, bracket the exposure. Sort out the best solution later.

Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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12 years 9 months ago #100433 by Graflex 4x5

KCook wrote: The nice thing about architecture is that the subject never moves :thumbsup:

So when in doubt, bracket the exposure. Sort out the best solution later.

Kelly


It SHOULDN'T move, but sometimes it does. Ask the people in Japan, New Orleans and the Left Coast of the US about it. :(

No matter how fast I go, there's always someone slower in front of me.
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