I don't like the symmetry actually. I wish there was more context to it, or something happening, even a person standing by it, under it, leaning, looking away, anything. It seems like the scene of something.
I like the tones, too, but that's true for most of the pictures you do - they are pleasing on the eye and this one is the same. I don't care as much about dpc-wow as dpc does, but it feels something is missing.
I like it: though it has a weird and unaccountable feeling of being slightly off-vertical. Would love to see a colour version - from the contrat it looks like the ones of the brick and the wood would make an intersting contrast. The reflections in the glass are eye-catching too.
I like it: though it has a weird and unaccountable feeling of being slightly off-vertical. Would love to see a colour version - from the contrat it looks like the ones of the brick and the wood would make an intersting contrast. The reflections in the glass are eye-catching too.
Ed
The 'slightly off-vertical' is the key here. This is the part I want to discuss eventually :)
I like the shot for what it is, a really neat old window. The range of tones in the bricks really makes the pictures. The actual window was kind of an afterthought for me due to the interesting bricks. I also feel it is off vertical. I copied it to Photoshop to check...
I checked the horizontal and vertical aspects of numerous lines in the photo using guidelines in PSD. Most lines are dead on vertical and horizontal, but some are off, which is to be expected in an old building that has settled and shifted. Here is what I found:
The red lines show where the horiz and vert elements are off a little. All other lines I checked in the image were perfect.
The window panes themselves have a great deal of detail and character, but they seem to get overlooked in the image. I think this would be worth visiting again, but bring along a prop. (reminds me of your apple on the urinal idea). Maybe put a small vase with flowers on the sill... Something to add a splash of color, and do some closeups of just the window and the prop.
As for the overall composition, I think the arch at the top feels a little crowded, as compared to the vast space below the window. I would try a shot with more room above, and also a shot with the wall and window, but with the window off center...
The gist of this shot, to me, is in the interplay between the weathered imperfections/markings of the narrower frames and panes (i.e. the top right one) and the wonderfully ambiguous reflections on the glass.
Another contrast dynamic takes place horizontally between the absolute shadow-to groove-to board-to shadow, just above it. The surrounding brick wall, although rich with detail and serial variety, curbs my visual delight by providing approximately 200 pounds of visible cement (in the cracks). The arched brickwork at the top also adds a rudimentary ornament, which does little to support the potential use of 'a sea of bricks' as a complimentary context.
I welcome the almost imperceptible vertical 'tilt' in the photo (it seems balanced horizontally). It suggests, appropiately 'leaning' and 'age'.
Using the directions in the tutorial (which is what I did to begin with) I get this (minus the apostrophes I inserted so it doesn't look like more code to the server...
It doesn't work.
I went to the image page in my portfolio, copied the url, pasted itinto the dialog box when I hit the add image button...
When I do so using a Pbase image, I have to add .jpg to make it work. That does not apply for the portfolio image
the 'tilt' problem here is twofold... first of all, i doubt that the buklding is perfect... secondly, I was shooting at a slight up angle with the camera... the camera was below window level and it is also possible that my camera was not centered properly for this composition.
My question is:
When making a photo like this one, which elements need to be used for lining up the composition? When I composed this particular photo, I used the brickwork at the top of the frame as a reference point. I did this because I felt that any problem with those horizontal lines would be a larger distraction/problem than the slight tilt of the window itself... Any ideas on that?
Thanks, Ben, that's what I needed. The tutorial should provide the correct instructions. If you follow them as is, copying the url from the browser address window, it doesn't work!
John,
Are you hell bent for taking it straight on or could you go for a slight angle? Wouldn't that change the perspective enough to make the misalignment more on purpose? How much would that change the effect you are after? If you were after a shot of the window and the oldness/ texture/ or relationship of all the elements, couldn't you get that from another spot?
John,
Are you hell bent for taking it straight on or could you go for a slight angle? Wouldn't that change the perspective enough to make the misalignment more on purpose? How much would that change the effect you are after? If you were after a shot of the window and the oldness/ texture/ or relationship of all the elements, couldn't you get that from another spot?
Dick
I'm sure I could have taken this shot from several angles which would offer perspectives that aren't available in this one. In this particular case, and in a few other recent photos I have done, perspective and depth has not been my objective as much as tone and texture.
I may go reshoot this window because I think I can improve it some. When I do, I will shoot a snapshot of the environment that it's in as well... probably try a few perspectives also. Adding too much of a side perspective to this shot is going to introduce the top edge of the building into the frame... dunno if that would be good or bad...
Sometimes we start out trying to do something that is far to difficult for the results. Right now I am trying to fill the frame of my camera with a round object and not lose the spherical shape of it.
The window photo leaves me feeling lonely, shut out, eerie, withdrawn.
The tones contribute to this, and are done well. The texture of the bricks are interesting. I wonder if it would have a different impact framed more to one side or the other.
When making a photo like this one, which elements need to be used for lining up the composition? When I composed this particular photo, I used the brickwork at the top of the frame as a reference point. I did this because I felt that any problem with those horizontal lines would be a larger distraction/problem than the slight tilt of the window itself... Any ideas on that?
I think the major problem is that the brickwork appears to need rotating right slightly, and the window to the left ... don't know if there's an answer to that, though as the window itself is the primary subject I guess I'd try to get that to look as straight as possible.
