Downtown L.A.

[DrRoebuck]

Took this one on Saturday with my new 14-24mm f/2.8 lens. Look forward to comments.

[Jaedon]

I love seeing the non-tourist view of a city. The mighty LA river in the foreground and the skyline in the background.

I like the composition. My eyes can't seem to stop moving....but in a good way. They pause here and there and find something new and interesting every time I look at this. Nice work

[GB1]

I agree with Jaedon, it's refreshing to see a non-tourist view of a sunny Californian city. I look at this and say "Yep, typical LA" with it's disorganized, little-to-no urban planning design there (this area looks perfect for a squatter's convention, actually). The only thing that bothers me a bit is that the pic seems to be cut into two equal vertical pieces due to the placement of the horizon in the middle. Other than that nitpick, it conveys very well.
GB

[DrRoebuck]

I agree with Jaedon, it's refreshing to see a non-tourist view of a sunny Californian city. I look at this and say "Yep, typical LA" with it's disorganized, little-to-no urban planning design there (this area looks perfect for a squatter's convention, actually). The only thing that bothers me a bit is that the pic seems to be cut into two equal vertical pieces due to the placement of the horizon in the middle. Other than that nitpick, it conveys very well.
GB

Thanks ... I'm not sure what I could have done differently, since I didn't want to crop the top of that powerline tower. Suggestions?

[GB1]

Thanks ... I'm not sure what I could have done differently, since I didn't want to crop the top of that powerline tower. Suggestions?

Not sure. I like DrRoebuck's crop, but I also feel that cropping out that bottom dirt area completely changes the feeling of the shot. The original shows that LA is still very close to a desert town (with the very little rain we get out in the west), and it also shows contrast between big city concrete, undeveloped area, and technology (the wires, etc).

[MB1]

Not sure. I like DrRoebuck's crop, but I also feel that cropping out that bottom dirt area completely changes the feeling of the shot. The original shows that LA is still very close to a desert town (with the very little rain we get out in the west), and it also shows contrast between big city concrete, undeveloped area, and technology (the wires, etc).

I agree that showing the dry dirt foreground in front of the railroad tracks is a good way to show the true nature of the area. However the good Dr first image had that division in the middle. I think the overall image would be improved by either more or less foreground. No question that cropping was going to change the overall feel of the shot.

Photographers choice is the bottom line and I do think his new crop does improve the look of the image although it does reduce the impact of the dry foreground and makes all the man made stuff more important. Perhaps if he cropped from the top down to the second power tower that desert look would be even stronger.

[jkriminger]

how about crop from bottom to lower right track in corner..give you a nice panorama and puts city closer to a third on right

[MB1]

I too am bothered by the transition from sky to land being almost in the center of the image, I'd like either more or less foreground as the sky seems about right.

Clearly that 14mm ain't wide enough. ;-)

[DrRoebuck]

I normally like to keep the aspect ratio intact, but I tried a crop and I think I like it.

[MB1]

I normally like to keep the aspect ratio intact, but I tried a crop and I think I like it....

Don't let your camera dictate to you how your image is going to turn out.

[DrRoebuck]

You guys both make good points. As I've show in the past, I can get indecisive when it comes to stuff like this, at least as far as my own work is concerned. I like that the bridge and high-rises are more pronounced in the cropped version, and that's probably the deciding factor.