Lights and Shadows

[LeeIs]

I don't know about this photo, maybe a tad flat, I usually like a bit of perspective, but I enjoyed the lights and shadows in this and decided to shoot it head on. What do you think?

[Frog]

Exposure is great. There is something I can't put my finger on and I don't even know if it is positive or negative, so I'll get back to this soon.
One thing that always declares a good shot to me is if someone wants to look at it more than once so since I do, you can consider that a positive.

[jetrim]

My ONLY nit-pick is to level it to the balcony and let the street run down hill.

[Overbeyond]

I think removing most of the road would bring all the deserving emphasis back to the wonderful colonial architecture of Havana. There is so much interest, light and shadows in the structure.

[gahspidy]

I like the photo, Liban but as frog said there is something more that i can't quite get the finger on.
I agree with tom about cropping out most of the raod. however, i also find that if you crop the entire second floor down to the balcony leaving the road and the first floor, there is a nice image there as well.
Good stuff, Liban

[Canyon Hiker]

I like the photo, Liban but as frog said there is something more that i can't quite get the finger on.
I agree with tom about cropping out most of the raod. however, i also find that if you crop the entire second floor down to the balcony leaving the road and the first floor, there is a nice image there as well.
Good stuff, Liban

Another great shot!! You sure do have the eye.
I just had to erase my response to this shot after reading gahspidy's reply. "i also find that if you crop the entire second floor down to the balcony leaving the road and the first floor, there is a nice image there as well." That is exactly what I was thinking and typing, but then again it might take away from the shot as well. As i look at this, I think what is bothering me on the top floor is the bright lights, but it makes it unique having them...Hmmm..Neither here nor there, bottom line is its a great shot!!


Darin

[GB1]

Liban - Congrats on a really professional-looking shot. IT is super sharp and has a classical look. I am not 100% sure about the streaky lights in the foreground, but you could always crop them out and see what you get. If I had to nitpick, and this is a very small nit, I think there may be some barrel distortion at the top of the image where the horizontal doesn't quite look straight. Architectural images betray these little imperfections sometimes, and strange that it wouldn't be on left or right instead of the top (unless you did a vertical shot). Again, nice work here..................

G

[Frog]

I just end up liking it more and more. I keep looking for a lurking figure in the coves and doorways. That one isn't there is a plus in this case.

[daq7]

The only problem with removing part of the road is that horizontal row of blue bars really adds vibrance (not a word, but maybe you see what I mean) to the picture. I really like it. My instinct would always be to pull more detail out of the darks, but I think my judgment is suspect in that.

[Greg McCary]

I agree that cropping some of the road would help. I think you should also try and clone the bright lights on the upper floor. A human element would add a bit more mystery to it as well. Maybe a bike or something?

[LeeIs]

Thanks guys for all the great feedback. The bottom light streaks is what drew me to this pic. I agree that it's a bit barren and a human element or some sorta other subject could've made it better. I'll play around with different crops and see how it turns out

Thanks!

[chrisnesss]

I love this shot. The shadows and spots of bright lights really creates interest in the image. Also I like the road in the foreground it gives the image depth. Great job.

[readingr]

Liban,

this is really annoying photo, I thinik there is something missing and then I don't and I cannot put my finger on what is wrong, and now the penny finally dropped. The lights on the top floor need to be tonned down in brightness a lot. They are very distracting.

The things I tried to figure this out in the many visits are:

crop road in half - didn't like the result (using an envelop on the desk kept for this specific purpose
cropped from left
cropped from right
looked in the doorway for details to clone
looked all over the photo for things to clone
verticals not straight
horizontals not straight
story being told and finally
I cropped the top floor out and the penny dropped, its the very bright lights.

Its not the composition its the lights (Haaa! relief)
Hope that helps
Roger R.

[LeeIs]

Thanks chris.

Roger, I think you nailed it. That might be the problem ultimately. Those lights are a tad bit too strong. I usually try to hide the lights, but there were just too many to hide here, there would inevitable be a few showing. Thanks!

[GB1]

Liban - Just had to try an edit here. I cropped out the lights at the bottom, but .. it didn't really turn the shot into a super image. I think the street adds another dimension to the image that is sorely missed when cropped. I also found the lights shining through the arches to be paradoxical, both good and bad for the photo.

In the end, I did the crop and applied a crazy filter to it. Maybe I'm nuts

G

[LeeIs]

lol GB. I see in your 'Christmas Model Expt' thread that you're in a PP mood tonight ;)

I think i figured out the problem with this in the lights, so all those that suggested cropping the entire 2nd floor or tuning down those lights were imo the correct way to fix this.

And yeah, that filter is indeed a little crazy. haha

[LeeIs]

Thanks minhthanh and welcome to PR!

[BlueRob]

For some reason I missed this one. I like it as is, but I think also to tweak down or remove the hard lights on 2nd floor and yes some sort of human trace like a shadow, silhouette or bicycle as someone suggested will boost the scene.

[LeeIs]

Thanks Darin and Rob. Appreciate the feedback. Yeah, the 2nd floor here is the culprit, that along with the absence of an object that might have given this another dimension.

[kisu]

I think it is superb - my only comment would be that the three areas of bright light in the top left are distracting and i would crop very slightly the right hand side to remove the small bright light in the center of the right hand border. The contrast between the streaked light on the road and the subdued / atmosperic light in the building is great.

[LeeIs]

Thank you Kisu!