Old Charm

[gahspidy]

I shot this while attempting to do other subjects. I happen to notice the lighting on this charming building and had to capture it. I like it, but what do you think?

[MarcusK]

Nice title, nice shot... although i would crop differently from the right...a little bit from another building seems to be intruding...so i would either show more or less of it....

Personally i would cropped it out....

No other issues with this one.... since it is an old building, and the photo has an "old" style to it, have you tried it in B&W?? just brainstorming here...

Marc

[Overbeyond]

Hello Gary
Very nice light on a very nice building and you have caught it well. I hope I'm seeing this properly but I feel there is a slight distortion as the eye wanders from bottom to top, but I could be wrong. Had you already done some adjustment to the lines already? The piece of building in the right foreground might be a distraction as it is has lost a little shape.
The lack of colour in the other buildings is good, and allows us to stay focused on the main subject. Simple and effective.
Tom

[Greg McCary]

I like these kinds of pictures and I agree with Tom about the lack of color in the other buildings. I also like the crop. it works well. Nice picture...
Greg

[gahspidy]

Thanks for your thoughts.

Marc. . .There is no more of the slither of silhouetted building on the right to add. I did try cropping it out altogether and felt it took something away. It seemed to add a certain depth by creating a very small foreground element. I will try experimenting with the cropping it out again and see if I feel differently about it. thanks for the comments

Tom. . .I did correct distortion as best as I thought I could, but I agree there seems to feel like there is some going on. Perhaps the slither of building on the right that Marc mentioned is adding to the perception. Overall, I thought it came out looking rather balanced, but maybe I'm mistaken. Thanks for your thoughts on it, Tom

Greg. . .You specifically mention that you felt the crop worked. Does that mean your ok with the included piece of shadowed building on the right? I may try posting a version without it to see what it looks and get some more reactions on it. Thanks Greg.

[Greg McCary]

I think the crop is fine. I like the ladder on the lower right. I feel it should stay. The shadow is not a distraction to me. We have several old buildings like this in my town, not quiet so tall. Built in the late 1800's to early 1900's. I also like the board, window lock/support?, on the second floor. It's a great picture...
Greg

[MarcusK]

Gary, you're right, the crop actually doesn't work, i did not try it at first, but i agree with Greg, the crop is fine as it is...I stand corrected...

As for the distortion, or the feeling of it anyway, you could try this:

Create layer (by double clicking on the bg layer ) if your image is not already a layer, go to Edit>Free Transform>Distort and move the Top left Corner towards the right (remember to press Shift as you do that) It does take care of the feeling of distortion....

Marc

EDIT:
Oh and a Sepia tone might give it that old photo look...but i wouldn't do it....The colors are great...

[gahspidy]

Here is a version with the building actually cloned out, as opposed to cropping. Cropping would start leaving me too little of the subject building for my liking.
What do you think of this version?
Thanks

[MarcusK]

Yep....I like this one.... :thumbsup:

[gahspidy]

Thanks Greg, Marc. I posted this just as you both replied. Greg, i liked the ladder as well, and so I kept that part in. Marc, good suggestions on the distortion. I tried something a bit different and wonder if you think it looks better in that respect. If I need to continue correcting, I will give your method a go.
thanks again

[Greg McCary]

Gary, I like the second one better, But the issue of the shadow was very minor. I really like it either way, but lean torward the second on overall. I like these type subjects very much.
Greg

[gahspidy]

Greg, I feel the same. It did not bother me, as a matter of fact i thought it actually added some dimension in a subtle way, but I think I feel a little better about it removed. thanks

[Seb]

Here is a version with the building actually cloned out, as opposed to cropping. Cropping would start leaving me too little of the subject building for my liking.
What do you think of this version?
Thanks

Gary, I like this, it makes me feel like going to NYC again! That specific version with the building cloned out works the best for me. I'd keep the colors as they are as I like how your primary building stands out. B&W or sepia might work but it wouldn't work as well.

Seb

[mtbbrian]

It's great to see you you are doing more color Gary!
I think the subtle colors work well as well as the textures.
So what did you clone out? I am having a hard time seeing any differences.
Maybe I do? I guess you cropped the edge of the building.
Why didn't you shoot it without the edge of the building?
Brian

[trog100]

i have problems with overall colour or tonal effect.. too cold for me.. but nice choice of subject..

trog

[Greg McCary]

i have problems with overall colour or tonal effect.. too cold for me.. but nice choice of subject..

trog

I disagree, I feel a slightly desaturated look works well with subjects like this, but I guess it's just a matter of personal taste. To me the colors and tone are what makes this image work.
Greg

[gahspidy]

Seb. . .that would be great. I do hope you come down for a visit. (although I understand time is something your not going to have much of in the near future) I'm glad to hear you like the edited version best.

Brian. . .yes, the last several pictures I had posted lately were color shots. I'm having fun with the DSLR, and quite frankly do not miss the film at all. Although I'm glad for the experience with it. The original posted image had a shadowed shape of a building sneaking in on the right side. I did not like how much of the subject building I would lose if I cropped it out, so I cloned it out instead. I would not have included it in the frame if I could have seen it in the viewfinder, but I only see about 95% of the actual image in my viewfinder. Good to see you on . . . Hows that RF? I know your lovin it

trog. . .thanks, I appreciate your time to comment.

Greg. . . I had experimented with boosting the saturation (which is something I usually do not like to do) and found the building started to lose it's "old weathered" look and began looking almost cartoonish and newer. Reducing the saturation gave the bricks and stone a more natural appearance, which is really the essence of it's charm.

thanks again all for a very helpful thread.

[mtbbrian]

i have problems with overall colour or tonal effect.. too cold for me.. but nice choice of subject..

trog

I disagree. The pastel colors are a part of this building's character.
The coldness probably comes from the hazy early light.
Brian