A very old Chinese Temple

[rossi46]

Hi Everyone,...

Finally, I am posting my first ever photo for critiques here,...and am very excited and eager to find out what is wrong with my pictures and how I can improve it further.
This will be the first of my many many photos (whenever time permits,...which is a big challenge :cryin: ) ..

About my photos, this is the oldest Chinese temple in Penang, Malaysia, which is a World Heritage site. Therefore, I thought that I would use some very old and vintage look in post processing using Alien Skin Exposure.

I am not sure if I am violating any rules by posting 4 similar photos of a different processing effects here, because I am having a very HARD time to decide which works better.


Please do not hold anything back when criticising my photos , etc,...and also help me decide which post processing effect works better.

[geraldb]

The first one is by far the best in my opinion.

[Lava Lamp]

Welcome. Submitting photos for critique is a tricky business. While we all really do want advice on improving our photos, we also like praise and it can be difficult to hear potentially harsh words about a photo documenting a memory that might be cherished. That is my long-winded way of saying take the advice where you can, but don't take it personally.

Regarding this photo, I like it. It is an interesting place. One thing I read a while ago about landscapes is that the better ones have a foreground, a middle ground, and a background. That flow leads the eye through the photo and creates interest. Your photo obviously had a great foreground and background, but could use something in the middle ground.

Regarding the color choices, I like #1 best.

[Anbesol]

I would consider the temple as a middle ground, and the sky as the background. I think the sky could use some detail. Solid white sky rarely treats photo's well. You could create pseudo-sky, or reshoot on a cloudy day, or just as the sun is setting/rising (depending on the direction the facade faces.)

The lowered perspective emphasizes the pigeons, I'd like a little more emphasis on the detail of the building and the happenings ahead of it, as is, the detail is somewhat lost by perspective.

all in all I think its a great photo with a great subject, also worth remembering, just because a photo can be improved doesn't mean its "bad" or "not good" as it is.

And reposting 4 different edits of the same shot is not against the rules at all, its actually something members do here frequently and can be useful. I agree that the first is the best, the tones of the image are all rather similar, so when you switch it to monotone, it looks very... monotone... hehe, but the color adds some needed distinction. Also, if you shot in raw, you could bring out some of the crushed shadow detail in the birds..

[Bobintx]

I like the first one the best but I'm not a fan of the loma effect around the edges. I think a photographer should use his or her talent with the camera not the processing! With that being said I think it's a little out of focus and lacking composition. I do like the subtle colors.

[Greg McCary]

I like the first edit I do how ever think you should clone the one bird on the left side. The one closest to the frames edge. It is to close for comfort.

[geraldb]

I like the first edit I do how ever think you should clone the one bird on the left side. The one closest to the frames edge. It is to close for comfort.

I read many comments here that include cloning. Cloning is one of the most difficult thing you could do in PP. Nobody could do cloning unless he/she are really really good in PS.

[Photo-John]

The first one is by far the best in my opinion.

Why? An opinion alone isn't very useful for serious Photo Critique. Please share the reasons you think it's the best and what might be done to improve it.

[rossi46]

Hallo everyone,...

Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate your participation!

Lava Lamp -Your advise and encouragement is great, for a beginner in photography like me.
I especially like the phrase "take the advice where you can".. Thats why I am here.

Some feedback may not be workable on the theme of my original theme for the photo, but it gives me useful ideas of having a few different types of shots for this temple, which is great.

About your critique of blank middle ground, can you suggest on what I can do there?
The reason I am taking the photo in this angle (having the joss sticks on the left and big container on the right) is to avoid these two subjects blocking the central entrance of the temple.

Perhaps should I try to bring some texture on the floor in the middle ground instead of having it over-exposed?

Anbesol -
I take note of your comment that perhaps the photo would look better with abit of colour in the sky.
This photo was taking during baking hot noon time.

I may lose the pigeons in sight if I empahsize more of the building or the activities that take place, unless I could shoo the pigeons to drive them closer to the building.
Maybe that is what makes the great photographers? Other than capturing perfect moment, they have the patient to wait in the hot sun, think long and try to "create" the scene or wait for the perfect opportunity such as when the pigeons go nearer.

Bobintx -
Noted, I do admit that I am using post processing to create the mood that is not originally there in unedited photo.

Greg -
Thanks for the suggestion, I am going to try cloning out the left pigeon and see if it looks better overall.




Anymore critiques please???