View from Within,"Vines through a Window"

[gahspidy]

I happened upon another spot that presented an opportunity to add to the series. It has been quite a while . . .
What do you think?
Thanks

[Greg McCary]

I love your "from within" series, you balance exposure perfectly. You have inspired me to practice these types of pictures as well. As for the picture, I love the way the vines flow through the window. Perfect timing with the sunlight in the window too. Great work as usual.......

[readingr]

Gary,

I hate it; the title; they look more like brambles than vines, try back to nature.

Oh! as for the photo, there is little to critique; perhaps the wall and the brambles by the wall are a tad hot, perhaps a touch of burning in could help.

Another really good addition to the series.

Roger

[Seb]

I happened upon another spot that presented an opportunity to add to the series. It has been quite a while . . .
What do you think?
Thanks

Gary,

It's not the best from your series if you ask me but I think that it is still very good. The shape of the vines and the way they enter the scene leads to a strange and very interesting effect. It could almost be some sort of creature from a "B series" horror movie from the 50's (or perhaps I just have way too much imagination lol). Either way, I like it.
The hole in the ceiling allow to lit the corner of the room and it brings out interesting textures.


Seb

[Chunk]

Another fine shot Gary. I think I'd like more contrast overall giving deeper shadows for more mystery.

A little more of 'outside coming in' feeling than 'inside looking out' here but certainly fits in location wise with the rest of the series.

Did you ever complete the Manhattan Bridges nightime series?

[gahspidy]

Greg . . . thank you for your time to comment. I'm happy to know you like the series and this picture included. Actually, i have come back to this place a few times trying for the shot and it always came out looking very bright and blown out at the window and very dark and under exposed inside. This time I went back very early in the morning as the sun was rising and came up with a more balanced lighting. So, rather than it being me getting the exposure balanced correctly, it is merely a matter of getting there at the right time.

Roger . . .I was trying to come up with a simple title and thought this worked, but now you have me reconsidering. I'm glad your ok with the picture.

Seb . . .I feel the same way about it looking like a "B" style horror movie. What do you think about Chunks comments concerning the dark areas and getting more of a "comming in" feel than a "looking out". I was considering that very aspect when editing this. I think having deeper shadows and less detail inside would lend to a more mysterious looking out mood than what i have now.

Chunk . . . Always happy to have your take on things. Your idea about a darker interior and more of a coming in feel I think would deepen the mood and feel here. I think I will give it a go.
As for the bridges series, I have not been pursuing it actively, but have added a Brooklyn Bridge shot to the set. . .I have posted it a few days ago. It may be a page or two back.
Thanks for the time, Chunk.
Here is a deeper shadows version.

[Chunk]

Your idea about a darker interior and more of a coming in feel I think would deepen the mood and feel here. I think I will give it a go.
-snip-
Here is a deeper shadows version.

I like this version better. While losing some of the texture on the walls, enough remains to show how run down the interior is while adding a sense of mystery to the shot much like I felt in others of the series. I really like the spot light effect that come from the hole in the roof here.

[Tuna]

Nice find - I prefer the original where, on my screen, there is a good balance of detail and deep shadow to establish mood. I also like the inclusion of the hole above in your framing and the gray skies for accent.

Tuna

[CLKunst]

Hi Gary,

Your View From Within series is a real favorite of mine so I was glad to see you post this one. I want to begin by saying that I like this one but...
At first look this has all the common traits of your "View" images; the crumbling interior setting, the balance of exposure between outdoors and in, an eye leading item that cross the two planes, as I see it the only thing this is missing is the view. The blank sky left me a little fizzled. What I like most about this series is the picture within a picture quality of your views beyond. Without that this one seems only half realized. (It's your own fault for devising such a clever concept in the first place. ) As soon as I read Chunk's "Outside Coming In" comment I heard a little chime. Ding! Yup that's it.

[Seb]

Seb . . .I feel the same way about it looking like a "B" style horror movie. What do you think about Chunks comments concerning the dark areas and getting more of a "comming in" feel than a "looking out". I was considering that very aspect when editing this. I think having deeper shadows and less detail inside would lend to a more mysterious looking out mood than what i have now.
Here is a deeper shadows version.

Well, believe it or not, I almost commented about the dark areas at the very first place. Primarily because I felt that they where ligther here than they are in the rest of the series.

So yes, I would agree to darken them although I would seek for something betwen your original and your new darkened version. I don't know if it's possible but I'd like deeper blacks without affecting the midtones and bright areas (or at least an edit that would have less impact on these areas than the current one).

Seb

[coachgns]

What strikes me about this, and the series, is the EYE that it takes to actually SEE these great photo opportunities.
I think a mark of a good photographer is to be able to see a good photo where others merely see a vine or a window or whatever.

I think this is something that can be learned, but it is more often something innate?

[McMadCow]

Nice find, Gary! I don't usually comment on non-people shots, but this one turned out really well. You captured a great mood here and the branch being lit by the skylight is a great touch. If I were to make any criticism of this shot, it would be that the square-ish area at the right of the frame seems a little out of place to me. I would have probably backed up a bit and shot the scene with a longer tele lens, or somehow cropped it. That's a pretty minor nitpick, though, and only because I'm "looking" for something to improve upon.
Nice shot!

[gahspidy]

Chunk, Seb. . .I agree about the darker version. Seb, I will also try as you suggested keeping the dark areas deep but retaining a little more detail. Tuna made mention as well about liking the original because of the balance and maybe I can retain some more of it. However , these issues can be hard to really determine as we are probably all seeing something a little different on our screens, as far as dark and light areas.

Tuna . . . I'll be trying for something in between what I have now. I'm glad you feel the inclusion of the hole in the roof was good. It was, for me, just as important an element as the window itself. Thanks for your thoughts.

CLKunst . . .you make a good observation about the scene as compared to many of the others in the series. While this is not really looking out at a scene taking place outside, it is more like looking out at something coming in. I was thinking also that it would throw a somewhat new perpective into the mix without losing the original concept. Glad to know your thoughts on this, thanks.

coachgns . . . While I certainly appreciate the good words, I think perhaps you give me more credit than I may deserve. I think we all have looked at anothers photograph and thought "why didn't I see that". We inspire eachother and in turn cause us to expand upon what we are trying to bring back to the table. In time, I think we all learn and hone our skills in doing so. Thanks for your time to comment.

McMadCow . . .It's funny how I mostly try to avoid having people in my scenes and try to capture the essence of desolation and isolation, while you go for and capture the essence of life and character in people , particuliarly attractive ones at that. So I feel honored so to speak that you would be compelled to comment on my image.
I know what you mean about the square shape at the right of the frame. It is actually another window, but i think it was boarded up. I first tried to avoid it by standing over more to the right, but looking more dead on at the window lost the effect of seeing the vines coming in as they appear from looking at it from a side view, as here. I also did not want to get the end of the vine too close to the edge of the frame, as it would lose some of it's appeal, I think. Thanks for the comments.

[ERdept]

I like it. There's a luminosity to the center of the photo and a surreal quality to it. Any negatives would be to nit pick.

[Ronnoco]

You guys and gals apply way too much imagination to photos that shouldn't need it. There is way too much dead black space and the centre of interest has no impact and very little interest. It is not even properly lit and the lack of tones means that it does not even meet the basic standards and criteria of a good black and white image.

Ronnoco

[Chunk]

You guys and gals apply way too much imagination to photos that shouldn't need it. There is way too much dead black space and the centre of interest has no impact and very little interest. It is not even properly lit and the lack of tones means that it does not even meet the basic standards and criteria of a good black and white image.

Ronnoco

I hope I'm included in that comment, I'll take it as a compliment. I will always like being accused of having too much imagination than too little. Although they may not meet your narrowly defined 'standards and criteria' many beautiful things in this world are not perfectly lit. I'm glad that some photographers see fit to record these beauties with shots that capture the mood they find rather than passing up shots because they cannot be perfectly exposed shots that meet some arbitrary standards.

[Overbeyond]

A great addition to (in) my mind. Those vines or whatever have a real living feel to them as start to make their way into the ruin.
I like the light all round.
Tom