Nightski

My mother's friend from High School donated the clock for this courthouse. My mom asked me to photograph the building for him. I would appreciate any critique. It is completely possible to go baThe one thing that I would really like feedback about is whether or not I got the verticals right. I fiddled and fiddled and am not sure. Is there a way to tell for sure?
I would have no problem going back to reshoot the building. In fact, my mother would love it as she always wants to go on my photography trips with me.

I took this one at 4:29 PM.

Canon 6D
Canon 16-35mm F/2.8 @ 22mm
B+W Polarizing filter ... don't know if I used that properly or not either so any wisdom there would be much appreciated.

ISO 200
F/8.0
1/80 second exposure

Elbow Lake Courthouse

(Download)

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Re: your use of the circular polarizing filter:
Best way to judge the effect of use of C.P. is to take a duplicate frame with the C.P. rotated 90°, and compare them.
Set the C.P. FOR maximum perceived effect in the first exposure, then rotate 90° and make a second exposure

Dave

Nightski

Yes Dave .. you are so right. I don't know why I just didn't think of it myself. I will have to go out and test that filter ... darn .. could be a whole morning out there playing with my camera! LOL

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I like the overall balance and the placement of the lamp against the entrance, but will offer some suggestions for your consideration.

- As stated, you might try a circular polarizing filter, especially in this type of weather.
-Think about how the photo will age. Unless this is a seasonal image remove the pumpkins.
- Step closer and angle up to include the lightning rods. I might consider half the tree on the left and almost to the lamp.

As a final observation, if the intent of the image is highlight the clock it's a bit dark. Can it be lit from within? How does it look at night?

And, if it helps http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=643&q=Elbow+Lake+Courthouse

Nightski

Thank you, Steve. I was using a CP filter on this one. Any thoughts on how I could have used that more effectively? What are you seeing?

I could go back and take one for each season. :-D

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Seasonal shots would be really fun!

CPLs typically remove reflections and bring out the colors, especially greens, where your image looks flat. It's not saturation, but more a lack of contrast. Try a CPL again, twisting it ever so gently until you find the image you like. As a small hint, don't wear polarized glasses with a polarized filter. Seems obvious, but it threw me at first. Laf! S-

Nightski

No need to worry about that, Steve .. I can't see my camera with sunglasses on. I have put to my cheaters on for live view and take them off for the viewfinder.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

When I first bought the filter I tried it in the mid-day sun and wondered why it didn't work... Life lessons are fun! S-

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Sandra, Nice shot! Seriously I think you have done about as well as possible with the sky. Darkening the sky has resulted in a few minor haloes but hardly noticeable. The darkening problem goes away if you can shoot with a clear blue sky and a CP filter. In this case that would not work as, because of restricted space, you must use a wide angle lens and CP filters don't work well with wide angle lenses. As regards the verticals, a rule I impose on myself is that, when not shooting a straight on frontal, the nearest corner must be vertical (parallel to the edge of the frame) and the other can lean in very slightly. I prefer to use a PC lens for these as you can get the verticals just the way you want them in camera. A second alternative is to use a tripod with the camera perfectly level and shoot with the subject filling only the top half of the frame. Then crop off the bottom half of the picture. This will give you perfect verticals. It is the tilting of the camera that causes converging verticals. Of course this only works if you can get far enough away from the subject. Using the latter technique it is usually better to shoot portrait format.

Nightski

Hey McVeed, I will practice that on some buildings in my town. Thanks.

I'm going to get a polarizer for my 50 and try that. I already have one for my 100mm. Wish I could think of a way to get a straight on shot of just the clock part. If I could stand on a building or something .. or maybe I could park my Jeep in the middle of the road and stand on it. :-D

Nightski

I'm thinking I should bring a small step ladder for the wide angle shot .. I bet that would help with my verticals. The reason I can't back up with the wide angle is that when I do a tree branch hangs into my frame. :-( and no .. I can't clone it out without funny little circle thingys being left behind. I already tried that this morning on a different shot of it.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I think you should just buy a tilt shift.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I thought Photoshop had a perspective correcting tool?

Nightski

Graham has worked on that for me a bit, but I'm not happy with the results.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Our eyes see it the same way so I'm not sure if it's that big a deal...