jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Here is a 2 point perspective of a medical office I photographed a few years ago.

The lighting was a nightmare of different color temperatures, from:daylight coming in camera left, spilling onto the suspended ceiling; different color fluorescent tubes; and incandescent downlights. I also added a light to match the incandescents in the back hallway to illuminate the alcove in that hall. Everything else is ambient lighting.

This is a lower resolution photo just to illustrate the problems we encounter when trying to Post Process for realistic lighting.

As I remember, it took longer to clean the space of clutter than to set up the shot. But then, we all have to be our own janitors.
A tip I learned a long time ago: take photos before you clear the clutter, so you can put it back using the photos as reference.

Thanks for putting this section together.

(Download)

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Clean looking photo (almost sterile). Well balance PP.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Agreed!!
Pat

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

I agree. Good job with this. Ambient light - tungsten and florescent mixed with sunlight is the toughest to deal with and end up with realistic or close to original color balance. I tell (warn) my real estate clients and homeowners that our perception of color is "fixed" by our brains, but photos show what is really there and our brains don't compensate. So, my first goal is to produce a good looking image that will attract potential buyers, over trying to get an exact color match.

My only suggestion for this photo is to adjust the verticals to be vertical.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

You are absolutely right about color temperatures and who the client is. For real estate, I can see the need for correct color is secondary. My clients are usually interior designers and correct color is definitely a primary requirement.

This shot is from early 2011, so the verticals were adjusted by using guides visually. Only a passable job, but was good enough. Now with PScc, one click and I would have been done.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Striking a balance between clean and a working office, to me, depends on the client. For the designer and the contractor, I wanted to show the office without distracting items on the counters, etc., but include those items that belong in that environment. i.e. the printer, some papers and chairs. A natural flow in a man-made space, as it were, so the finishes and materials are the focal point.
That also dictated the height of the camera to show the vertical elements instead of a blank countertop. Just high enough to see a sliver of counter for visual depth.