Posted by MnX (Shanghai, China) on 13 December 2006 in Architecture and Portfolio.
I was browsing into my archives, it has been 2 monthes since I began this photoblog. I must say, I learned many things during this time. And I hope I improved even if I feel that lately I feel (too ?) easily satisfied of my work.
I don't know why but it seems stairs are interesting for photography. There's so many geometric form that are available to catch... Here is another photo of stairs... And yep as strange as it is there is someone on the photo this time ^^. Even if I could capture the stairs completly empty, I felt like it could give some good dynamics to the photo. But it makes me ask myself much more questions, such as: -Should I have wait more so that the person is elsewhere on the staircase? -Should I have set a longer exposure for some movement effect? Could you help me, tell me what you feel about it, what you would have done? thanks
you should have waited till she was under the light, thus highlighting her journey up the stairs. motion effect could be good, but certainly not necessary.
13 Dec 2006 5:55am
congrats on two months of photoblogging! Time doth fly by.
I agree that stairs make for good photo subjects. My only criticism on this image is it is a bit dark (except for the bright light) and it has a slight reddish cast (which happens in a lot of night photography) over the image.
I like that the person is not right in the center although she may have been better under the light. I almost didn't see her. Either way I think she works where she is and could be enhanced by brightening the image up a bit.
A recommendation for fixing would be (assuming you have photoshop) 1) use levels to tone down the red color cast. You can edit individual color channels in the levels tool. Try moving the center triangle (under the big histogram) to see how it changes the image colors. 2) Use an overlay dodge and burn layer to bring out more detail in the dark areas and on the person. This one is harder to explain this link gives a better description. The reason I recommend this is so you can selectively brighten areas instead of using curves or levels on the whole image which will blow out the bright light and center wall.
here's to many more months of photos and am3 :)
13 Dec 2006 7:24am
@Jason Kravitz: mmm option 1 moving color tones is difficult for me... I'm not good with colors (partially colorblind) option 2 seems really interesting (although I avoid using photoshop at all if possible, except for auto leveling, autocolor,and rotating to correct little mistakes...). I believe that I'll have to go through post processing after all T_T... Thank you for the advices... I wonder If I should go for all B&W photos because of my "weakness".
It's very difficult to see the person walking on the stairs. If you didn't tell me he/she was there I would have never known. Maybe if you waited a little longer and gotten the person in the light or higher up on the staircase then it would give more scope to the picture.
You've managed to capture the mood really well, the deep reds and the one person give a very lonely feel. However for my eyes I'd like to see a little more exposure on the staircase and less on the light.
If you're wondering about taking photos with more exposure or longer shutter speed my best advice is, 'give it a go' It's rare to get it in one go I think and trying only helps you improve.
Keep it up I think, stay optomistic and see what happens!! I look forward to seeing more and more of your photos.
13 Dec 2006 8:24am
Yeah, should have waited until they were inder the light. Still a good shot regardless.
13 Dec 2006 9:35am
It`s scary. Nice one.
13 Dec 2006 9:37am
I like this okay. Took me a minute to see the person; very subtle. I think the odd color cast and the darkness of image make it interesting.
13 Dec 2006 9:58am
Its a cracking location for one. To be honest I didnt notice the person for a few seconds. Under the light would have no doubt been the better choice but hey, what a location. It looks absolutely great for shooting. As for the red tone throughout this, I reckon it works very well. Personally I'd keep it as is.
13 Dec 2006 10:31am
Really beautiful photo. Like the redish colour and the light adds a nice feeling to the image. Great work
13 Dec 2006 12:33pm
Great composition.. i think it would be better also if the person is in the center under the light.
13 Dec 2006 3:41pm
Great take and location. Personally I like it the way it is. It is quite mysterious by not having the person under perfect light. Still, would be curious to see it in b&w...
13 Dec 2006 4:05pm
Wow, this one's precious... Great photography!
"Stairway to Heaven", (pshh, heaven! I'm trying to memorize that on guitar for the past 2 weeks, more like 'inferno') I presume?
13 Dec 2006 4:52pm
I agree you've greatly improved since your first few shots. Stairs are a great subject, and I think you're really doing well at night under tough lighting. As for the shot, I like how the figure is entering the frame (and not leaving). Too long an exposure will completely blur the figure, so I think your choice came out well!
13 Dec 2006 7:44pm
Not that I am an expert or anything (god, I 've been photoblogging for much lesser time than you have!) but I would have waited till the person was under the light because I didn't even notice him. On a different note, this picture would also be great with no people in it. As it is, it looks as if it came out of a video game! I really like it.
13 Dec 2006 7:59pm
It is an attractively composed image. I'm not certain if the person makes much impact one way or another, but I agree that waiting till she was under the light might have worked. As to the colour cast, it's hard to know without having seen the scene in person, but I'd guess that they're rather neutral coloured. And so the colour balance may be off. If you really are colourblind, why not try working in black and white? I think this image would be excellent as a contrasty black and white. Also, it's a good way to refine your technique, by concentrating only on light and forms and ignoring colour.
13 Dec 2006 11:20pm
@Damon Schreiber: Thank you for the advice. When I was with film I tried to do B&W all the time. but I had no lab that could work fast on B&W films (I guess that's a drawback for having technological advances...). When I bought this camera, I remembered an advice I read in a photography bool I was offered, it was : "when shooting digital, even if you intend your final result to be black and white go for colors, as you can post process it to black and white but not the other way". So I kept to it and even forgot to watch for the B&W result. I'm color blind (slightly but it becomes obvious in low light condition:p) and don't really know how to post process for correcting colors, but I know when a photo I take isn't the way it looked. So I guess when it's too much off colors I'll switch to B&W as you suggest. thanks.
I think starways itself looks quite interesting, and I too could not notice the person, before I read your lines. Some light effect from top on the individual could have given a different effect to the photo. But anyways it looks good.
13 Dec 2006 11:52pm
Thank you everybody for helping me with the person's "right" place. At the moment I took the photo I remember I only wanted someone to walk up the stairs, so when I had the occasion I just shot as fast as I could. Now I think lighted or unlighted both work, but thanks to your different advices, I know that if I really wanted the person to be a important part of the photo she should have been under the light. Here it's barelly noticable ^^. I'll remember this next time I have such an opportunity.
14 Dec 2006 2:42am
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