Some shots from Leeds today

James07

James07

James07

Soldato
Joined
6 Dec 2006
Posts
5,914
Location
West Yorkshire
Went for a little walk around Leeds today

Im not too happy with the pics again, just like yesterday, but the more i look at them the more i tend to like them, weird..













More on my Flickr

Anyone got any critique?

Thanks for looking,

James.
 
First one is under exposed and the tower isn't vertical. Composition is uncomfortable, the foreground of the road has several leading line that direct viewers to the mid left but then the tower is on the right.

Second one also has an awkward composition since the buildings are cut-off on the frame edge. There is no obvious subject, I don't know what I am supposed to be viewing. The central foreground is devoid of features but the periphery has several small items but it is not obvious what the subject is. The reflections and ripples are nice on the left but are cutoff and dont seem to be integral to the scene. The boat is a complete subject but is small and distant, likewise with the bridge.



A general comment is that the lighting looked very flat which makes these kinds of photos a challenge. Flat light is good for many things like portaits and macro but it doesn't work well for landscape. More detail in the sky is interest as is more contrast.
On days like that I try to concentrate on the details, small parts of buildings like an elegant entryway or a sculpture rather than the complete exterior.
Also time of day is important. Not so easy in the summer but the 15 minutes either side of sunrise is typically the best. Plan you photo before hand in the day, make sure you understand where the sun will ruse and how it will illuminate the scene, find out what compositions you want to try (even going as far as using a bit of chalk to mark locations) and then turn up an hour before dawn to get in place and feel the changing light.
 
Okay brilliant, my fav was the pic #4, i dont even know why i just think this is my shot of the day.

Im confused as to what im doing but im reading a book at the mo and learning how to handle the exposure settings properly.

I have another book to read after on composition.

Really i want someone to come around with me and help me lol, feel like im lacking something..
 
With exposure when photographing such static scenes you can always check the histogram to check the exposure is at least mostly in the middle/top and not all crushed to the left. Just checking the image review should help get a ballpark idea.

If a photo is under or overexposed then use the exposure composition (press the the +/- button and turn the control dial) to increase or decrease the exposure until you get something that looks abut right.

Also check what metering modes you are using. Matrix, vs center, vs spot. Matrix works well to preserve highlight and balance the whole scene but may underexpose in some situations. The Spot metering will expose properly whatever is under your focus point but can lead to exposure errors for the scene as a whole.
 
Whats the histogram? I check the image review, i zoom in on the pics to make sure things look okayish.. I take quite a lot of pics when im out and only end up with a few that i like.

I shot in matrix mode as thats what a mag im reading said is best for landscapes.
 
If you go to the image review and use the arrow keys you can get different information about the photo. One useful one is the highlight alerts when you have clipped the highlights, the other is the histogram. On a D40x I don't remember which arrows do what, the left and right probably scroll through images, the up and down should change the preview setting and get you to the histogram.
 
I would definitely consider going back when the light/sky is better for another go at the third shot. It's a nice building and with good light and an interesting sky, it could be very good. Alternatively, if it's possible, return at night for a long exposure of it on a clear night.
 
ElDude said:
I would definitely consider going back when the light/sky is better for another go at the third shot. It's a nice building and with good light and an interesting sky, it could be very good. Alternatively, if it's possible, return at night for a long exposure of it on a clear night.
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The evening venture is a must for me, i think Leeds could be beautiful in an evening.
 
Can't say I've seen much of Leeds, just the horrid concrete centre. I did go out to Harewood house to see Clapton a few years ago. It's great around there, and silly expensive housing :D
 
Where the second picture was taken, directly behind me were some modern apartments (may be a pic on my flickr) i bet theyre expensive, like 150k upwards easy!
 
Around the canal, I would have been taking pictures of the moss on the floor, the weathered ropes and the rusty nuts and bolts etc. rather than the 'big picture'.
 
2, 3 & 4 are the ones i like. you have a similar style to me insofar as it's the scene rather than a specific subject, but there's plenty constructive criticism here so it's all part of the learning curve
 
theheyes said:
Around the canal, I would have been taking pictures of the moss on the floor, the weathered ropes and the rusty nuts and bolts etc. rather than the 'big picture'.
Click to expand...

Noted, ill try capture something similar, thats a good idea.

no_sleep_til said:
2, 3 & 4 are the ones i like. you have a similar style to me insofar as it's the scene rather than a specific subject, but there's plenty constructive criticism here so it's all part of the learning curve
Click to expand...

Thank you :)
 
James07 said:
Okay brilliant, my fav was the pic #4, i dont even know why i just think this is my shot of the day.

Im confused as to what im doing but im reading a book at the mo and learning how to handle the exposure settings properly.

I have another book to read after on composition.

Really i want someone to come around with me and help me lol, feel like im lacking something..
Click to expand...

Ha! These are less than a couple of hundred metres from my gaff! Very strange feeeling.
 
Seeing as your skys aren't loving you, you might find B&W works better.

#1, that tower... If you're using LR5, use the new correction for verticalness thing

kd
 
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