Your opinions, please

basmic

basmic

basmic

Permabanned
Joined
10 Apr 2004
Posts
13,122
Location
Darlington, County Durham
I will start off and say I'm far from good when it comes to photography. Only had my Fujifilm E510 since christmas, so I'm still getting to grips with things.

I've been wanting to take these photos for years now, of this bridge specifically. Some of you will know where it's from, some of you won't.

Getting a good view of a bridge was extremely difficult. It is actually a restricted area, but I know various ways of entering it. So yes, I was a little bit naughty by trespassing. :o

I took the photos on Automatic mode, purely because I don't have a clue how to setup Manual properly.

All images have been reduced from 2592x1944 to 1024x768, and resaved using 25% compression in Paint Shop. No 'processing' has been done in Photoshop or Paint Shop, simply because I wouldn't know where to start. :o

Here go - please bear in mind that it was very diffiicult to get a decent angle.

br1.jpg

A little close in for my liking, but maybe it doesn't look all that bad.

br2.jpg

A little too far back for my liking.

br3.jpg

I feel this image is a decent zoom, and captures the bridge just as I want it. But then there's the tree in the way...

Your opinions please.

I will value any tips you have to offer me, particulary using Manual mode and post-processing.

I think next time, I will take my tripod with me.
 
Hi Basmic,

You have managed to get a good composition on the 2nd photo. The 1st is a bit close as you said.

Its a nice subject but im unsure whether its transferred to a photograph well. I often have scenes in my head that I think will look great but when I take the shot come across a bit dull. Unfortunately the modern fence is a bit of an eyesore to me.

Just practice with the manual settings.
 
AdWright said:
I don't really like the processed effect, I'm afraid - bit too green for my tastes!

What is special about that particular bridge?
Click to expand...
Have to agree, and you also lose a lot of the detail and contrast, especially in the sky.

I quite like the original 2nd pic's composition, though I feel it's a little washed out perhaps
 
AdWright said:
I don't really like the processed effect, I'm afraid - bit too green for my tastes!

What is special about that particular bridge?
Click to expand...
I was trying to get the feel that it was from an old magazine.

As for the bridge - well most of you have probably seen it, but not realised it. I'll let the following image sum things up.

five%20pound%20note.jpg
 
glitch said:
You cut up a fiver to demonstrate your point? Now that's dedication.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you could add something constructive to this thread, rather than try to dice every post I made apart. :rolleyes:

At least those that have criticised my work, have said why they don't like it - I'm still looking forward to your talented comments.

As for the fiver, I suggest you learn how to use Google image search. Do you honestly think somebody would cut a fiver up, to show a forum where they got their inspiration from? :rolleyes:
 
basmic said:
Perhaps you could add something constructive to this thread, rather than try to dice every post I made apart. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
I did - I said your last picture was interesting.

basmic said:
As for the fiver, I suggest you learn how to use Google image search. Do you honestly think somebody would cut a fiver up, to show a forum where they got their inspiration from? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Sorry, would an exclamation mark on the end of my comment make you realise I was joking? Jesus...

OK, you want criticism? The shots are cluttered, messy and somewhat soft. There's so much going on in the shots that I wouldn't know they were a study of the bridge unless you had posted that fiver. The foreground (bottom right) is distracting and the tree in the middle spoils the view of the bridge. You've got a nice lead-in with that metal railing (makes for a good old/new contrast too) but it's slightly obscured by the overgrown foliage. Whatever is seen through the arch of the bridge (looks like brick buildings to me) is a bit messy when seen through the branches of the tree.

The second is the strongest in terms of composition - the tips of the central tree are cut off in the others - but I'd say that you'd be better off trying from the other side of the bridge and removing anything in the way of the focus of the image - I'm sure nobody will mind you doing some pruning, it looks like it needs it anyway!

Next time you will need a tripod and you'll need to choose your viewpoint a bit better. I'd suggest either taking the shot from a lower angle than headheight or a higher angle - as most shots are taken from this position it automatically generates interest as it's not something you'd expect to see.

Your camera is limited to only going to F8 so you won't get amazingly good depth-of-field, but using manual focus (as time consuming as it is) will aid you with this anyway. Make sure you thoroughly read through your manual before setting out.

And I don't like your processed shot, by doing this you've lost a lot of detail and contrast in the image as a result. You could achieve a similar effect and keep the detail if you spent more time in PSP, although you've said that you are a newcomer to it anyway.
 
I would have to agree with Glitch on all points. I can appreciate it can be difficult to get a good angle of the bridge due to trespassing and all but to do it justice you're going to have to. The foliage around the bridge is not helping your chances to get a good shot though.
The pictures do seem a little soft and a little overexposed too. Perhaps choosing a later time in the day or dawn to get some good light and atmosphere. And if you can drive there and get a stepladder in to get a higher angle all the better !
 
I agree with Glitch. My main problem is the amount of growth in the way, and lack of experience on my behalf.

I will try from the other side, where I won't be tresspassing.

Any tips on how to sharpen the picture?
 
basmic said:
Any tips on how to sharpen the picture?
Click to expand...
Hard to tell without EXIF information, but ideally you want to be using the smallest aperture (largest F number) possible. As your camera only goes to F8 then you'll need to use that and focus around 1/3rd into the shot to get the maximum depth-of-field that you can. It won't be amazing but it'll be better.

In PP you can always use unsharp mask to get the sharpness back, although be very careful not to overdo it. Here's a quick dirty before and after:

Before:



After:



You can see just how soft your original is now.

*EDIT* Probably useful if I told you the settings, eh? It's Radius 1, Strength 100 and Clipping 2.
 
Last edited:
basmic, where abouts is that bridge?
As has been said, the 2nd shot has the best composition, but with no fault of your own, all the foliage spoils it, next time, take a chainsaw with you and saw it all down :D
But seriously, if you can get it from the other side it would be better, hell, if it's not too far from me, i'll have a go :)
 
I think someone said it in an earlier post. Try a similar shot at sunrise or sunset, though you will need a tripod or something to rest the camera on. Use the timer (if the camera has one) when on the tripod to prevent vibration.

Perhaps wait for a cold, frosty misty morning at sunrise to get a bit more atmosphere in the shot and maybe convert this shot to b&w?

How about a 45degree angle to the bridge instead of the near 90degree you have taken at. This will depend on what is to the right or left of the bridge as you look at it though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom