Mansion at night

[NetMagi]

http://gallery.netmagi.com/misc/DSC_2121b

The sign isn't lit. I tried flashing the foreground to see what it would look like and the paint on the sign turned out to be reflective!

It's shot with the kit lens, on-board flash and manual exposure (shutter was around 15 seconds). B&W was done in photoshop and it's crop'd a bit. I'm a total n00b looking for opinions, do please don't hold back.


-Rich

[sirhc55]

Rich - you may be, as you say a noob, but I like your shot. Obviously the major problem with any shot like this is shadows. If you are keen on PP you could take the shadows out to make a cleaner shot.

Keep em coming

[stubbsy]

Rich

Interesting shot. Where is this place?

Also might be worth putting your location in your profile.

Edit: Just had a look at the rest of your gallery and was taken with this shot - Care to say how it was done?

http://gallery.netmagi.com/misc/DSC_1275

[Matt. K]

Agree with stubbsy. That is a strange but beautiful image. Art.

[birddog114]

Can we rename it as " The Ghost Mansion"

[Oneputt]

That ghostly image is great. Like the others I would be interested to hear how it was done.

[Manta]

I've tried similar things with 'ghostly' images but none turned out quite as good as this one.

Add me to the list of people who's curiosity is growing....

I liked the mansion shot but felt you may have tried to include too much in the frame. Perhaps a tighter angle or more singled-out feature might have improved it. (Just another noob's opinion!)

Simon.

[NetMagi]

Here's the relevant exif on the "ghostly" image:

http://gallery.netmagi.com/misc/DSC_1275

Flash used : No
Focal length : 18.0mm
Exposure time : 30.000 s
Aperture : f/13.0

and, here's how it went:

1) I opened the shutter with the room in total darkness

2) I flicked the room light on for half a second or so to lightly expose the couch and surroundings

3) I had my son run in and sit down in the center of the couch and hold perfectly still while I "painted him in with a flashlight" (I read about this light-painting technique on someone's webpage, can't find the URL now)

4) repeat step 3 for the second two positions having him move in total darkness and sit still when I used the flashlight

This shot has no PP. It's straight from the cam, and could probably use some WB work in the least, but I wanted to leave it completely as-is so ppl didn't think any of the "ghost" effect came from the PP.

-Rich

[NetMagi]

Rich

Also might be worth putting your location in your profile.

Thanks for pointing that out.

The Mansion and where I make my home is Jim Thorpe, PA

Here's a shot I took of the town with an older digicam years ago:

http://www.the-grandview.com/images/jt_ ... gstaff.jpg

You can see the mansion from the previous shot in the center area of this larger pic.

-Rich

[dooda]

I like the mansion shot but I don't think the sign in the lower right adds to it, but detracts from it a little. I would like to see this up closer maybe, from a steep angle, not quite including teh entire mansion, but close, and maybe the frame tilted a little. basically what Simon said.

[NetMagi]

I've added a post-processed version of the ghosty couch one. WB is fixed, mis-exposed areas fixed, and it's crop'd:

http://gallery.netmagi.com/misc/DSC_1275b

The original is still there too.

-Rich

[MattC]

Rich,

I also like the mansion shot. With the sign in there, perhaps the owners of the mansion would like a copy. First sale of your work???

Cheers

Matt

[NetMagi]

Rich,

I also like the mansion shot. With the sign in there, perhaps the owners of the mansion would like a copy. First sale of your work???

Cheers

Matt

It's owned by a local non-profit group, and is open for tours etc., but I suppose I could offer the image to them if they wanted to display it with my name included. . or is this a bad idea?

-Rich

[MattC]

I think it is a good idea. I think that that photo is a nice piece of work, and I think that they would probably be quite happy to hang it on the wall. Add your name to the bottom LH corner, have it printed 10x8 or larger, and perhaps even donate it seeing as it is a not for profit organisation. Just an idea - the sort of thing that i would do. I tend to give prints away more often than I sell them. I enjoy photography and do not plan on making a living from it. Besides, I enjoy the reaction that I get from people when I give them something that they may enjoy.

If they wanted to use it for promotional work, you could work something out. Even if it just stipulated that credit is given. BTW, it was the sign that made me think about the photo being used in such a way.

Cheers

Matt

[dperrett]

rich,

sorry to be moving away from the main picture you posted but i really like the "ghost" image you took. well done.

thanks for the advice on how it was achieved. think i might have to give it a go tonight.

just a personal opinion, but i like the original image more. the dark shadows add to the effect.

dave.

[ozimax]

Agreed, not sure about the sign, but the image is striking, Max