'Ribs'

[^catalyst]

Hey gang,
I'm going to start posting my crits over here because my usual forum has gone down hill in a big way and I've been meaning to come over here for a while.

This is a shot I've been meaning to take for a while because I see it on the way to work, Also its the first shot I've used Capture NX to PP AND I'm using a new monitor! Its all a bit up in the air.

Tear it to bits :

Processed-


Out of camera-


My initial feelings are, underexposed to begin with, which is bothering me about my setup lately; anyone else find this an issue?

And I'm not sure about the plane on the left.

-Lachie

[Dug]

I would be looking at something like this. Exposure is OK as long as you are shooting RAW you will have plenty of room for adjustments.

you could bump it up a bit but unless it is causing trouble leave it alone is my motto.

[Manta]

Hey Lachie - welcome. Are there other forums out there?

I think you did the right thing with pushing the exposure on your image but I'm in two minds as to whether Dug's crop is the best way to go. Both versions have definite merit but your original had a few too many distractions in it. The curve of the watercourse is a real bugger in this shot but I think Dug has made excellent use of it in his crop to draw the eye where the viewer should be. The plane had to go, too!

The downside of Dug's image, in my eyes at least, is that I feel it leaves the viewer wishing they could see the tops of the 'ribs' and their full reflection. I know not every shot of this kind will have the ends in sight but there would be a lot of viewers feeling short-changed wiht this crop. To nail this, though, it looks like you'd have to play around with the camera position, a luxury you may not have in that area.

Bottom line? I like both shots - for different reasons. Clear as mud?

[Dug]

It's the old story "If I was going there I would not start from here"

A longer lens to compress the subject and concentrate on the details required would have been my first option

cheers doug PS are there other forums out there?

[the foto fanatic]

Those posts aren't vertical

Now that we've got the gratuitous and irrelevant comments out of the way (you wouldn't normally get even 1 of these here) welcome to the forum, and enjoy your time here.

I hope we'll get to see lots more pix from you.

[^catalyst]

Thanks for the comment so far guys.

That crop is interesting, I hadn't even thought of chopping the ribs. I spent a lot of time moving around trying to keep the Ribs and reflections in the frame!

The exif should tell the tale, I was at 18mm and struggling! The area I took the photo from was sloping upwards, and as I went further back it had an effect on the reflections that I didn't like.

It'll make a good night shot I think, but its not the easiest spot to move around in.

I'll put up some other angles once I've done the PP work.

-Lachie

[Dug]

Always try to take the "safe" shot first then start looking for something different.

it is amazing what you see when you try something different

Just keep shootin'

[mudder]

G'day Lachie,

Interesting subject, I think Doug's crop helps a lot by removing the curved edge to the water but lost the top of the "ribs"... I'd be tempted to select the sky and add back some of the mood lost from the sky by the extra exposure added in PP, via curves etc maybe?

If it's convenient for you to get to, maybe shot from low down near the water just over that curved concrete edge?

The plane would be easily cloned out so that wouldn't be much of a worry...

Cheers

[Dug]

It would be an interesting subject to try Photoshop HDR out on.

[stormygirl]

My Daughter refers to these as the 'carrot sticks', which are next to the 'cheese stick' on the Tulla FWY. The 'Rib Cage' is along a little further down the road towards the Bolte Bridge!!

Great picture with the reflection, and we drove past it today, but would have never thought to take a picture of it! I agree with Mudder in bringing back some of the sky though, otherwise you've done really well at bringing out the vivid orange and yellow!