Hayes Hall, University at Buffalo

[Amigone201]

This is the most iconic building at the University. It's Hayes Hall, home of the School of Architecture. It's at our older South Campus location, and it predates the university's founding. It used to be an orphanage and a poor house. These days, Hayes is often used on our promotional material, and as a symbol of UB, as it's probably the most beautiful and commanding building on all of our campuses.

Is there anything you guys think of that I could do to make it better? (other than not having that stupid van squeezed in the bottom?:))

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2418/2240376850_a33ed24eed.jpg

EXIF:

Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 15.5 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/100 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

[canugurl]

Hi

Tough to know where to focus our comments without a specific question....so I'll focus on composition. My first impression was that the top of the building was cut off, which is too bad. The chopped tree is a bit distracting to the other white dome on the building, too.

What I do like is the crispness, the colours of the orange-brown trees with the blue sky and the path that draws my eye into the front door of the building.

I hadn't noticed the van before I read your comments, to be honest. :)

[Amigone201]

Hi

Tough to know where to focus our comments without a specific question....so I'll focus on composition. My first impression was that the top of the building was cut off, which is too bad. The chopped tree is a bit distracting to the other white dome on the building, too.

What I do like is the crispness, the colours of the orange-brown trees with the blue sky and the path that draws my eye into the front door of the building.

I hadn't noticed the van before I read your comments, to be honest. :)

Yeah, the chopped off dome irritates me too. I may actually head back down there when I get some free time some day and try again. It's hard to get everything I want into the shot, because of the way the path is laid out. It's hard to find places to stand.

[jiminyClickit]

Amigone201,

First, thanks so much for posting well: photo size, EXIF, some commentary and background. It means a lot, shows you understand presenting a good first impression, matters.

I'll agree with canugurl and add that if you line up your verticals (poles, edges of buildings), that also will improve the overall look.

[Larbear]

I'll have to agree with the other posters, especially the top of the building that's cut off, and my own personal taste I think it could use a little bump up in contrast. If the van really bothers you, you could clone it out with photoshop.

[Amigone201]

I agree with everybody so far. The roof is beginning to bother me too.

The one thing I'm not clear on is this part:

I'll agree with canugurl and add that if you line up your verticals (poles, edges of buildings), that also will improve the overall look.

Can you explain that a little more? I used the guidelines on the LCD when I took it.

[jiminyClickit]

Amigone201,

Second look: it's just the right side of the clock tower, and the light poles on the right. At 400 zoom, most of the verticals are vertical, except as noted. Everytime I look at the photo, it still leans obviously to the left. Perspective or Distort might fix it, pulling upper right corner just a bit.

[Sela]

I would definitely go back and reshoot this holding the camera on its side for a vertical pic...that way you would get more of the path in the foreground as well as the top of the building. The two buildings on either side aren't very interesting and I think it wouldn't hurt to include less of them next time.