Craigdarroch Castle

[Peach]

This was taken on a trip to Victoria in August. We went to visit Craigdarroch castle and this is part of it. Obviously, now that fall/winter is setting in, I won't be able to repeat this image until at least next year - but any suggestions on what I could do better next time with photos like this would be great. Or, any suggestion on what could be done now to make it a better photgraph is welcome too.



Exif data:
Resolution: 429 x 640
Orientation: rotate 270
Flash used: No
Focal length: 18.0mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
Exposure time: 0.0012 s (1/800)
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO equiv.: 400
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix

[crazzy88ss]

bottom third of the image is a bit dark, and it seems like the right middle third is a big bright.

Great subject and composition.

[subrataofkris]

May I ask why the aperture is just 3.5? I felt it needed larger DOF. I also see a blue cast on the walls and glass and burnt out sky to the left, did you do some post processing?

[clockdoc]

This is a very difficult image to capture with such extremes in contrast. When you expose for the castle, the sky becomes washed out and if you expose for the sky then the castle would be too dark. You could shoot multiple exposures on a tripod and bracket. Then recombine the images in layers. You could also shoot in RAW and use the High Dynamic Range technique several contributors have used with good success. A polarizing filter may have helped but it would depend on the position of the sun. Lastly a gradient neutral density filter could be used in some cases but without having a clean horizontal line between the castle and sky I doubt it would be of use here.

[Peach]

It's 3.5 because I have no idea about apertures or anything like that - I am a noob. This was shot in auto - I think. Time was about 6 p.m., just as the sun was starting to wane. And no - aside from resizing - no post processing.

clockdoc - thanks for the tips!

[RexK_Cozumel]

looking at your settings it was still pretty bright when you took this photo which caused two things.. first your sky is washed out. second the colors are kinda of drab. Perhaps next time wait a little longer till the sun goes down more to take the photo. Or perhaps get there at sunrise so that the sun is shining at your back. This will create a better sky and the colors would not be so BLAH looking...