Church Photo Contest (help)

[carlyfan]

Hi everyone!
I didn't know where to put this so I thought this would work. I am going to be entering a photography contest put on by a Catholic newspaper in my area. The subject is churches. Each person is allowed only one entry so I really want to make it good. I was trying out some different shots of my parish church, but I'm not coming up with anything I'm really happy with. Here are a few of my test shots.


Camera Brand: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Date Taken: 2010:08:29 15:23:23
Exposure Time: 1/320 sec.
Aperture Value: 6.64 EV (f/10.0)
ISO Speed Rating: 200
Flash Fired: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Normal program
Focal Length: 18.0 mm




Camera Brand: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Date Taken: 2010:09:14 20:24:27
Exposure Time: 41 sec.
Aperture Value: 8.00 EV (f/16.0)
ISO Speed Rating: 100
Flash Fired: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Manual
Focal Length: 24.0 mm


I'll be doing a re-shoot, and would really appreciate advice on how to make this better. I will obviously find a time when there won't be people and cars there, and I'm also going to talk to our pastor about hopefully getting the lights on inside the church so that the stain glass windows are lit up.

Do you think the night shot will work, or should I try for another time of day? I don't have a lens hood, thus the lens flare. (there was a street light right above me) I did a couple shots holding my hand above the lens and that took care of the stuff above the church, but I still got the green blobs above and to the left of the light post. How could I deal with this?
Did I get the exposure right? I'm thinking maybe it should be brighter.
How is it composition wise? I think where I really want to be is in the middle of the street!

Thanks for looking, and please let me know what you think. Thanks!

[carlyfan]

Here is another angle.



Camera Brand: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Date Taken: 2010:08:29 15:23:58
Exposure Time: 1/250 sec.
Aperture Value: 6.64 EV (f/10.0)
ISO Speed Rating: 200
Flash Fired: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Normal program
Focal Length: 18.0 mm


Thanks again!

Lisa

[Mike367]

I would try the night shot before the sky is totally black; start shooting about 15 min. after sunset.

It would be nice if you could light the stained glass, but it will probably be hard to get enough light through them. Maybe you could borrow some 500W halogen work lights.

Take several exposures. Of course the sky will get black rapidly.

You might want to try HDR with this free program: http://software.bergmark.com/enfuseGUI/Main.html

[ravncat]

Every shot you`ve shown looks like a shot, someone could take from outside of the church. You`ve got two day scenes that, have the (entire or near entirety of the) church, but don`t really evoke any emotion for me, they just say "here`s a building" And a night scene - that definitely starts to talk about some kind of feeling - but is crowded with the cars etc...

Leaving aside matters of post processing - you want your shot to command attention - means you want to render your subject in a meaningful way, with light that demands attention. I was once told - don`t speak if you`ve nothing important to say, it`s the same with photography.

So - How do you do that? How do you use the visual grammar of photography to put together a sentence shouting to your audience. Think about the angles, subject and light.

1. Think in metaphor. What elements can you juxtapose, or use. What message do you want the image to say? What kind of emotional response do you want to evoke? You can use pieces of the church, to imply the rest of it is there. You can use the whole building. (For example, does it say anything if you had a portrait of the rector infront of the church - in such a way that the rector is "larger" than the church, vs a similar image where the rector is "smaller" than the church? - What happens when a coffin is placed infront of the church, or a dairy truck. )

2. Think in light. Storms clearing, dawn, dusk mid day, shadows from the steeple and cross. Harsh light, Soft light, Back light... I don`t know what weather is coming your way, but I recommend you take many images of your subject throughout the day - and see how they make you feel.

3. Think in Time. You can extend your shutterspeed to minutes or more , especially with an ND filter - The motion of the church will remain fixed, but motion of lights - people - can be blurred or stopped. Sunday will have masses entering and exiting. Moon and sunrise and set, stars, star trails. (you`d need a tripod for the latter)

4. Think in perspective - Do you want it flattened? pushed together, towering? Get farther away and use a telephoto lens. Do you want space to be shown? use a wide angle from up close. Get away from eyelevel view - what can you find? Can you get into the church? Above the church? Across the church from a nearby roof? Down on the ground?

You have elements of shape, color, motion and light. You have subjects - how can you put them together to make some kind of statement? What else is nearby the church that can be included in the image? You could also bring other objects to add into the image. Do that, and you`ll probably get the photograph you want. Lots of choices to make.

In my experience, pastors, priests, fathers, rectors - etc. are a (busy but) friendly group - you may be able to gain access to take photographs that would be otherwise difficult - if you and they have time.

Best of luck in your endeavor.

[carlyfan]

Thank you so much for all your advice!
Thanks Mike! I think I will try the night shot a little earlier.
Thanks ravncat!!!
That's exactly what I want to do-take a photography that stand out and says something. I was going for a low shot looking up to make the church look towering with the first one, but maybe I'll have to get even lower. You have given me some great ideas, and I really appreciate the time and thought you put into this!
I think I'm also going to try a dawn shot and mid-morning shot with dramatic shadows. I'd really like to do an inside photo, but the contest is restricted to exterior pictures only. Thanks so much!

Lisa