Death of a crane

[doctorjames]

My first post here asking for critique rather than giving it, but dont feel you have to be too kind.

I shot this under somewhat less then idea conditions, and at the time I didnt think I was going to get the exposure right on camera, so with that in mind I shot several frames thinking it would be worth a go with HDR. Im not a big fan of HDR, so dont use it very often.

I cant post meaningful EXIF information, as this image if formed from 5 shots, but here is the basic information:

Camera: Sony Alpha 700, with Sigma 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 set at 30mm, f11 and manually focused.

Shots: 4 exposures, all tripod mount, of shutterspeeds: 6 seconds, 3.2 sec, 1.6 sec, 1.0 sec and 0.6 sec, all fired from the wireless remote, all shot in RAW.

Post production: import to lightroom 2.6, export to photomatix pro 3.2.7 using lightroom plugin, and then final touches in photoshop CS4

Id be keen to know what you think of the composition, HDR effect (is it subtle enough) and of course your overall impression. Potentially I can shoot this again (though was taken at 3am so im not ultra keen) if there are any cracking ideas to improve.

Thanks in advance

James

[offwhitedog]

I love the subject. The slightly purple tone of the darkness is really nice too.

In terms of composition, I'd suggest move the frame up a bit, to get a little less of the near shore and more of the sky - it looks a little out of balance to my eye at the moment.

In terms of post-production, I'd say it works well overall. I totally agree with your sentiments about HDR but this is nicely subtle. Only things I'd mention are that the brightest lights are TOO bright, and have you got some strange artefacts on the light coloured cranes?

[doctorjames]

Originally Posted by offwhitedog

In terms of composition, I'd suggest move the frame up a bit, to get a little less of the near shore and more of the sky - it looks a little out of balance to my eye at the moment.

In terms of post-production, I'd say it works well overall. I totally agree with your sentiments about HDR but this is nicely subtle. Only things I'd mention are that the brightest lights are TOO bright, and have you got some strange artefacts on the light coloured cranes?

Thanks for your kind comments. I think I probably agree with your comment about the crop. To be totally honest I wasnt sure where to crop this at all. I knew I wasnt going to get the shot right in the field (I only have one hand working properly at the moment, so fine tuning is very difficult on a tripod), so knew I was going to have to sort it post shot (I hate doing this!) I will wait and see if anyone else comments, and then may have another go at the post production side of things with that in mind.

The artefacts I think are down to the long exposure time, it being a working dock (even at 3am) and the movement of the working parts of the crane during and inbetween shots. I thought it would be a much bigger problem than it actually turned out to be, so didnt attempt to sort out in Photoshop thinking no-one would notice.... so may have to have another look here

Once again many thanks

James

[JFSanders]

Micheal Freeman wrote a good book on Night and Lowlight photography . In it he explains with tutorials on what you are trying to accomplish. It is directed at post processing with both the programs you list as well as others and shows the differences in their uses. I like the overall composition of your photograph. The main lights are slightly blown out but it doesn't kill the shot for me. Jim

[PhotoDon]

I too like the subject matter and the lighting of the subject but agree that it could have been cropped a bit more. Since the foreground contains little useable information I think it should have been cropped out probably up to the area of the water line. On the left side, too, near the top there is a dead space that I don't think adds to the composition. The reflection on the water is great as are all the interesting angles in the crane area. I think the exposure is good. I am not a fan of HDR but it is not overly done in your photo and I think you used it well to bring out detail in the image.

[doctorjames]

Thanks all for some useful feedback. I dont think I will go back and reshoot, but will probably have another look at the crop and post back.

Thanks once again, for a first thread not the baptism of fire I was expecting

James

[JFSanders]

Doc the spider hasn't even started your way yet. You are just talking to the other flies caught in the web.