Composition basics! Victoria Memorial Hall

[S_Sanyal]

Camera Canon EOS 500D
Exposure 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 155 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV

A problem with popularly photographed monuments is that all pictures end up looking the same. None knows that better than me, an architect who is a sick of cliche Taj Mahals and Colosseums, year after year, in brochure after brochure!

I was lucky enough to pass by Victoria Memorial hall today at dusk, one of Calcutta's most photographed buildings and shot this.

I want to know about how the composition is. the ideas behind this is the sense of height/elevation and clear open space in the direction that the figure faces. I am also aware that this is in a sense a tight yet lopsided frame, tight for building and spacey for the figure on top. What comes across as the principal subject?

I am aware that the angel finial is off the frame-top-left third, is that too close to either edge?

Other comments and observations are also very welcome. This set shows what the building looks like in entirety, if anyone has any ideas about alternative framings. I can go back to the scene, perhaps this weekend.

Sunset, Victorial Memorial - a set on Flickr

[curelightwounds]

I totally know what you mean about popular locations.

As for the angel I think the composition and placement is fine. It's otherwise very simple and that adds to the intricacy of the dome.

One thing to remember about the thirds rule is that the eye moves right to left. It's just an odd biological fact that when humans look at something (and recently we discovered that dogs do this too) our eyes go right to left.

So, whenever you look at this picture you start at that warm, graduated sky and migrate to the stark contrast between the dome and the angel.

As for the rest of the set, the third could do without that tree on the left-hand side. The second and fourth are a little blurry and could use some straightening. The fourth could also do with a healing brush to make the people go away. The placement of the sun is great in the second but off in the fourth.

[dcclark]

Personally, I like the empty space. It's a very different composition than usual for this building. That said -- I think I'd like it if the angel had more space to look "up" into -- to the top and right. Perhaps a vertical composition could achieve that?

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks,curelightwounds and dcclark, your feedback is very helpful. It may be worth making yet another trip.. if you read the circumstances I made the picture in (its there in the set description on flickr), you may appreciate the constraints on this occasion. I stood on a stone balustrade bordering the grounds of the museum..

Its really interesting curelightimages, what you say about right to left viewing ! Yes, and the others in the set suffer from my limited mobility

I think I'll keep in mind these points when I shoot again, and as set out with, be cautious of cliches

Having said that, I look forward to what others may have to say before a second visit.

[abhivg]

I think it is a very beautiful picture. And I totally agree that you are very lucky to photograph such a beautiful city.

I wouldn't really dare to comment much on this (since I have just started and all), but just one small point, if I may; can you try to get the complete bottom decorative ring in the picture. The fact that it is clipped at the bottom left struck my eye, but maybe its just me...

[dlambert]

It might be nice to see just a bit more of the building, but I like the white space. The tone of the photo is really great. It's always fantastic to see how many colors you can end up with from natural light.

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks abhivg, i'll keep that in mind, its a good point....dont be apprehensive about critiquing, I'm learning just as much as anybody here

dlambert, very true, nothing is more satisfying than being able to catch and represent a scene in the perfect light. And maybe I'll try and get more of the the rotunda next time, as abhivg above you has also stated.

[curelightwounds]

I've been simmering on this photo for a while... have you thought about doing barrel distortion to get the ring of the dome flat against the bottom of the frame?

[S_Sanyal]

I feel you curelightwounds. Thats been irking me too..

I have an apprehension in implementing that though. It stems from the fact that the ring may be too close to the edge, but since i have empty space in camera right, I can do a crop, save as and maybe overlay it, what do you think?

[curelightwounds]

I think a crop would hurt more than help. Crop out the ring and you cut out the defining feature of a Victorian dome. That detail down there is a must. Just cover it up with your hand and you'll get what I mean. It loses a lot of character.

Again. It's a fantastic shot. I would frame that the way it is. That's how much I like it.

Flattening the ring isn't necessarily going to make it better, I just think it might be fun to play with it that way.