Grand Central Station

[JFisher14]

This was taken at Grand Central Station. Is the picture too dark (tone)? I tried to take a picture where no one person "stood out". I wanted to get a picture that showed how busy and impersonal the place was. Does this convey that message? Is there anything I can do to improve on this?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions and comments.


Exif data
Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 12 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

[kirbinster]

You might have tried a longer exposure to get the motion blur of people moving about it you were trying to show that. BTW, the name is actually Grand Central Terminal (not station).

[JFisher14]

Thank you for your reply. I felt uncomfortable setting up my tripod for a long exposure at that particular spot. I did set up up on one of the balconies and did some 1/2-1 second exposures where I was out of everybody's way.

[SwissJon]

Monopods are great for such times.. It doesn't need to be 1 or 2 second exposures..1/10 or 1/5 of a second is possible on a monopod with pleasing results. Then you'd have got motion blur without losing the individuals, this would have made them all look like they're rushing around.. But seriously, I've set up a tripod in a station before, and after the first initial stares, everyone gets on with their things..

I like this photo, but you need to crop a tiny bit off the right and a tiny bit more off on the left in my opinion so that the crease in the wall meets the edge at around the height of the information boards so you lose the two black structures.. As it is, the photo's slightly wider on the left than the right (there's more of the arch showing at the top) which I find distracting from the obvious lengths that you've gone to to get symmetricality.

And I do find it a little dark.. But I'm not sure, that might help the photo tell the story you're after..

Nice photo.

[dvtldav]

Nice picture. I agree with Swissjon it needs to be cropped a little on each side to eliminate the partial arches. Also, if you have access to LR3 you can go to lens correction & tilt the photo so it doesn't look like it is leaning backwards.

Dave

[dvtldav]

Originally Posted by JFisher14

I took the liberty of tweaking your picture a little in LR3 and to me it looks better. I tilted it forward a little and cropped it a little on each side. Let me know what you think and if you want me to remove the edited version from here I can.


Dave

[SwissJon]

I like Daves version.. It doesn't give the same feeling of vertical space, so you get thrown in among the people..

But for either one, my only criticism here might be that the picture is chopped in half by the information panel, and there doesn't seem to be a subject.. But perhaps this latter one actually emphasised the feeling of "lost" that you were looking for. my eye certainly wanders about.

I hadn't thought to look for that tilt ability in LR3, I thought it was only possible in PS.

[dvtldav]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

I hadn't thought to look for that tilt ability in LR3, I thought it was only possible in PS.

In LR3 go to the "Develop Module" then go to "Lens Correction" where you can move it vertically, horizontally, rotate it CW & CCW, and scale it. You can also correct lens distortion and chromatic aberration.

[SwissJon]

Lol.. Thanks.. I'd found it as soon as you first mentioned it, I'd just not thought to look..

[sgeary]

I second this below and would also play with lightening it some.

Originally Posted by dvtldav

Nice picture. I agree with Swissjon it needs to be cropped a little on each side to eliminate the partial arches. Also, if you have access to LR3 you can go to lens correction & tilt the photo so it doesn't look like it is leaning backwards.

Dave

I