Golden Pavillion

[amrita]

Hi Guys

I would like to get your thoughts on this picture.

The Golden Pavillion is a very photogenic subject and so I am looking for composition advice. Does this picture just look like the average tourist shot, and if so, how could i make it stand out? Also, do the trees to the right need to be cropped out?

Thanks!



Exif data

Camera Canon EOS 500D
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/10.0
Focal Length 10 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
White Balance Manual

[windrider86]

Think you answered your own question about the trees. Yes, they need to go.
Have you considered trying this as a black and white?

[SwissJon]

The problem here is that the pagoda is basically the same light intensity as the background, it's almost the same colour too, so you can't see it.

If you come back at dusk, when the colours of the sun are lighting the sky and putting shades on the pagoda, you should find it becomes a lot more visible.

The other thing, to avoid tourist shots is to take something different to what the average tourist is taking. If you stand there, pointing your super duper SLR in the same direction as someone with a point and shoot, all you'll get is the same shot as the person with the point and shoot, only much clearer. To get a non-touristy shot, you need to not act like a tourist. Look for somewhere the tourists aren't, get away from the group. Put your zoom on and fill the frame with the pagoda, or even part of the pagoda. Do it at a time when the sun is at its optimum, fist thing in the morning seems like a good time, you might find some mist sitting on the water.

There's nothing wrong with touristy shots if you're just being a tourist, but if you want an arty shot, you need to think like an artist. Have a look at photos of this place you like, maybe on a postcard, and try and work out where they were taken from and have a go yourself.

[amrita]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate you taking the time to offer some advice.

Regarding the trees - i find them distracting, but when I crop them out I think compositionally the image is weaker as the temple ends up at the far right of the image instead of at the intersection of 1/3rds. I guess what i need is to go back and change my vantage point.

I havent considered black and white - that is an interesting thought. I find that when i try B&W conversion with my very basic PP software (iPhoto) i am never happy with the image. How much of that is to do with the software and how much is my lack of skill i am not sure!

Not having a tripod with me or my zoom lens that day I guess my options for composition were limited as there is a strict path from which you cannot deviate when visiting this temple. Not many options to get away from the crowds

Now that I have said that though, I am sure someone will post an awesome pic they have from a great vantage point ...

Here is another image i took of the pagoda. Do you think it is more interesting than the first?

[SwissJon]

Yes, this is a little better.. It's a pity about the tree.. If you'd been standing a few metres to the right, you'd probably have found that tree wasn't in the way.. Also, ducking down close to the ground might have helped, both with the tree, and also with the perspective.. You'd have got more of the pagoda contrasting against the sky, rather than the green background. The fact that the white is visible helps diferentiate it from the background.

Have a look here:

http://real-japan.com/files/2008/10/...ku-ji_best.jpg
http://real-japan.com/files/2008/10/...den_temple.jpg

These are what I meant.. The sun on the pavillion makes it stand out. The reflection showing the building in the water.. All very close to where you were standing, just slightly better composed. The second photo that picks out the detail is interesting too.. You have a very similar shot in your second picture if you crop tightly onto the second floor. And the trees were used to frame rather than obscure.

I'm not showing you these to make you feel bad, more as an aid to compare your photo with something better composed.

[amrita]

Thanks SwissJon. Its great to have someone pick apart your photos. That's how you learn!
Ill head back to the golden pavillion soon and try again!