Center Ridge School 2

[EOBeav]

Just wanted your overall thoughts about composition, and how the school interacts (or not) with the clouds. Also, I'd like to know your thoughts about the b/w conversion. Other ideas you have that are pertinent to the discussion are also welcome. Thanks in advance for your helpful comments, questions, and suggestions.

PS, Yes, I'm noticing some haloing around the building. I'm working on an edit to remove that.


Center Ridge School 2 by Rick.Scheibner, on Flickr

EXIF:
Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Lens: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L
Exposure 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture f/16.0
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 100

[Doug Sundseth]

Good subject for B&W, and I think your conversion works well.

I'd like to see a bit more detail in the schoolhouse.

I'm conflicted about the composition:

I'd like to see the schoolhouse take up a larger part of the scene, because it looks like the detail there would be interesting.

But it looks like you're working to get a sense of the vast emptiness of the prairie. I like the dark sky behind the roof line of the building and the detail in the clouds near the horizon at low right. All of those argue for not moving in closer for the shot.

I don't think there's a single right answer here. I like this shot and I think I'd like a closer shot as well.

[Krusty79]

I think the B&W works well also. My first impression was that you were trying to show the vast expanse of the prairie, so I was going to say you could even go a little wider on your shot, but I see you were already at the 17mm focal length. Good shot!

[EOBeav]

Doug: From my perspective, it shows more detail in a larger size. What do you think?

Krusty: The terrain at this spot is such that, if I backed up much more, I'd start losing the foreground. That said, there was probably room to back up a little more, or to move to one side. I'm really hoping for a full frame in my future. A 5D in my stocking this Christmas would suit me just fine, but I don't know that I'm on Santa's good list this year.

[Doug Sundseth]

I think I meant* that it might help to expand the tonal range in the schoolhouse to show the detail better. Clearly I didn't actually say that, sorry.

* It's been one of those days, so I'm not completely sure.