Ely Cathdral (UK) - HDR

[RichardHealy]

This is the photo from the set, with which I was happiest. so if it can be improved, I'd like to know how.


Thanks.



Camera Canon EOS 450D
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 18 mm
ISO Speed 1600

[windrider86]

You might want to read this and see what info you're missing. Ad it and you'll get more responses. Thank you!!

[Barry Jackson]

Lots of nice elements and a good HDR but my eye can find a center of interest on which to rest.

[RichardHealy]

Hi Barry, well the thing that drew my eye was the light playing on the rafters which seemed to radiated towards the lens.

In the image the effect is somewhat spoilt (IMO) by the safety rail snaking it's way through the image which lessens the beams in the centre where the light is splayed across several parallel surfaces.

However the rail also catches the light in several areas, which I chose to highlight to bring out more of the play of light.

To directly answer your question, I suppose a focus or centre is hard to find becuase there isn't really one.

The composition was made somewhat in haste (I was on a guided tour moving through the church) so I was lining it up as much to avoid the group appearing in shot as to capture a focal point.

Still I think the central beam - the middle "V" rafter is where the light focuses first would be my nominated centre. If I could (and without it looking faked) I like to have maybe brought out more of the light beam visible in the air*, tragically the loft of the belfry was well kept and all the dust was was down below the walkway not hanging about in the air in an aesthetically pleasing manner, more's the pity.

*even if that's not how light works, invisible in passage, visible only when it strikes a surface, even dust.

[Barry Jackson]

It might have been possible to step up to the rail so it is not in the picture and shoot a vertical of the windows and also include the light falling on the beam.

I love the shape of the windows and the play of light. I don't like that one of the windows is blocked at the top.

You've got a good feel for HDR. Now you just need to take more pictures.

[RichardHealy]

T'was a narrow walkway and I was (you'd not guess it) surrounded by folk, and with tripod and backpack.

If I were taking my time to re-compose, I accept your point, and for noticing the blocking of the top archway I hadn't seen that. A step forward would probably have corrected that.

If my errors are mostly compositional, I think I can chalk that one up to experience.

And thanks for the compliment! - I learnt everything I know and use from DPS and StuckinCustoms.

[BigFuzzy]

Kind of with Barry on this one.
Though I see how you like the light, I just cannot find anything that really interests me in this image.
The HDR processing was done quite well as I usually don't like HDR.

In the end, while I understand the limitations you were under (ie crowd, tripod, tour), that just doesn't matter to the viewer. All we care about is whether or not this is interesting.
I find that my eyes go all over the place looking for a point of interest only to finally settle on the bright light on the two middle beams. And my eye went there not because it was particularly interesting, but because it was bright.

What was it like if you looked up?
Or down, over the railing?
I ask because one of the things I'm always harping about is the perspective. Yours is the typical "standing here with camera at eye level" sort of feel. yes I know you used a tripod, but it still feels that way. It feels exactly like it would if I (or most people there I imagine) would take that shot.
You mention that you're ok with compositional problems. I would argue that thinking about and nailing composition should be one of the very first things considered.. especially before any post processing considerations.

Yes, the HDR is nice and helped, but in the end the subject and composition , to me, is what brings this image down.