How should I have handled this?

Ron Evers · Jun 30, 2008

The challenge is to take a pic of a decrepit fence. I had this opportunity but there was a hot spot in the centre so I cut the exposure 2/3 stop. Tis still pretty hot!

kellylindseyphotography · Jun 30, 2008

I would have gone up to the fence and spot metered it. It would underexpose the rest of the picture, but it would have worked because it would give it a natural vingette. Or go back a different time of day.

The composition is lacking though. You might try getting right up to the fence and putting the camera nearly on the fence to get perspective and depth.

Also could use some PP work.

sabbath999 · Jun 30, 2008

kellylindseyphotography said:
Or go back a different time of day.

That would be your best option... go back during a "golden" hour... where the light was pretty... or go back during overcast and make a "gloomy" kind of a shot.

Ron Evers · Jun 30, 2008

kellylindseyphotography said:
I would have gone up to the fence and spot metered it. That I would have done with a film camera & my light meter but I do not know how it would be accomplised with the digi. It would underexpose the rest of the picture, but it would have worked because it would give it a natural vingette. Or go back a different time of day. I will try morning light tomorrow.

The composition is lacking though. You might try getting right up to the fence and putting the camera nearly on the fence to get perspective and depth. As it was, I was shouldering out some brush but I get your point.

Also could use some PP work.

Thanks for the pointers.

Garbz · Jul 1, 2008

Consider the angle and framing of the shot as well. Even in morning light I get the feeling the first thing that will grab attention in this frame is the tree.

Ron Evers · Jul 1, 2008

Taking the above comments into consideration I had another go @ it this morning. Here are the two I thought best out of six shots.

nynfortoo · Jul 1, 2008

That second one is better. The colours are much richer, and the lighting is more dramatic. The others just look flat.

The composition is better, too. All of the busyness is held back by the fence, so it isn't so dominant within the frame. This way, it looks like a real struggle for that fence to keep it all back; it's at breaking point.

eccs19 · Jul 1, 2008

I think the second one is far superior.

Battou · Jul 1, 2008

Tripod it and multishoot it with vaired exposures and tone map it. just don't go over board with it like so many do.

Ron Evers · Jul 1, 2008

Battou said:
Tripod it and multishoot it with vaired exposures and tone map it. just don't go over board with it like so many do.

I understand all but "tone map it". What is that?

Battou · Jul 1, 2008

Ron Evers said:
I understand all but "tone map it". What is that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tone_mapping

Ron Evers · Jul 1, 2008

Thanks Battou.

I had a quick look through the link So I now understand the concept.

Battou · Jul 1, 2008

Ron Evers said:
Thanks Battou.

I had a quick look through the link So I now understand the concept.

Yeah no problem, I shoot film so the tone mapping of digital imagery is technically out of my field, I figured it best to just give you a link and you could go from there.

Neuner · Jul 1, 2008

The second one is much better. I really like the leaning of the fence. I first thought you had tilted the camera to give it that feeling but then I saw that the trees were in line - which is another good point, I was drawn to the fence first and then I forced myself to notice the trees. I think I would use a more shallow DOF next time to isolate the fence.