Plumas County Courthouse in the Morning

[JimMcClain]

I'm still in the early stages of using my new Lumix FZ200, Corel AfterShot Pro 2 (first time using this) and PaintShop Pro X6. This is taken at almost 10am. I have to get in the habit of waking earlier, but I've been a late-night person for years, so it's a hard habit to break.

f/5.0, 1/200 sec., iso 100, focal length 6.40mm

Your C&C would be appreciated.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

I don't think its a bad image by any means, I just think your focus was lost from the courthouse with that big beam on the right side. That's where my eyes draw anyway. I also think you could had gotten in closer and put yourself under the trees to get a better look of the courthouse, if that was your intended subject. Technically speaking, its a fine image, just needs a bit of creativity and correct framing to make it speak ��

 

[JimMcClain]

Thanks Amber. Now that I take another look, there are a couple redeeming qualities. I'll have to add that image to my list of do-overs.

Jim

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

Thanks Amber. Now that I take another look, there are a couple redeeming qualities. I'll have to add that image to my list of do-overs.

Jim

Don't worry, my while first year of shooting was one big do over! Lol have fun!

 

[JimMcClain]

I have spent the last few days testing a few different RAW photo editors (I decided to work with Lightroom 5) and trying to get more at ease with this new camera. I've shot a couple things over, one of them this side of the courthouse where I live. I'm hoping you viewers will see some improvement over my first try at this in post #1. I found a better vantage point that I think represents a landmark building in this beautiful part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Please share your comments and critique.

Lumix FZ200, f/4.0, 1/200, ISO 100, focal length 22.2mm

 

[Designer]

This second shot is much better of the building, and I am intrigued by your wanting to include the lamppost. However, as an architectural photograph, I think the trees obscuring the building are not helping. If you can't get one entire facade in the shot, go closer and concentrate on details.

 

[JimMcClain]

It's an accurate representation of the building. It's not a picture of just a building though. It is a "townscape" - not everyone lives in a city. The forest is part of our town. I have seen plenty of pictures of iconic buildings in cities, surrounded and sometimes partially obscured by other buildings. I tried to get a shot in that vein, except this building is surrounded by the natural landscape of the area. And the lamp post is nearly as historical as the building in the trees. You can't get many pictures in this part of town without it including a lamp post.

I'm not sure if a photograph always has to stand on its own, with no explanation. I understand a joke is not a joke, if you have to explain it. But is a photo a photo if you have to explain it? You either like a picture or you don't, but this isn't an assignment where I failed to to get the shot you wanted. My composition might not be as good as it could. But it seems as if you're disappointed it isn't a picture of the part of the building you want to see.

It's not just a picture of a building, it's a picture of a building and it's surroundings.

Jim

 

[bronzeo]

A chainsaw is always handy for getting a better view.

 

[Designer]

It's an accurate representation of the building. It's not a picture of just a building though. It is a "townscape" - not everyone lives in a city. The forest is part of our town. I have seen plenty of pictures of iconic buildings in cities, surrounded and sometimes partially obscured by other buildings. I tried to get a shot in that vein, except this building is surrounded by the natural landscape of the area. And the lamp post is nearly as historical as the building in the trees. You can't get many pictures in this part of town without it including a lamp post.

I'm not sure if a photograph always has to stand on its own, with no explanation. I understand a joke is not a joke, if you have to explain it. But is a photo a photo if you have to explain it? You either like a picture or you don't, but this isn't an assignment where I failed to to get the shot you wanted. My composition might not be as good as it could. But it seems as if you're disappointed it isn't a picture of the part of the building you want to see.

It's not just a picture of a building, it's a picture of a building and it's surroundings.

Jim

Don't take it so hard. My main experience with architectural photography is for the building primarily. Yes, I see the value of a "town-scape", and the trees are part of the scene.

 

[Designer]

A chainsaw is always handy for getting a better view.

Julius Schulman, a renown architectural photographer, would often take some rope and tie a branch back to get a clear view of the building.

 

[markot]

Your 2nd photo is much better in my opinion.

 

[BoblyBill]

Jim, I am with everybody else here. I read the title of the post and when I came to look I was expecting a picture of a building not a bunch of trees. What was the goal of taking the picture? If it was to show the courthouse, I think this picture falls short of showing the building. If I started a post and called it 1996 Mustang and then you click on the post and I show you this:

IMAG0289 by flehartychris, on Flickr

Would you think that I did a good job of showing you a picture of a Mustang? I asked my wife, who has no photography experience, what she thought of the first picture, and I think she hit the nail on the head. She asked, "What am I looking at? All I see is some trees and a parking lot." I did not show her the title. Her first exposure of the picture me showing it too her full screen.

If you, however, were truly trying to show a townscape, I think the field of view is TOO narrow. It's so focused on the trees. I would love to see one of two things. One, I would love to actually see the courthouse, or two if you wanted a real townscape make a panoramic of the area, give us a wider view of the area, really show off the trees and the landscape around the courthouse. I'm trying to not sound to harsh, but you asked for critque and I'm doing my best to give it in a nice but honest way.