Stairway to...

Robchaos · Mar 1, 2012

Not heaven, that's for sure.

It's better in greyscale by Robchaos, on Flickr

This is one from an urbex series at a place called susquehanna school for boys. The rest of the set can be found in my photo stream.

Frequency · Mar 1, 2012

Dim...Damn...Doom....

Loved it

Robchaos · Mar 1, 2012

Thank you!

invisible · Mar 1, 2012

I like the subject (right up my alley) and the overall composition, but I feel that this needs much more contrast to really shine. Even if the full tonal range is represented, the image feels flat. Do you mind if I post an ultra-quick edit?

manaheim · Mar 1, 2012

I LOVE the subject, but the composition isn't quite clicking with me. Not sure why. It might actually be the squareness of the image. I never like that for some reason.

Robchaos · Mar 1, 2012

invisible said:
I like the subject (right up my alley) and the overall composition, but I feel that this needs much more contrast to really shine. Even if the full tonal range is represented, the image feels flat. Do you mind if I post an ultra-quick edit?

Is this is a little better?

DSC_01391-1-2 by Robchaos, on Flickr

manaheim · Mar 1, 2012

I think so.

Robchaos · Mar 2, 2012

Thank you, as for the framing concern, that stairway was right up next to the wall of a crumbling entry way. I couldn't find a way to reframe and still show it off.

Frequency · Mar 2, 2012

By adjusting the light you have really done well... now there is an added element of Enigma.... Focal lighting worked well here than an overall brightening or overall darkening; the darker unexposed areas asks you to search for what is lurking there..... :thumbsup:

KenC · Mar 2, 2012

The edit really works for me. I wouldn't change a thing.

invisible · Mar 2, 2012

Robchaos said:
Is this is a little better?

Absolutely. My edit was almost identical, the only difference being that I darkened the bottom-right corner a bit to focus the viewer's attention on the stairs and nothing else.

Robchaos · Mar 3, 2012

Thank you everyone. I decided to bracket most of my exposures from this outing and give HDR a shot. I like the amount of detail it brings out in each image, but am not a big fan of the fact that it detracts from depth of the image.

Robchaos · Mar 3, 2012

A 3rd adjustment, what does everyone prefer, this or the 2nd adjustment?

DSC_01391-1-3 by Robchaos, on Flickr

fokker · Mar 3, 2012

Liking that re-re-edit. The original was definitely flat looking, the re-edit was an improvement in contrast, and v3.0 is perfect with the darker overall look but the light on the staircase. It really suits the mood a lot more, as well as focusing on the actual staircase.