The Cabin

DM1975 · Mar 7, 2011

I just recently (in the last month) got back into photography and just got my first DSLR. I am learning to work with RAW files right now and really like the ammount of control it gives me. Here is my first attempt at editing a BW photo. Please let me know what you think.

The Cabin by Stephen W Morrow, on Flickr

SlickSalmon · Mar 7, 2011

I think it's a darned good effort. Do you want a detailed critique?

Trever1t · Mar 7, 2011

Personally I dislike Vignetting, in general and I don't think it helps here. I'd want to bring the shadows up a bit. Excellent subject and composition!

PASM · Mar 7, 2011

I like it. Perhaps a little bit dark. Maybe try dodging the bush next to the cabin and some of the trees beyond to give more seperation.

DM1975 · Mar 7, 2011

Thanks. Please critique away and I will take all of the info and redo it. I am here to learn so please teach me. I appreciate all constructive criticism.

SlickSalmon · Mar 8, 2011

I think the image is an excellent subject for experimenting, because it has a lot of subtleties. I didn't edit your photo, but I did download and analyze it in photoshop. It's a lot brighter in that form than it appears here on this web page. It also has more contrast. The problem, as mentioned above, is the vignetting. It robs you of valuable shadow areas that B&W technique generally works hard to preserve. Burning the upper corners of the sky is the right approach, but you can do that with techniques other than vignetting. The shadows in the lower corners should be carefully preserved.

DM1975 · Mar 8, 2011

Thanks. I need to change that to where you can edit the image. I will try to sit down today and do a good edit on it. I had a computer virus to deal with yesterday so I didn't get around to messing with the image any. I appreciate the feedback.

PopCulture · Mar 9, 2011

It is dark, but I think it actually adds to the photo. I think you did a great job.

Frequency · Mar 10, 2011

Excellent shot; my personal feeling is that the vignetting has helped to project the hut viewerwards

DM1975 · Mar 10, 2011

Thanks. Here is another try at it with the vignetting at the bottom gone.

IMG_0621-2 by Stephen W Morrow, on Flickr

Mike Lamb · Mar 10, 2011

Looks way too tight for me. It's a small cabin but the crop and the darkened border make it look even smaller. It looks like there is a distorted lens wide angle thing going which i think adds to how tight this shot is. Needs more landscape to give it context IMO.

SlickSalmon · Mar 12, 2011

I think the edit is a better treatment of the image.

DM1975 · Mar 12, 2011

Thanks. I am going to look back and see what other images I took that day and maybe do a couple more versions like this. I am trying for that luminous look and expanse of tones kinda like Ansel Adams did with allot of his images.