Critique Welcomed Another church

[Darren Bradley]

While up in Chris Dodkin's neighborhood on Friday, I also spotted this church while driving and pulled off the freeway for a quick shot. Chris wasn't with me for this one.



Unfortunately, the only quick thing about this photo was the time it took to take it. Processing was another matter. This one required an obscene amount of cloning to remove power lines, utility boxes, street lamps, cars parked out front, dust on my sensor, etc.

I don't usually do this, but I'll share the original RAW image that I started with this time(actually, two frames stitched together - top and bottom).

 

[Darren Bradley]

It could be a game - pick out all of the things I edited out of the image!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Wow, that's a masterclass in editing. Don't know how you did it. Very clever, and a distinct improvement.

 

[Davie Hudson]

That is some mighty fine work there

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Whoa!! That's top cloning work there Dazza!

 

[Peter McCullough]

Lovely image, you are the 'clone' man Darren!

 

[Darren Bradley]

Cheers, guys!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Sneaky!

Pays off in spades though - I would have abandoned the original shot angle due to the clutter and never have got the shot

 

[Pete Askew]

Excellent Darren and thanks for sharing the original. And what a striking roof. Mind, while you were editing, you could have cloned Chris in. With editing like that, he'd have thought his memory was going!

 

[Darren Bradley]

I'll do that for next time!

 

[Beth Carter]

really nice ps work. you've ended up with a great photo, even moreso when you see all of the work that went into making it.

 

[Darren Bradley]

Thanks, Beth! Glad to have the opportunity to show the photo.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Do you ever approach these places with the images to see if they want them?

That is some snazzy editing!
so, the vertical stitch, is the idea to use a longer lens and stitch to retain more natural proportions?

 

[Darren Bradley]

I don't typically approach places, no. But I do approach the architects, on occasion, if it's a recent building. I shoot stuff on spec sometimes as a way of generating interest. Not a bad idea to do that more, though, Hamish.

As for the stitching, there are a couple of reasons but basically, yes. I can get closer and user a longer lens with less distortion (and also create a higher resolution file). Since the name of the game is trying to depict the building with as little distortion as possible, this is a useful tool. In architectural photography, wider isn't always better.

 

[Milan Vjestica]

That roof line almost gives an illusion of diverging verticals. That is an excellent piece of editing too. It shows that with some work it is possible to salvage shots that we might otherwise discard.

 

[Brian Moore]

It could be a game - pick out all of the things I edited out of the image!

I was trying to find stuff you should have removed but didn't. (Shadows for example.) Alas,...I couldn't find any. (Disappointment!)

Seriously,...thanks for showing the before/after, Darren. Very informative!

- - - Updated - - -

Darren, would you mind, if possible, showing the unstitched top and bottom images? I mean, if it's no trouble. The reason I ask is because I think it would be another wee bit of education. (At least for me at my level of PS skill: Simpleton Level.) If it's a hassle in any way don't bother. Thanks.

 

[Darren Bradley]

Sure, Brian. Here are the two shots that I stitched into the one above. So this is what I really started with...

 

[Brian Moore]

Darren thank you for doing that. You were shooting full frame? What lens? Also, did you have the camera on a tripod?

Thanks again, Darren! Wonderful stuff!

 

[Hamish Gill]

I'm not sure binpod would surfice or this type of work Brian!
It's done with a shift lens, the front part of the lens rises whilst the camera is fixed in one position. This way it is possible to ensure a perfectly accurate stitch ... As long as nothing moves.

I only but in as I have some questions/comments my self...

This is something I have thought about/questioned Darren. The wide angle imposing, characterful photos, that as we talked about before can capture a feeling of the building... Or at least the perhaps the human response to a building. They occupy a completely different field of architectural photography to this sort then? Or not?
Say if I were pitching for some architectural work, how would I ask if the potential client was after one or the other? Sorry if this is an odd question ... I've just been mullin it over since you posted this photo

 

[Darren Bradley]

Yes, Brian. I used a full frame DSLR with a 24mm tilt-shift lens, and a very sturdy tripod (in the middle of the street!).