Critique Required Castle S'ant Angelo , Rome

[Ronald Atchley]

Would appreciate any suggestions. I somehow liked the lines
when I saw this. Gate was locked to this small courtyard or I
would have had a person somewhere in the scene. Taken around
Noon but wanted to try for a night time feel. Help in doing this
would be appreciated.
Oh, one of the serious failings I have is that I like dark and moody
images. Have tried but can't seem to shake it.
Thanks.
Ron
Edit : Obviously I don't know how to post here. Is it better to post
as this is done or where you don't have to click on the image
to view it ? When all else fails , read the instructions

 

[Pete Askew]

Very nice Ron. It certainly has that look of a secluded or maybe hidden place. I like the it and the mood you have presented it in.

 

[Paul Lange]

It is certainly disassociated from it's subject, or more accurately what I would have thought a photo taken in Rome would have looked like. However, that's not to say that's a bad thing. It is very moody and it reminds me of a print of a charcoal drawing. It is well structured, following the rule of thirds but more than that I like the arrangement of the various items in the image (doors, bench, windows, vases etc).

Welcome to the forum Ronald as well. I don't remember seeing your name before, although I probably missed your previous posts (I do that a lot).

 

[Hamish Gill]

A couple of tips for you re. forum to help you on your way first
If you want the image to be displayed large
Click the image button
Click from URL
Paste the URL
Untick the box below
That way if references the original location and posts the image large

Also, when posting you will see a box for prefix above the title box ...
In here you can select from "critique required" "critique welcomed" and just for show ... A new feture that helps people know what you want from posting the image ... (saves typing "C&C" etc)

As for the photo...
If you are going to be sharing more moody images like this I for one will be very pleased!
The light on the wall which I assume is day light almost looks as though it could have come from the lamp so, despite it being taken at noon, it could quite easily, thanks to your pp have been taken at night!
Whilst I very much understand your desire to include a person in the shot, I think this sort of pp often works better without people ... So overall I think this is a success!

 

[Ronald Atchley]

Thanks very much Pete, Paul and Hamish
I really appreciate the info on posting. I'm going
to print it and try posting another image . Wish
me luck as I really am as tech challenged as I seem

As for the pic. Have you ever been out shooting and suddenly
walked up on something that stopped you dead in your tracks.
This courtyard , for some reason , did that to me. I've been fairly
disappointed in my efforts to bring out what ever it was that
originally punched me in the face and yelled take my picture

Thanks again.

Ron

 

[Lesley Jones]

I haven't seen this one before Ron. I like it. The composition is spot on. I'm finding it hard to say anything about the processing because I would normally scroll up, type a bit and then scroll for another look. It's just the way my brain works. Certainly you have done a fantastic job if this was taken at noon. Well spotted behind locked gates too!

 

[Ronald Atchley]

Thanks Zooey.
Will try to follow Hamish's suggestion.
I'm going ( kicking and screaming ) into the world of
Flickr. If I get lost............
Ron

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Loving all that texture Ron

 

[Hamish Gill]

Thread fixed

 

[Darren Bradley]

I love dark and moody, too. I'm guilty of indulging that, even in what is supposed to be objective architectural photos. But this looks HDR to me, which I don't really see as dark and moody. I think there is too much detail to have enough mystery. So while I'm liking the composition, I'm not loving the psychedelic look of the HDR treatment here.

 

[Ronald Atchley]

Thanks Chris Hamish and Darren.
The original was almost pastel in appearence.
Cross my heart , no HDR program was used.
I've been trying to learn how ot do this for over
a year now and , when I first started out , I tried
Photomatix and quickly found I didn't like most of
what it produced. The work on this was done with
various layer mask in CS5. The problems with the image
are strictly operator error and no fault of a program
Thanks again.
Ron

 

[Darren Bradley]

Interesting, Ronald. Do you have the original you can post? I do know that layer masks in PS can sometimes have that HDR effect - that happens to me, too.

In any case, I would say there's nothing wrong with allowing some of the detail to disappear into the shadows. That adds to the mystery and looks more natural.

 

[Ronald Atchley]

Hi Darren,
Will be glad to post the original streight out of camera raw
with no tweaking. I'm at work now so will have to wait till
I get home ( I'll have to fire myself if I stay on this computer
any longer )
Ron