Critique Welcomed St Stephen's Kirk, Edinburgh

[Rob MacKillop]

Wish I'd taken a step or two to the right, so as not to cut off the left hand side of the church tower. Used Nik Silver for contrast and structure. X100. Wondering if the sky is too much?

St Stevens Kirk by RobMacKillop, on Flickr​

 

[Lesley Jones]

Oh, this is really lovely Rob. My eyes are tired, but it doesn't look too much to me. You've kept the buildings to the left and right fairly natural and it looks as though you've boosted the church and the building at the bottom a tad. The sky is great anyway and you haven't gone too dark in my opinion. I was just wondering if you had used something to darken the sky a tad, if that has affected the top of the tower. What would you think to giving it a little lift?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I think are right, Zooey. Is this better? I used the point technology thing in Nik Silver to brighten up and reduce contrast in tower-cloud area. So easy to use...


St Stevens Kirk 1 by RobMacKillop, on Flickr

 

[Brian Moore]

Nice one, Rob. I prefer the lighting in #2. In terms of composition, however, I feel a need to see the pavement in this image.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

You couldn't see the pavement for the cars. I think I've taken this shot as far as I can, so might just file it away. The bushes are also annoying me.

 

[Brian Moore]

You couldn't see the pavement for the cars. I think I've taken this shot as far as I can, so might just file it away. The bushes are also annoying me.

I had a feeling that's why you shot it as you did.

 

[Lesley Jones]

The control points are so easy to use. It's a shame about the cars, but there's not a lot you can do about them is there?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Ban them. Horrible things. We sold our car three years ago, and only missed it a handful of times. There are so many buses and taxis (and soon trams as well) in Edinburgh. Saved a bucketload of money by giving it up. Its not going to happen, though, is it?

 

[Pete Askew]

The second edit for me too Rob. I like the composition and tone but the verticals I find distracting. I think this is a shot I would do some correction to. What do you think?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Much better! Please remind me how to do that.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Great shot and PP Rob,
I've got to say though, Pete's touch with the verticals has knocked the nail on the head with the finishing touch though.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Agreed RPF Teamwork wins again.

 

[Paul Lange]

No that the verticals and vertical I think it works much better to. Although not having the street in the image may not have benefited the it (IMO it did) I found it added interest and made me think about the image a bit.

 

[Pete Askew]

Much better! Please remind me how to do that.

I always do this in PS (any version). Select the whole image with either the marquee tool or Select All. Then go to Edit/Transform/Distort and move the control points to give the correct verticals etc. Have a grid overlay (either Cmd' or Ctrl') helps. Select the marquee tool again to prompt the save option and accept changes. You can make the transformation on a layer to see the effect (by switching the layer on and off) to help make sure you haven't squashed anything.

 

[Davie Hudson]

I think the only thing i would have done different is to maybe go wider to get the street level in as well , i feel myself trying to look down for solid ground lol

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Well, I can return to the spot easily enough. I would do so today, but the sky is uniformly grey, with no breakup of the cloud. I'd rather wait for a better sky and light day.

Well, Pete, I followed your instructions - which I should have known how to do, as we covered it in the OU course - and although easy enough to do, it cannot be done perfectly. First I lined up the verticals of the building on the right, but then the tower looked way out. So I then lined up the church tower, and the building on the right looked out. So I pulled the image left and right. The main thing is getting the tower straight, and let the rest fall where they must. Here's my attempt:


St Stephens Kirk Vertical Edit by RobMacKillop, on Flickr

- - - Updated - - -

One quick question - how do you increase the number of lines in a grid?

 

[Pete Askew]

Preferences/Guides, Grids and Slices.

It can be a bit of a fiddle. Often you need to stretch the corners up too to compensate for any widening. This can help get as much lined up as you can. However, I find edit/distort much better than the perspective tool.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Went back to the kirk today as the clouds started breaking up, allowing a little sunlight through. This time, being a Sunday, they had blocked off the cars - never thought about that. And, quite obligingly, a cyclist stopped to check his GPS...

X100, Nik Silver and vertical correction


Kirk and Cyclist by RobMacKillop, on Flickr

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Just for the record - last edit...


St Stephen's Kirk and Cyclist by RobMacKillop, on Flickr

 

[Lesley Jones]

I always do this in PS (any version). Select the whole image with either the marquee tool or Select All. Then go to Edit/Transform/Distort and move the control points to give the correct verticals etc. Have a grid overlay (either Cmd' or Ctrl') helps. Select the marquee tool again to prompt the save option and accept changes. You can make the transformation on a layer to see the effect (by switching the layer on and off) to help make sure you haven't squashed anything.

Pete - this is very clever, but why not use the lens correction filter?