Critique Welcomed The result of a spare hour in Canberra

[Stevenson Gawen]

I was in Canberra today and had a spare hour or so, which I spent walking an erratic circuit with my Sony Nex5r... I was thinking "ah, now I can do some street photography - great!"
I did do some, or rather tried to, but I think the photos I prefer now I see them on the PC are more architectural... I think the first here is my favorite.
The middle one is with the 55-210 f4.5-6.3 'kit' lens, the others with a Sigma ART 30mm f2.8

 

[Ralph Turner]

Three fab shots. What particularly appeals to me is the seemingly random curves and wiggles of the clouds/reflections/AC flexible ducting set against the regular, linear elements of the buildings

 

[Stevenson Gawen]

seemingly random curves and wiggles

Now that is a very good point that hadn't penetrated my consciousness (if it was in my head at all!) but maybe, just maybe... that's why I posted these three together!

 

[Brian Moore]

These are delightful, Stevenson. I love interesting architectural images. The middle one with the squiggly, colorful crane reflection is especially appealing.

 

[Chris Bennett]

These're great Stevenson. I'm a big fan of the crane!

 

[Stevenson Gawen]

Thanks everyone - glad you like them!
I'm not sure if it's just me, but often when I make an effort to actually 'go somewhere', even it's just a short walk, solely to take photos, I find myself less than satisfied with the results. Initially, this was one of those occasions. But once I brought the set into darktable, and started culling, then 'tweaking' (just colours mostly, and of course monochrome conversion) I started to feel a bit better. You've completed that recovery
The crane went down well with family too, while I preferred the first one.

Interesting... does anyone else see the first image as being a walkway between rows of seating, almost stadium style, leading to... umm... the sky?

 

[Stevenson Gawen]

One more thought - on the last one, I wasn't able to position myself 'square' to the windows. In Darktable I used the auto-correct perspective tool which did a very nice job of straightening out the skewed lines.

Anyone have any thoughts on the "ethics" of this? I'm a great believer in not "altering" photos, as in the classic term "photoshopping" but with this I feel like it's ok as IF I had a tilt-shift lens or camera, I could do it in-camera...
I do however tweak colours and tones extensively sometimes, but again, to me, it's not actually altering the content.
Just curious as to what people feel about this.

 

[Ralph Turner]

It’s all in the eye of the beholder and what their tastes are. I don’t have a problem with ‘photoshopping’ if that’s part of someone’s creative intent. It’s not my usual style, although I’m not averse to it if the need arises . I have done images before that were created from separate elements. Normally, though, I like to keep it straight forward, just enhancements of what’s already there in the frame.
In the case of straightening the window frames on the computer, I think that’s a very mild adjustment, one that’s also relatively easily achieved on film.

 

[Pete Askew]

Well, you certainly killed that hour successfully. I like especially the second, shot and I do see what you mean about the first. Interesting.

As to correcting perspective etc, and even more radical editing, I certainly have no qualms. With perspective, you are right of course that this could have been done in-camera or even at the printing stage with film. And quite a few other changes are not new, just easier. I was always a fan of cross-processing colour films and so certainly do not keep to a realistic palette when processing images digitally and for B&W, filters and toning (as well as selection when printing / editing) can transform and image and allow one to emphasise and change the impact of an image beyond the purely representational.

 

[Dave Farnes]

I am a bit late here. That is a fine set; I really like the second one, has a pop art look to it.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

I like them too. Very well done.