LTC Building

I'd like to reshoot this - any suggestions on how to improve it? Note

the print has a bit more red and colour saturation. The flatbed I used

seems to loose a lot of the dynamic range/intensity...

I like the overall composition of the image. I also like the fact that it is medium format. I think I would like to see a more defined line at the point of reflection. I would not center the horizon line, the sky is a little more important to giving a sense of visual balance through the lack of symmetry. A high saturation film like Kodak Ektachrome 100 saturated, vivid saturated, or warm saturated might overcome the blandness of the scan.

This is an example of what I had in mind.

I really like the potential of this shot, but something is lacking.BTW, the reflected part is by far the more interesting part and would make a cracking image on its own I reckon!

The problem that I see with this image is that there is a huge dynamic range that blows out the exteme highlights and renders little shadow detail. To get both shadow and hightlight detail probably requires HDR. Brady's suggestion improves the lighting but also introduces noise into the shadow detail. Sometimes working with the RAW image to tone down the highlights and bring up the shadows provides an acceptable result without going the HDR route. I'm sure that having to scan the image also contributed to the dynamic range problem. Just another of many reasons to avoid film, IMO. I shot film for 20+ years and would never go back.

First, if you have louped this and it is indeed sharp have it drum scanned. That will go along way to helping reduce the scanning noise you may have. I would have a 4000 spi drum scan done. Post scanning sharpening will still be needed but the IQ will be awesome if scanned properly.

 

Second, if you do return and reshoot using HDRI noise can and should be dealt with in 2 phases. Prior to submitting the exposures to the tone mapping software and after the  image is rendered to 16 bit. HDRI can render very realistic or interpretive results, your choice.