Lighthouse Stairs

I placed the camera on the floor and estimated the placement of the

top of the lighthouse in the frame during a very brief period where no

one was climbing. I used f/11 for maximum depth and sharpness and

attempted to block the sunlight coming from the side with a lens hood

and my body. Light from the open door behind me lit the lower levels,

so I metered off the upper stairs and left the lower levels to get

very light. They still seem to have detail in the bricks, although

this image size makes it kind of hard to see. Any suggestions or

comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

- Randy

Great composition, congrats

I agree with Flemming. A dazzling composition! I also like the range of tones and contrast. You might try a little burn on the bright wall texture and those large bolts(?) in the center to bring out more definition. Great image.

Thanks Flemming and Patricia! I appreciate both of your comments and will try your suggestions.

 

- Randy

Nice point of view, but I would like it more if the center of the stairs was in the center of the shot. Anyway I like it.

great work! shuki

Thanks for the comments. I would like to have the image centered as well, but the camera was sitting on the floor. I was planning on going back with one of my cameras that has a waist level finder to shoot it again. We'll see how it turns out.

 

- Randy

Randal, After a brief trip through your thumbnails I find that this is my favourite of your current posts. What I find most interesting, even more than this very intreguing composition, is the thought process you describe in the taking of it. You have painted a 'how-to-do-it' picture for any and all who view it. Far more valuable than the shot itself, and the shot is good! Thanks for sharing your photo and your thoughts. Best, LM.

I am a big fan of spiral staircase photos, even though everyone seems to do it. I never get tired of them. This is one of my favourite shots from your portfolio. I think the zoning is perfect. I like how the image moves from light (on the preimeter) to dark (in the centre), and gives a 3D effect. From previous comments I understand that you had some restrictions in composing this shot. The only improvement that I feel could be done is to crop a sliver off the top to get rid of the tiny black triangle in the top left corner and the white object that cuts into the fourth railing post in the upper right hand corner.

A fine shot. B&W was an excellent choice for this subject, and the play of light as the eye travels up the spiral is lovely. The two sorts of alternation -- light and shadow, white supports and black rails -- set this one apart from other shots in this genre. Nice work. (Nanette's probably right about the crop TR.)

Yep, that little bit is annoying. It doesn't show in the print. The print also has better tonality, a better crop in general, and has much more snap. I need to update the image sometime. Thanks all for the comments!

 

- Randy

I like this one alot. The fact it is off centered is interesting. The tones and range are very nice. Almost looks like you could be at the top looking down!? Well done, :)P

Definitely my favourite from the three posted in this section so far. I see that you have taken great pains with the light adjustment; I suppose that's how good photos are taken. I like the sharpness from front to back and the fact that the less light towards the interior has not diminished the details. Regards.

Samrat,

 

Thank you, it is one of mine as well despite the ubiquity of the spiral staircase in photography. There is a reason that this type of image is done often I think ;)

 

Despite the pains taken at the time of exposure this is still a bear to print. I have to dodge the center, where the top level can barely be seen, for about %75 of the exposure, and slowly move the dodging tool around in a circle, starting at the center and moving slowly out to the edges of the walls from the second landing up, in order to get the tonal values where I want them. The interior of this lighthouse is very dark compared to the level of light near the base, and unless I placed people with flashbulbs on the upper landings there would have been no way to get enough light up there to even out the exposure. Still, despite the trouble I like that about it - each print comes out unique as I can never exactly duplicate the effort made in previous prints.

 

As to great photographs I cannot really speak, but I can say that I am more pleased with the results when I put a lot of effort into it's exposure. When I just take what's there, as is often the case due to time constraints or what not, I am never pleased with the print. But, when I take the time up front, before releasing the shutter to think about what I want to have in the end, I get a much more pleasing result.

 

- Randy