Architecture II

I'm still playing, I added a vignette filter around the image, here's the original for comparison, the original seemed to harsh for me, so here's a softened edge. I'd love some opinions?

Looking for opinions re: comparison original to vignette effect.

Thanks

Jayme, I like the altered version. I agree with the original being somewhat harsh

Yeap.... your right Ken. It was so stark, I think this one makes it look a little more friendly :)

Friendly? Yes, it's much more inviting. Just the right amount of saturation

wow. dear Jayme, I see some other photographs from YOU :) I see that the weather is fine and you are fine so you are doing OutDoors photography :) love your angle here dear Jayme giving some 3D perspective to this beautiful building, or shall I say Portal!

 

Biliana

nicely presented

Thanks all! Biliana- I'm doing somethings close to home. Waiting until next week, then I'm hoping I get the all clear to return to work! :)

I like the vignetted version more because of the less saturated colors, but I'm not so sure if I like the vignetting effect itself. Anyway that's just my taste of course and if your intention was to make the photo less harsh as you say, then you really succeeded. Regards, Alex

Thanks Alexandre- While I know it looks like the original version is highly over saturated, it really is not. The bright orange/red color of the brick used to build St Joe's is pretty notorious. Combine this amazing color with the morning sun & it makes the cathedral almost look lit from within. I have a feeling, this bright color of brick was picked specifically for this outstanding color property by the original architects & builders. The first time I saw St Joe's, I thought the entire cathedral was "painted" red brick. On closer inspection, it was just the color of the brick, bright orange/red. Admittedly, it does stick out like a sore thumb, but way back in the larte 1700's, early 1800's, (when it was built) I have to believe this was the point :)

The vignetted version works for me - it just seems less "cold". What I also really like is your frames which are very elegant.

Thanks Doug, me too! It kind of makes it look like it's somehwere, way up there, in the clouds :) Thanks for the compliment re: the frames. I love playing in PS and I try to present an image as I would frame it myself if I was going to hang it. It's all an exercise in imagination :)

Definitely like the altered version better, Jayme. Looks more like a painting of the building, rather than a documentary type photo.

Thanks Kim- I really had to fight the urge to straighten the perspective on this one. Something really different for me :)

I haven't done a lot of buildings, either, Jayme. It's a whole new challenge. I think you are a lot like me, though, and want to broaden your photographic horizons all the time. How is the arm coming along? I keep reading your bio to see if there is an update. The fact that you are posting more often makes me think things are going well.

Jayme, If the building were a court house or government building, the original would emphasise the harshness of that environment. But being a church, your softening makes a more inviting place to visit. Either way, well done!

 

Kim- I'm going to e-mail you.

 

Thanks Paul, what you say is so true! :) But it is truly a dramatic building :) The columns are HUGE!

 

The vignetted version works, but the vignette is a bit too heavy for my taste. I'd recommend a version in which the vignette is there, with the softening effect it brings, but is barely noticeable. Anyway, I have to say, Jayme, this angle and this light perfectly capture the spirit of a building like this and the feeling of being there on the steps at mid-morning. And the color scheme here is wonderful, the orange-red, white and blue. Nice work. This one would make a good poster -- in fact, I bet the church and some of its members would happily buy one.

perfect symmetry, excellent light and colours. also, fine processing work.

The vignette version definitely works better for me. I think it is perfectly suited to the subject, and is a good balance to the sharp lines in the building. Love the symmetry as well.

 

I try to resist reading other comments before I post my own (to avoid biased feedback), so some of this is probably repetitive, sorry.

The softer version works better for me too. The gentler sky colour helps. Is it known where the bricks came from? (If they are local there will be lots of buildings the same colour. The brightness of the colour suggests maybe a terra cotta.

I liked the original originally. ;-) But you've got a wonderfully creative eye, and this is TOTALLY your style!! I'm glad that you decided to play around with it. The softer colors seem to work well here.

Guess I'm in the minority with Lou Ann, just in my eye I like the original much better mainly due to its sharp crisp lines and brighter colors really make it jump. But then again that's only my opinion, the vignette is also nice but so much gentler. Thanks for sharing both for comparison.

Chris- thanks for the thoughts, they are appreciated. This is the first time I really have used a vignette effect. Normally, I find them detracting, but for some reason, probably the strength of the colors here, I liked it. Softer, may be better. I haven't printed this, printing always seems to tell the tale. I don't know about whether any of the members would be interested, this cathedral has been photographed by so many people. I like it, but...... when I print it, I'll put it in my studio window, see what happens. Maybe a tourist or 2 :)

 

Klaus- Thank you, I had the hardest time NOT correcting the perspective??? :)

 

Sherwin- I also try to do the same thing, I write my comment (in an e-mail format) as I look at the image. Then before I post it, I read the others, just incase I missed something, frequently I do :)

 

Colin- I'll have to check that out. I imagine they were made on site, our ground is practically pure clay sitting on pure limestone. But I have not noted any other buildings with a brick color quite like this one. However, it is one of the oldest buildings around here. The only building that I am aware of that is older is the "Talbot Tavern" and it's built out of stone. It is the longest running tavern in the USA. It's a neat building, but it's in a difficult location to photograph. 2=2.5ft thick stone walls. Interesting story too.

 

Lou Ann- thanks, we do develop our own style don't we. I find it hard to recognize mine, but my family can tell an image of mine right off.

 

John- I like them both, but the sharp one seems so harsh. But as I mentioned above, I think that printing will tell the tale :)

 

Thank you all for your critiques. I appreciate every one of them :)

With the fact that all those columns are white and that it's a really sunny condition, I personally feel that the vignetting helps reduce the "hot-ness" of the brightly lit columns and yield a more balanced, pleasing end-result.

 

Real glad to see your posting again. ^_^