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Union Baptist Church, Scottsville, Va., #0763680, June 15, 2007, 6:37 pm.


dougityb

steptablet.500.jpg


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Landscape

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I think you've given it plenty of room. It would be nice to see a bit more contrast, particularly in the sky and tree. You've emphasized the side of the church more than the front; I wonder what other angles might have done.
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This looks like a rather unusual facade to me. The lean-to addition is interesting too, and with the lower level windows so close to the ground, it looks as though it's slowly sinking.

 

J.

 

 

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Thanks Stephen, I think your observation of "more side than front" will stick with me for a long time, and help me in the field. Now that you mention this, I see that it is overwhelmingly a shot of the side. On the other hand, this view might emphasize the structure of the front a little better. Do you think? I'll post out-takes, however, you'll see from them that the facade was covered with powerline shadows that I removed on this final scrint. As I was shooting, I recognized that I wanted to come back and reshoot it, hopefully when those shadows were not such a problem. The blessing and the curse of shooting buildings is that they don't move: A blessing in that you know where to find them no matter what time it is, day or night; a curse because the only control you have over lighting is the time of day you're there, and your angle.

 

Hi John, nice to see you're still around, too. I didn't pay much attention to those windows, but they are low, aren't they. I bet they are basement windows, and there are wells, or recesses that go below ground a little more. If you were looking out of these windows from the inside, you would first see the concrete wall of the well, then, at the top, you would see the ground. Ramshackle additions like the one you've pointed out are common. In fact, it seems most of the churches I'm seeing were all built as four walled salt boxes, but with additions nailed on to one side, or the other. I've generally been avoiding shooting them, but you will see a few samples as the series progresses. This one is probably used for tools, but why they didn't build it onto the back, I have no idea.

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Stephen, I am reminded of other reasons for shooting so much of the side. See the attachment. Seems there was a brick sign immediately to my left. Maybe next time I should stand on it?

5182728.jpg
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Yes, I agree.... you posted the best one. Fortunately, both the front and the side have their own interests.

 

I don't have much expertise in B&W, but I wonder if greater contrast can be brought out in some of the elements, and wonder if that might enhance the image even more.

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Thanks John,

 

Stephen, which elements? If you mean the facade, I was conscious of the sun washing out the texture, and this image, while shooting, I considered more as a place holder, or record shot, intending to return when conditions were better. It still may turn out to be the best one as I'm finding many of these churches were not built with photography in mind.

 

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Doug, this is what I was thinking. I'm not terribly proficient or patient, and I used an unrefined selection to apply some contrast (via curves) globally to the sky and then to the rest of the image. Perhaps I could have made a contrast change to the entire image all at once (again, via curves).
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Stephen, I see what you've done, and I think I like your version better. I don't remember precisely, but I dont' think I applied any selective control over the sky and ground, just local burning with a large brush, perhaps. I usually shoot with a polarizor, but I haven't purchased one yet fof the lens used on this shot, and I don't know how to fake a polarizing effect (on blue sky) in photoshop. I'm not a gadget guy and resist having to fumble for filters and attachments while trying to make a photograph. I think I'll have to bite the bullet pretty soon, though, as outlining entire buildings, trees, leaves, all those blades of grass, etc, is getting a little old. Thanks for your idea, and for posting it.
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