Tom McCreary, APSA, MPSA
May 2023 - No services today
Original
About the Image(s)
This was taken in Mound City in far south Illinois along the Ohio River. The town is not doing very well, with several run down building, including this old church. I liked the vines growing up around the door, showing that it had not been opened in awhile. It was taken with my Olympus E-M5 Mark III camera and Olympus 12-45mm lens, at 28mm, 1/500th second, F8 and ISO 200.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
I'm not sure about this one. It seems to be tilted slightly to the right though the right hand edge also appears upright, although the left edge is not. Does it need a crop to get rid of the side pillars so we concentrate on the pointed arch and doorway? I also like the vegetation growing up the door so maybe the shot should have been closer in, just showing the frame of the door and the foliage. It's easy to overthink afterwards and wish you'd taken a different angle.! Posted: 05/02/2023 04:14:00
I did not want a straight on shot, so took it at bit of an angle. I did not notice that the sides were not quite straight, or I would have tried to correct it. I like the steps, so that is why I was not closer. Posted: 05/02/2023 07:36:58
I thought I'd try cropping but it is difficult because of the shadows and the angle of the walls. I went for a close crop on the sides but left the top of the arch in. However, there is still a small area of lighter stonework at the top left corner. It also changes the perceived shape of the door and arch-it makes it much slimmer looking vertically. So not sure about cropping now. Posted: 05/02/2023 12:06:05
Doors are a popular subject, and rightly so. I just read a brief on doors and the author stressed the importance of having a primary subject (ie, getting in close and having only one subject.) I think Diana's comments are right on.
Posted: 05/02/2023 06:17:43
Posted: 05/02/2023 06:17:43
Yes, that slight tilt on the left side can easily be altered.
About the overall composition, I am in favor of keeping in those two layers of buttresses on either side of the door. In fact, I would have preferred a slightly wider view to show their entirety to the ground. Why? Buttresses are a story unto themselves, telling us how a building stands up and resists gravity. Their story starts at the top of the building and travels all the way to the roots of the building as it meets the ground. I don't think the charm of the door would be lost to show a bit more of the buttresses. Posted: 05/02/2023 19:47:22
About the overall composition, I am in favor of keeping in those two layers of buttresses on either side of the door. In fact, I would have preferred a slightly wider view to show their entirety to the ground. Why? Buttresses are a story unto themselves, telling us how a building stands up and resists gravity. Their story starts at the top of the building and travels all the way to the roots of the building as it meets the ground. I don't think the charm of the door would be lost to show a bit more of the buttresses. Posted: 05/02/2023 19:47:22
As it stands, we only have the choice of cropping in closer. Unless you have a wider shot. I would have prefferred a wider shot, which brings your eye into the door. A closer crop will make it a study of pattern, which should work OK. Posted: 05/12/2023 22:32:34
This image does convey the idea that it has been some time since this beautiful old building was well cared for and maintained. To me, a slight rotation of the image counterclockwise would make it feel like it is tilting less. You'd have less of the pillars that way, but since they are close to the edge of the frame anyway, I think cropping into them a bit would still work. I really like the shadow over the door for some reason. Posted: 05/23/2023 00:04:03
Thanks. The shadow is from an overhead light. Posted: 05/23/2023 07:35:28