Julie Walker, EPSA  


Hodge Close by Julie Walker, EPSA

March 2019 - Hodge Close

March 2019 - Julie Walker, EPSA

Original

About the Image(s)


I attach my image for March.
This is one of my favourite locations for photography in the Lake District. It is an old, disused slate quarry with derelict buildings, piles of rock and some lovely silver birch trees against a backdrop of mountains. This image was taken last October and my aim was to contrast the dereliction with the surrounding beauty. It was taken as usual on my converted Canon 1300D. The settings were ISO 400, f8 and 1/500th sec.The image was quite dark so I have adjusted the exposure and lightened the shadows in Lightroom. I have also adjusted the contrast and clarity. I then converted the image to mono using Silver Effex Pro. Finally I cropped the image and cloned out some of the vegetation that was intruding in to the base of the image. In hindsight I think this image may have benefited from the use of HDR.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted




 
Ah Julie, I know it well. A great place for images and this old Building is a must and contrasts well against the delicacy of the Silver Birches. I have no problem at all with the composition which I like, especially that you have included the large pile of slate rubbble in the bottom right. However I have to agree with you. about HDR. You have processed this with a high keyish effect, and I feel an HDR effect would have added drama to the scene and brought out the detail in the slate and brickwork of the building.   Posted: 03/10/2019 09:12:29
 
Thanks for your comments Helen. I think its worth having another go at this one using HDR. Just need some suitable weather!   Posted: 03/24/2019 06:38:24



 
Nice job with the clean-up! After seeing Sharon's HDR photo and how it brought out the texture of the building, do think you could have a wonderful candidate in this scene. If you have Topaz Studio, there is an adjustment called edges that might work in pumping up the building, rocks and maybe the trees a bit. Normally, I love the clouds but I think the sky is drawing too much from the trees.   Posted: 03/10/2019 11:14:58
 
Thanks Debbie. I did have Topaz until recently but it stopped working and I don't seem to be able to restore it.I will shortly be investing in a new computer and I will then install Topaz again and will then try out your suggestion.   Posted: 03/24/2019 06:40:47



Stuart Bacon   Stuart Bacon
Looking at the scene without first reading about the area I would wonder about two things: Why is there a hole in the building wall? and What is that big rock doing on top of the smaller rocks? That large rock dominates the scene but doesn't have a relation with the building. It makes it confusing to the viewer. However, on the positive side the trees against the cloud filled sky are beautiful and I rally like that aspect.   Posted: 03/13/2019 15:52:07



 
I like the composition and textures of the building and the birch trees, but it seems a little soft on the contrast, maybe a darker sky will show those delicate birches even better   Posted: 03/13/2019 21:26:39



Sharon Prislipsky   Sharon Prislipsky
(Group 52)
My first reaction to this is that the tumble-down structure and the rock pile are the center of interest, but do not take up enough of the real estate in this scene. I feel they are overwhelmed by the sky and the trees. I know the trees as you saw them must have been appealing, but for me they are lost in the bright sky. I tried to think about how it could have done differently and my idea is that shooting from a low perspective and at an angle from the lower left it might have worked. Of course, I have never been there, so I am only surmising that. Generally, I like high key images, but for this one I think a more contrasty treatment would add depth and impact.   Posted: 03/17/2019 13:32:28
 
Thanks for your comments Sharon. I will have another attempt at taking this scene from a slightly different angle as you suggest and I will then try to give the image more contrast when processing it.   Posted: 03/24/2019 06:36:13



Nelson Charette   Nelson Charette
I like the image but would like to see a bit more contrast or blacks.
Maybe try and darken the sky a bit.   Posted: 03/25/2019 09:03:50