R Gary Butler, QPSA  


Garrett Chapel by R Gary Butler, QPSA

November 2021 - Garrett Chapel

About the Image(s)

I went out 2 weeks ago to shoot waterfalls in Ithaca, NY but was unimpressed with what I saw. I drove over to Keuka Lake Bluff to shoot the worship area inside the Garrett Chapel - but it was locked. I wondered around and eventually found myself at the lower level, the entry to the Garrett Family crypt. I was struck by the near perfect Golden Ratio Curve of the stairs, the patio edge and the wall. I played with the location of the tripod moving slight distance back from the edge of the stonework. I settled on this particular set oof images as it eliminated any of the large branches of the trees yet kept the framing bt the backlit leaves at the top.

I used my Canon 5D Mark IV and my 15 mm Fisheye lens. I shot 5 exposure bracketing sequences at ISO 400, f/11 and partial metering mode. This set was shot with shutter speeds ranging from 1/25 second to 0.6 second.

I post processed in HDR EFEX and chose the Default Mode (which I almost never choose.) I further processed in DxO's Viveza 2 and Color Efex Pro 4.


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




Vella Kendall   Vella Kendall
What a beautiful place. I want that door. The colors are very nice but I wonder if lowering the exposure just a tad would make the colors richer. I especially like the crop and the staircase helps to lead the eye around. So many textures, I would like to a monochrome version.   Posted: 11/03/2021 00:22:39



Vella Kendall   Vella Kendall
What a beautiful place. I want that door. The colors are very nice but I wonder if lowering the exposure just a tad would make the colors richer. I especially like the crop and the staircase helps to lead the eye around. So many textures, I would like to a monochrome version.   Posted: 11/03/2021 11:44:52



Dr Isaac Vaisman   Dr Isaac Vaisman
Gary, I agree with you that the content of the canvas fits the golden Ratio. Your selected vantage point indeed included everything with minimal cropping, still showing some of the distortion created by the 15mm fisheye. I think that the HDR processing, oversaturated the yellows and the greens overall, Perhaps some desaturation is in order. Great composition, and it is sharp.   Posted: 11/03/2021 17:35:11
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R Gary Butler   R Gary Butler
Isaac, thanks for the suggestion. In LR I desaturated the green significantly (-35). I desaturated the yellow slightly (-10) because to my eye the rock was a starting to lose its true brownish cast that this fieldstone has. What do you think? I always appreciate your constructive criticism.   Posted: 11/04/2021 06:13:54
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Dr Isaac Vaisman   Dr Isaac Vaisman
Gary, in my monitor still looks oversaturated compared to my PP (Above). Perhaps has to do with color calibration ??   Posted: 11/04/2021 19:15:30
R Gary Butler   R Gary Butler
Ok, I am home now and able to look at the image on the larger monitor. On this version I have desaturated green a bit further. In addition I have changed the Hue for Green and Yellow and reduced the luminance on the Green as well. Unrelated I also put a radial filter on the door and increased contrast and exposure to help draw the eye there. This is where I am.   Posted: 11/08/2021 15:20:43
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R Gary Butler   R Gary Butler
My monitor is calibrated every month. But that aside I will keep looking at the image and try to get it right. Thanks for the feedback. Tomorrow my objective is to shoot the cars at Old Car City. Looking forward to that.   Posted: 11/04/2021 19:41:20



Erik Rosengren   Erik Rosengren
Your patience paid off, finding the right tripod placement. You provided a strong composition as well. I agree with Isaac's assessment as I found the bright green leaves in the background oversaturated and too bright as well as the green wall and steps. When shooting Old Car City, you might consider doing some video as well. Some of your stills might scream MONO.   Posted: 11/09/2021 15:10:55



Ian Chantler   Ian Chantler
Hi Gary
As they say third time lucky,and lucky for us you did not like the waterfalls and and you could not enter the Chapel because it led to you to here ,love the fisheye effect as the effect sweeps you around the whole image great textures and wonderful shapes created within the architecture I really like the the ocassional leaf in full autumn colours scattered around the image they add an extra splash of colour.
I agree with the others I did find the greens a little strong but a wonderful image to investigate and enjoy.   Posted: 11/10/2021 16:13:32



Guy Davies   Guy Davies
Gary, I like your approach to this subject with choice of lens and shooting position. Cclours are better with Isaac's adjustment, but it was propbably the HDR process that made them too strong. This location has potential for more pictures - those stairs are great!   Posted: 11/17/2021 08:21:46