Henry Heerschap
December 2025 - Alhambra Door
Original
About the Image(s)
Another photo from our trip to Spain last year. One of our stops was Granada, home of the famous Moorish fortress The Alhambra. The place has Arabic over the walls, the ceilings, and the like. Our tour was one of hundreds going on at the same time so it was challenging taking photos without large number of people in them but this was one where I was fortunate. I liked the color version but felt the black and white treatment brought out the text and more dramatically.
Sony A7R V, Tamron 28-200 lens, f/2.8, 1/200 second, ISO 5000. Shot handheld. BW conversion done in Lightroom Classic with some exposure adjustments done in LrC and Photoshop.
5 comments posted
Interesting graphic patterns. The centered composition works well. The image seems a little flat to me. The contrast between colors is largely lost in the monochrome conversion since they are all similar brightness. If desired, perhaps it can be brought back by selective masking and/or adjustment of the brightness of different colors. I would also consider a small crop from the top.
Happy Holidays Posted: 12/07/2025 19:45:10
Happy Holidays Posted: 12/07/2025 19:45:10
Thanks for your thoughts, Sheldon. Good suggestions. I will take another look. Posted: 12/08/2025 18:11:24
Hi Henry: I Googled Alhambra fortress to familiarize myself with it, a very impressive place and you were fortunate to be able to travel there.
The original color and the monochrome conversion to me each tell a different story.
As a wood craftsmen I was impressed with the hand carved door that was made 700 years ago. The original color version shows age better than the monochrome, for instance the darkened bottom of the door and the soiled floor tile.
Regarding the monochrome conversion; I would experiment by adding just a small amount of contrast to the entire scene, it may provide a little more impact. It may work or it may not. Posted: 12/09/2025 07:07:54
The original color and the monochrome conversion to me each tell a different story.
As a wood craftsmen I was impressed with the hand carved door that was made 700 years ago. The original color version shows age better than the monochrome, for instance the darkened bottom of the door and the soiled floor tile.
Regarding the monochrome conversion; I would experiment by adding just a small amount of contrast to the entire scene, it may provide a little more impact. It may work or it may not. Posted: 12/09/2025 07:07:54
Thanks, Murphy. Good suggestion. Posted: 12/09/2025 17:20:29
Hi Henry: This is a really nice image in so far as it presents a lot of interesting detail and texture. I do agree that increasing contrast might give the image more impact, and I agree with Sheldon about the crop. Doors like this are great subjects to photograph and you did the right thing with the centred (symmetrical) composition. Posted: 12/10/2025 16:24:39