Lee Ann Stamm  

An Interesting Door - Behind Locked Doors by Lee Ann Stamm

September 2023 - An Interesting Door - Behind Locked Doors

About the Image(s)

Before I get to my description, I’d like to thank everyone for comments of the past. I went back to my beginning with this group and copied all your helpful comments regarding images I’d like to use in shows or exhibits. I will periodically be using your comments to make better images. Thank you for all the great feedback.

My husband, Tim and I are off to Ireland the first couple weeks of September. It’s the first time we have travelled overseas. We are excited. Hope I can bring back some images that will fit into our assignments.

This door image was taken in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, which is a quaint, popular tourist town. Most of the shops are thriving and open, but I wandered upon this interesting door. With three locks, it obviously wanted to have its secrets hidden. I did not sharpen this image, but the white spots on the black paint look over-sharpened. I dulled them down some with the burn tool. Other suggestions?

I used my trusty Canon 20D for this image with a 17-85 mm lens. Focal length set at 50 mm. Settings were 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 800, Shutter priority.

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

Carole Kropscot   Carole Kropscot
The oddity of the locks, colors, and old painted wood is a great combination of items to make an interesting photo of a door. You limited your composition to just the right amount of "stuff" instead of using the whole door, which would be more mundane although probably still an interesting door.
I don't have an answer to your question since the web version of your image looks just fine. My only suggestion for improvement is the add a slight vignette to the entire image to help prevent the eye from wandering off its left side where the brightest big area of the photo draws my eye after looking at the interesting details. See my edit. Not sure if you can tell the difference. It is a -25 vignette in Photoshop's Raw Filter.   Posted: 09/15/2023 14:43:27
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Thanks Carole, I like the way the vignette completes the image by holding the content together and keeps the eyes more on the locks.   Posted: 09/18/2023 15:05:58
Carole Kropscot   Carole Kropscot
Yes, the more subtle, the better. Just a touch, depending on the image. It seems to be beneficial on most photos, too. It's a finishing touch I learned from one of the famous photographers who gives webinars. Sorry I forget who it was.   Posted: 09/28/2023 09:31:12
Ally Green   Ally Green
Very interesting capture of this door and its 3 locks...as you say intriguing to know why so many locks. I like the fact that the black wooden frame has been weathered..adds to the story. To me the white spots you mention don't both me. You have focused really well on this part of the door.   Posted: 09/18/2023 12:37:04
 
Thank you Ally.   Posted: 09/18/2023 15:06:33
Connie Reinhart   Connie Reinhart
This is indeed an interesting door. The three locks make one curious, especially because the two at the top look relatively new. Obviously someone is paying attention to this shop. If by "white spots" you mean the chips in the wood frame, you handled them very well. They look very natural. I agree with Carole's vignette.   Posted: 09/18/2023 13:54:49
 
Thanks Connie. I was so focused on trying to get the lettering readable on the upper locks that it didn't dawn on me how much newer they were. In my mind, that adds to the story.   Posted: 09/18/2023 15:09:33
 
I was struck by the progression of the locks from oldest to newest. What's behind that door intrigues me. I think you processed this perfectly. You gave it just the right amount of vignette. The wood looks aged and compliments the whole feel of the image.

Hope you had fun in Ireland. One of my favorite places.   Posted: 09/19/2023 08:48:51
 
Thanks Joan. We had a wonderful time in Ireland. It was 13 days well spent, but maybe we planned too much. In retrospect, we wish we could have spent more time in one place, but it was a trip we'll never forget.   Posted: 09/27/2023 22:20:07
Carole Kropscot   Carole Kropscot
Some ways to sharpen just one small area, like the word Yale on the top lock, are to use the Sharpen tool in Photoshop or use PS Camera Raw filter or to tap the K on your keyboard when using LR and paint in sharpness over the text area by increasing any of several sliders such as Clarity, Sharpness, Contrast, and perhaps some others until it is the way you want it.   Posted: 09/28/2023 09:42:35