This was taken an hour or so before my image of the square last month and is quite a famous building - being very opulent inside, built with “Rubber industry wealth’ in about 1800, using products imported from European. Manaus is some 900 mile up the Amazon river. The building and a few others are now surrounded by run-down buildings and streets.
There was a storm brewing as I took this - luckily, we were inside when the heavens opened!
Looking at it now, I am thinking why I didn’t position myself centrally, but I think it was because the lamp post would have been more in the way and the two people were walking into the picture. I only felt safe taking my phone into the city - so no camera, but my iPhone shoots Raw and provides reasonable detail.
PP was all with Lightroom. The original file is here, plus the image developed in colour.
9 comments posted
Paul Smith
The contrast in your image is excellent! Regarding the pole, could you "remove" it in editing s/w? Regarding the Opera House building and brick road, your texture, clarity and focus are professional grade. Now, let's talk about your clouds! Great clouds...you have done well with the tonal qualities of your clouds. And this was taken with a phone?? Nice work! Posted: 07/07/2025 19:48:14
Adrian Binney
Thank you Paul. I was lucky with the weather and black clouds behind. I've been using my phone a lot in recent years - they are now excellent tools and with me using Raw all the time and save the images to Lightroom as TIFF files, I've had good success. Obviously not with wildlife shots. Posted: 07/21/2025 06:03:12
Mary Ann Carrasco
Adrian, it is amazing what our phones can do! You have done a nice edit here with correcting the perspective. Your black and white version highlights all the intricate detail of the textures and the ominous clouds. I like that the people are walking into the frame as it gives it a story and shows some perspective as to the size of the opera house. Great travel image. Posted: 07/07/2025 21:44:57
Adrian Binney
Thank you and yes I will use this in PTD as well as Mono. Posted: 07/21/2025 06:04:14
Paul Hoffman
Again another excellent conversion with very strong contrast. The detail in the stone work is very good and the I love that the two people are in the image to give strong scale. Shame that post is on the right, But not much you could do about that. The sky makes this image and is a joy. Posted: 07/17/2025 08:56:43
Adrian Binney
Thank you Paul. I will try removing the lamp post as I think Lightroom does this well now (I'm not a Photoshop user). Posted: 07/21/2025 06:06:23
Vincent Cochain
I like this kind (great and beautiful buildings). In this case there is life with the 2 people. That also gives a scale of the buildings.
Your conversion in B&W is great, as the clouds. I lasso like the light on the buildings. Job well done.
However, and personally, I prefer when there is a better symmetry. As you wrote, there is a pole. Would I be possible to have it between the 2 buildings ans to remove it? Posted: 07/17/2025 14:45:58
Adrian Binney
Vincent - I will try to remove the pole - nothing I can do about the position I was standing - but if I'd moved right, the people would have walked to a more central position - not ideal. Posted: 07/21/2025 06:09:59
David Halgrimson
Very strong conversion, great detail, tones and contrast. The adjustment to keep it from falling backward is very well done. The people give it added interest. The lightpost can easily be removed in Lightroom especially if you use the Generative AI. Overall strong interest and impact. Posted: 07/22/2025 17:19:32
