Henry Heerschap  

Goudi's Steps by Henry Heerschap

April 2026 - Goudi's Steps

April 2026 - Henry Heerschap

Original

About the Image(s)

This was taken in Barcelona two years ago in Park Guell, a park designed by Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi is most famous for his church, Sagrada Familia, but he also designed buildings and other features throughout his native Barcelona. This park was originally intended to be a community of homes, but features mostly paths, viewpoints, and various architectural elements. I'm a sucker for interesting stairs seemingly going off into the void, so this scene caught my eye and lens.
I converted it to black and white in Lightroom Classic along with a bit of cropping and exposure adjustment. I then took it into Photoshop where I cleaned up several distracting elements and did some dodging and burning.
Sony A6500, full spectrum conversion with a 720nm screw on filter. Sony 18-135 lens. ISO 800, 21mm, f/13, 1/60 second. Shot handheld.

7 comments posted

Charles Walker   Charles Walker
Henry, retaining the ball makes this an interesting image. Thank you for the background information. Paths and stairs arrest my attention too. You used the stairs well in this captivating composition.   Posted: 04/01/2026 16:36:07
Arik Gorban   Arik Gorban
Nice composition with the ball and steps framed by the trees. IR worked well here. I also like the way you cleaned the scene and removed distractions.
  Posted: 04/01/2026 19:38:34
Emil Davidzuk   Emil Davidzuk
Henry

The well worn steps are the hero in your composition, curving out of frame.

I offer a couple of thoughts: IN LR i used a brush on the steps and lowered the exposure a bit, I then brushed the foliage adjacent to the stairs and increased the exposure to create contrast and bring the eye into the frame. I also brushed the lower right corner and lowered the exposure so the ball stands out a bit

Regards

Emil   Posted: 04/03/2026 00:35:02
Comment Image
Henry Heerschap   Henry Heerschap
Thanks for that, Emil. I really like what you did here.   Posted: 04/03/2026 04:01:34
Jack Florence Jr   Jack Florence Jr
Interesting, Henry. If you look at this with the sky cropped out, it's a totally different image, one more focused on the ball, and as the sky is bright, some would say it takes one out of the scene. As others have noted the stairs are key to this scene.   Posted: 04/10/2026 01:21:27
Steve Long   Steve Long
A lovely image. I also have a thing for stairs. I am left wondering where these stairs are taking me. Jack may have a point, you should consider cropping the sky out of the image since it really doesn't add anything and may distract from the subject.   Posted: 04/13/2026 20:06:33
Melanie Hurwitz   Melanie Hurwitz
Hi Henry, Those steps are sure inviting. It makes me want to know where they will lead. the ball is such an interesting added element that makes one think. I do like the idea of adding more contrast and also agree that the sky is not an necessary element.   Posted: 04/14/2026 16:02:59

 

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