Kathryn Bundy
December 2025 - Behind the Cells
Original
About the Image(s)
I’ve been working on a personal project of photographing an old penitentiary. This was one area of the prison that I thought was interesting ??“ the plumbing and electrical
required in the old prisons. There were hallways between the cells so that maintenance workers could manage them easily. I cropped, lightened, added contrast, reduced warmth, and dodged/burned some areas.
Camera: Sony 6700
Lens: 18-135mm, f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Settings: 18mm, f/6.3, ISO 3200, white balance as shot, center weighted
Manual priority
Handheld
10 comments posted
You have eyes for unusual subjects!! Nice post-processing. Posted: 12/04/2025 22:28:14
Thank you. Posted: 12/14/2025 00:07:06
Such an interesting image! Thanks for sharing-really liked it. Posted: 12/06/2025 01:59:24
Thank you SUnil. Posted: 12/14/2025 00:09:28
I really like the composition. It's almost a monochrome so I processed your original as a black and white. What do you think??? Posted: 12/06/2025 20:58:23
Ed - I tried processing it as a black and white initially but thought the monochrome gave a more foreboding atmosphere as evidenced of the old penitentiary. I will try again as Brenda also thinks BnW might be good for the image and I did initially. Posted: 12/14/2025 00:13:07
Kathryn, When I studied your image, I thought it would look more hostile and forbidding ("prison-like") if it were a contrasty monochrome. Looks like Ed delivered my vision for me!
I did find your version a bit too orange, a warm color. If you aren't loving the monochrome idea, perhaps drop the color to a gray or brown palette?
Two parts of the image particularly draw me. The metal floor is made up of fabulous leading lines and draw us in. And at the end of the walkway of metal lines, we have the steps leading us upstairs, which really messed with my brain, since all the other lines are verticals and horizontals!
Regardless of whether you stay with your original tone or go to monochrome or something else, I would recommend making just these two areas very prominent with options like clarity, dehaze and contrast.
I agree you have a great eye for the unusual!
Posted: 12/07/2025 18:23:24
I did find your version a bit too orange, a warm color. If you aren't loving the monochrome idea, perhaps drop the color to a gray or brown palette?
Two parts of the image particularly draw me. The metal floor is made up of fabulous leading lines and draw us in. And at the end of the walkway of metal lines, we have the steps leading us upstairs, which really messed with my brain, since all the other lines are verticals and horizontals!
Regardless of whether you stay with your original tone or go to monochrome or something else, I would recommend making just these two areas very prominent with options like clarity, dehaze and contrast.
I agree you have a great eye for the unusual!
Posted: 12/07/2025 18:23:24
I do like "unusual" subjects. I will try your suggestions. Posted: 12/14/2025 00:14:39
I prefer your "gloomy" and forebodding treatment as it feels more like a prison. Posted: 12/09/2025 02:00:38
Thank you. I am going to try changes in tone and color and see if I can't process the image to get the same "gloomy" and foreboding atmosphere. Posted: 12/14/2025 00:15:51