Sometimes the ability of a drone to look straight down on a subject creates an interesting image. This image is looking straight down on the Baha'i Temple outside Chicago which I visited in February (I intended to go back this summer and shoot it when the landscaping was beautiful but couldn't because of difficulty walking. It will have to wait until next summer!)
Because I didn't like the dark greenish/yellows of the winter grasses I desaturated those colors and enhanced the blues. I cropped it to a square, which cut out the edges of the road and cars, and I rotated it slightly, which caused a large white triangle in the lower right corner, which I filled in using generative fill. In rotating, I saw that there was a slight angle to my image, and I learned how difficult it is to get exactly 90? above a subject. I had several shots taken from directly above as the drone passed over it and moved about, but none of them were exactly 90? above.
In the end, I thought this image looked almost like a drawing.
This round’s discussion is now closed! 10 comments posted
Pete Scifres
By a funny coincidence I was there on Sunday morning. A beautiful fall morning Part of a visit to my wife's sister who lives in nearby Evanston. I told the relatives I've should have brought my drone! And flown it inside!!!
This perspective is really interesting and I liked the image a lot. Somehow it seemed a bit flat but I'm not sure what I would have done in post to adjust this.
Did you consider BnW?
Posted: 10/08/2024 03:03:52
Drema Swader
Such a small world!
Yes, I tried it in B&W, but I liked the blue tones a little better. Posted: 10/09/2024 01:01:41
Lou McLove
Hi Drema, I think this is a very interesting image and I like how you handled it. The pattern and the composition are quite strong. Personally I like the flat look to it, I think it adds to the abstractness of the image. Posted: 10/08/2024 20:58:41
Drema Swader
Thanks, Lou. Posted: 10/09/2024 01:02:06
Lisa Cirincione
I absolutely love this photo. I love the top down look of course, the abstractness, the symmetry, the blue tint, not completely black and white, and the flat look.
Good for you for flying over this Temple. Are all of the circles fountains? Posted: 10/10/2024 00:36:36
Drema Swader
Yes, but in February, they were not turned on, so the water was still. Posted: 10/10/2024 01:18:06
Lisa Cirincione
Another reason to go back! But I do like it like this… Posted: 10/10/2024 02:24:39
Richard Stauber
I didn't quite understand the shot until I saw the original with autos and then I realized the scale. It is an amazingly intricate design when seen from above. I like muted blue tones and hope you do another shot with fountains flowing. Posted: 10/10/2024 21:05:04
Drema Swader
The building is the same one I posted in May. You can see the detail in the dome, and with the lights on at night it had a much warmer color. Posted: 10/11/2024 04:35:03
Don Stouder
Drema, Another interesting graphic design. Great cropping to eliminate the cars. You wanted the blue tones to stand out. I am wondering what applying a blue tone to the entire image would look it? So many filter options are possible for such an image. Posted: 10/11/2024 20:25:07
