Zeche Zollverein

[Harald L]

I've just revised the pictures I've made recently at the "Zeche Zollverein" which is an abandoned coking plant in Essen. The UNESCO World Heritage has been carefully restored and serves nowadays as a museum.

More stuff you'll find at Zollverein on Flickr

Harald

[muntanela]

Very interesting, why Zollverein? Is it related to the customs union in 1834  (List usw)?  How?

[Harald L]

Very interesting, why Zollverein? Is it related to the customs union in 1834  (List usw)?  How?

Yes, you're right. At that time "Zollverein" was a synonym for upswing and prosperity.

Harald

[Bruce Cox]

I like the pictures and fancy they could be even better if:

 If in Mining Cars [II] the middle car had seemed three dimensional, maybe more information in the highlight up its edge?

 If Workbench was matted on something other than white, the first aid box and highlights on the tools might be happier.

 If in Rails the bright orange wheels at the top were shifted off center, maybe square framing starting on the right side?

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

What a wonderful place to photograph! Great shots!

[Rob C]

I like your third shot best; it offers perspective and depth where the other two strike me as flat, probably also because of the huge open light sources that make everthing of equal weight...

Maybe your last one would work well in b/white, too.

Rob C

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

#3 is extraordinary! Wonderful, dynamic composition, leading lines, beautiful combination of colors, and some unusual colors (for metal) as well (pink, green).

[Harald L]

Thank you guys for your helpful critiques and comments.

@Bruce: You may be right to consider a squarish frame but this is a series in which I want to have every picture in landscape format.

@Rob: Yes, you're right, I've flattened #1 and #2 too much and they lost some atmosphere. I've tried to correct this. I've also tried a BW but to be honest I'm not convinced by the results. Perhaps I'm too attracted by the colors of this pictures. Feel free to infringe my copyrights...

@Slobodan: Thank you. The very special colors are a product of the careful lightning on site which was installed by artists. Furthermore most metal parts are treated by different acids. And last but not least I've composed a particular curves recipe which I've applied on all pictures of this series.

Harald

[Bruce Cox]

For me:

 The new Mining Cars [II] is greatly improved.

 The Stairs are very much fun and scary.

 The new Workbench is very scary and no fun.

[Chris Calohan]

I like the third one as is (first series), and the first one in the second series, best...good job, Harald!

[Christoph C. Feldhaim]

Big improvement with the 2nd series.
Well done !

[Chris Calohan]

I'd love to see that curves recipe...

[Harald L]

I'd love to see that curves recipe...

Here you are

Harald

[Chris Calohan]

I used something similar on the edit I sent you though my blue curve wasn't quite as intense. Interesting and though I am working in CS6, the curve profiles are pretty close.

[Harald L]

I used something similar on the edit I sent you though my blue curve wasn't quite as intense. Interesting and though I am working in CS6, the curve profiles are pretty close.

I have the same curve set in CS6 (which works out equally) but I try to avoid photoshopping by doing as much adjustments as possible in C1.