Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: marton on August 14, 2016, 06:57:33 am

Title: Urban IR
Post by: marton on August 14, 2016, 06:57:33 am
I live in a country town in central Victoria, Australia. These are some shots taken today in urban locations. I used a 720nm IR filter on a 18-55 lens - Fuji X-T1
Title: Re: Urban IR
Post by: RSL on August 14, 2016, 08:21:33 am
Interesting approach, Marton. #3 is especially interesting. #2 could stand some straightening in Photoshop or Lightroom.
Title: Re: Urban IR
Post by: marton on August 14, 2016, 09:43:28 am
Thanks. I know what you're getting at re straightening, but I left it that way intentionally so that the top of the fence line was the horizontal.
Title: Re: Urban IR
Post by: RSL on August 14, 2016, 11:03:18 am
But it wasn't horizontal.
Title: Re: Urban IR
Post by: brandtb on August 14, 2016, 12:38:09 pm
I think that first shot is really a great one. I think what you're going for generally in concept, shooting, and processing is good - I don't think though the second two images have the same power as first and I think probably because the processing is not quite as good for the subjects in them. In particular the effect of vignetting. Pulling the shadows down on the outer left and right edges of the frame especially in the second image isn't helping it at all. I think vignetting ideally should be taken on a case by case basis. Also, I think for the last two the could stand to be somewhat brighter overall. /B
Title: Re: Urban IR
Post by: marton on August 14, 2016, 09:39:11 pm
I think that first shot is really a great one. I think what you're going for generally in concept, shooting, and processing is good - I don't think though the second two images have the same power as first and I think probably because the processing is not quite as good for the subjects in them. In particular the effect of vignetting. Pulling the shadows down on the outer left and right edges of the frame especially in the second image isn't helping it at all. I think vignetting ideally should be taken on a case by case basis. Also, I think for the last two the could stand to be somewhat brighter overall. /B

Thanks, that's some good feedback! Re the vignetting - yes definitely agree. I've grown to be a bit dependent on it for the focus it affords, particularly where monochrome is concerned, and I don't do anything these days.
Title: Re: Urban IR
Post by: marton on August 14, 2016, 09:40:24 pm
But it wasn't horizontal.

Yes, you're right.
Title: Re: Urban IR
Post by: marton on August 15, 2016, 10:06:26 am
I think that first shot is really a great one. I think what you're going for generally in concept, shooting, and processing is good - I don't think though the second two images have the same power as first and I think probably because the processing is not quite as good for the subjects in them. In particular the effect of vignetting. Pulling the shadows down on the outer left and right edges of the frame especially in the second image isn't helping it at all. I think vignetting ideally should be taken on a case by case basis. Also, I think for the last two the could stand to be somewhat brighter overall. /B

I've given your comments re vignetting a bit of thought, and I don't think I agree. At university during the course of my bachelor's degree, I'd often change things to suit a particular lecturer's style over my own for the sake of a couple of percentages in a higher score. I like the vignetting in the photo you mention. I like the - for want of a better word, drama it affords. And it's how I want to represent that particular image in terms of light and shade. I do agree that using it is  case by case as you say, but in this case, while I certainly appreciate your input, I'm keeping it.
Title: Re: Urban IR
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on August 16, 2016, 11:20:07 am
I think the first is the most interesting shot; it's also, for me, the one to which infra-red seems to add the least.

Jeremy