Author Topic: opinions sought (Read 5827 times)

LT · « **on:** January 07, 2007, 08:46:02 PM »

another older film - these were taken at ]Bodiam Castle in East Sussex last October. Which do you prefer and why (if either).

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CarlRadford · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2007, 09:12:14 PM »

For me No 2. That said both appear to be soft so I wonder what camera was used. In No 1 if its not vignetting then the burn is too obvious in the sky especially upper left. I do like the feel of the vegetation etc which is something I think can be over done. Lovely light which picks up on the stonework. Whilst I said No 2 I am not that keen on the softness of the lefthand side ramparts (or whatever one calls them) and not sure the verticals are really vertical? Clouds appear pretty grainy. Again lovely light that pick out the stone work.

Now the dither - the more I flick back and forth to comment I feel No 1 sits better.

Not sure about that signature too Mr Taylor

LT · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2007, 10:13:22 PM »

It's the holga Carl - the vignette is unavoidable in 1 as it is full frame, no 2 is a bit of a crop so it is not so obvious.

The signature mearly refers to my favourite pastime (it's a druid thing you know;))

Susan B. · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2007, 10:34:51 PM »

2 for me!
Lovely as always, Leon

Francois · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2007, 10:40:14 PM »

I know this is a question of taste, but in picture 1, despite the fact that the vignetting usually tends to bring the eye into the image, I find the light vegetation to the left distracting. The branch that just sticks into the frame on top is equally distracting. Since they are not part of the subject, I feel they should go.
Vegetation would have been OK if it did bring the eye into some opening (door like)
In picture 2, those things are fixed and it makes the image much more quiet to the eye.
As for the taste in castles... any castle with a working trébuchet gets my vote

CarlRadford · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2007, 05:05:47 PM »

Quote from: leon taylor on January 07, 2007, 10:13:22 PM

It's the holga Carl - the vignette is unavoidable in 1 as it is full frame, no 2 is a bit of a crop so it is not so obvious.

Restores faith in my opinion of your dakroom skills

The signature mearly refers to my favourite pastime (it's a druid thing you know;))

And I thought......

aboot · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2007, 01:40:30 AM »

no. 2

i would've chosen no. 1 but those branches coming down from the top are annoying me slightly.

Skorj · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2007, 11:44:27 AM »

1. is more unique, but 2. is more you. I prefer the you version...

al · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2007, 04:19:02 PM »

With No.1, I find my eye circling round the edge looking at the branches, plants and whatever that is on the bank in the centre, and avoiding the main subject. If this was a childrens book cover it would be "The Princess and The Fairy Castle"

No.2 is much more direct but seems better balanced somehow. If this was a childrens book it would be "The Brave Knights of The King's Castle"

I'd read book #2, but perhaps it's just a boy thing

eddie · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2007, 08:49:37 PM »

I especially like the first one. The composition and lighting is very harmonious yet complex, there is a lot squeezed into this image. Foreground middleground and sky all have differing compositions but blend really well together. The eye wanders with interest around the image. Lines and circles all in tune with each other. The tones in the image are also soft and subtle even the strong castle walls. Topping it off is a bit i vignetting which is great.

The second image is one that grows on you and is quite strong and graphic compared to the first one. Nice strong lighting well balance composition and the strong lines of the castle make a good image.

Overall my vote goes to the first one.

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2007, 10:38:36 PM »

Number 2 does it for me. Both are beautiful shots but in 1 I feel there is a bit to much foreground space. Very personal I guess....I feel more focused on number 1.

Phil

Dave_M · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2007, 09:36:02 AM »

Both are beautiful images. How do you manage to get something so sharp out of a Holga!?!

I'd be proud to hang both on my wall but I'd say I prefer the first shot (only slightly). I think the foreground with sidelighting gives it a 3-dimensional feel.

Really nice work Leon

bennyC · « **Reply #12 on:** January 10, 2007, 01:29:29 PM »

I like two because it's simple. It's clean. I like one for it's frame and its context. Both are lovely.

bennyC

chricela · « **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2007, 05:19:13 AM »

hi Leon,
#1 is nice, But #2 is dramatic...the sky jumps out, the castle is towering...yet immersed ...
were you standing in the water, to get this shot?
Chricel

outofcontxt · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2007, 12:30:09 AM »

#2 by a wide margin. The oblique angle and getting close enough to make it seem that the castle is floating on water is a big plus. An to answer Dave's question about the sharpness, with the Holga is a crapshoot. Some lens are sharper (or blurrier as the case may be) based on the Holga factory's vaunted quality control

I have noticed that the newer Holgas tend to be a lot sharper overall than previous versions but there are plenty of ways to make them crappy again...

LT · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2007, 08:16:30 AM »

THis is one of the old holgas - and even when I've bought new holgas, I always take off the lens and put my old one on. It has a great sweet spot in the middle of the frame and the goes really soft around the edges, has a few weird distortion things going on with excellent vignettes. I agree completely about the new holgas - I dont see the point in them, all they seem to do is give a slightly soft picture - you can get that with an old folder or similar with hazy lenses.

thanks for your comments everyone. I'm not overly happy wtih either version, but I'm glad I generated some picture discussion here. Now it's someone elses turn - who'll take the challenge first???

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2007, 12:35:29 AM »

I'm a No. 2 sort of person (and no, I'm not from Holland

). I love the way the light catches the tower in the foreground. Lovely touch.

smith Eliot · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2007, 08:21:52 AM »

i spent some time writing a reponse about a week ago and the system logged me out and my writing was lost.
this time, it's short and sweet...

i STRONGLY prefer the second image.
it's quite beautiful.
s

LT · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2007, 09:30:43 AM »

smith - thanks for taking the time to write comment ... and I'm sorry your first one was thrown out. Let us know if you have any further problems with the site.

db · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2007, 01:42:26 PM »

I hope you're adding up the score...

#2 has clean lines and more initial impact (er, I probably read that in one of the replies, so nix originality...)

#1 on the other hand has a sense of environment, discovery, even suggests a narrative. I think I'd get bored with #2 and although neither will win you any photographic competitions, I think I'd find #1 more interesting to think about over the long haul.

Author Topic: opinions sought (Read 5827 times)

bennyC

smith Eliot