Destitution C&C welcomed

[KimC]

I believe I am developing a fondness for photographing abandoned things. Although there is sadness in their abandonment, I find a lot of beauty in most of them. I know it's not everyone's taste, but would appreciate any comments.

ISO 200; 22mm; F5.6; 1/125

[Shadowman]

Fills the frame but not a particularly appealing angle of view, I think the structure in the background has more interest and the truck should be a secondary element. I think part of the problem with the truck is that it's fairly new, doesn't look as abandoned as should be. Nice effort.

[IzzieK]

I noticed that background too, Kim. I think you should go back and do a shoot of that one too...or have you? I like abandoned things too..it speaks of sadness but to photographers they are a treasure to take a shot of. Maybe you can zoom a little bit more to include just the truck and the abandoned building behind just for kicks to see if it will work. If not, it doesn't matter. I must admit that there is a lot of potential in this one shot alone. Not criticizing but just commenting...OK?

[KimC]

Fills the frame but not a particularly appealing angle of view, I think the structure in the background has more interest and the truck should be a secondary element. I think part of the problem with the truck is that it's fairly new, doesn't look as abandoned as should be. Nice effort.

I don't play much with B&W... thoughts... truck doesn't look so new?

[KimC]

I noticed that background too, Kim. I think you should go back and do a shoot of that one too...or have you? I like abandoned things too..it speaks of sadness but to photographers they are a treasure to take a shot of. Maybe you can zoom a little bit more to include just the truck and the abandoned building behind just for kicks to see if it will work. If not, it doesn't matter. I must admit that there is a lot of potential in this one shot alone. Not criticizing but just commenting...OK?

Thanks Izzie. I know your comments always come from the goodness of your heart... they are always appreciated - good or bad ;-)

[Shadowman]

I don't play much with B&W... thoughts... truck doesn't look so new?

Hi Kim,

Big difference, at least to me, I think the monotone look pushes the image closer to your goal of representing destitution.

[mknittle]

Hi Kim,

Big difference, at least to me, I think the monotone look pushes the image closer to your goal of representing destitution.

I agree, but I am a big fan of black and whites.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Kim I think the truck doesn't look so old because of its white color in the front part and it is not fallen to pieces anyway. IMO it looks better in B&W ,white tone of the car doesn't stand out in B&W as much as it does in colour.

[Stagecoach]

Hi Kim,

I'm biased because you have the type of abandoned vehicle there that I would love to find and experiment shooting with. Whilst I see lots here they are always surrounded with junk and litter that would ruin any attempt at a decent image.

So I'll say, whilst not a particularly old vehicle with gorgeous rust and curves it certainly looks abandoned, sad and in keeping with the vegetation, untidy.

Grahame

[KimC]

Hi Kim,

Big difference, at least to me, I think the monotone look pushes the image closer to your goal of representing destitution.

Thanks John.

[KimC]

I agree, but I am a big fan of black and whites.

Thank you :-)

[KimC]

Hi Kim I think the truck doesn't look so old because of its white color in the front part and it is not fallen to pieces anyway. IMO it looks better in B&W ,white tone of the car doesn't stand out in B&W as much as it does in colour.

Thanks. I agree that it doesn't make the white stand out as much and blends the other stuff as well.

[KimC]

Hi Kim,

I'm biased because you have the type of abandoned vehicle there that I would love to find and experiment shooting with. Whilst I see lots here they are always surrounded with junk and litter that would ruin any attempt at a decent image.

So I'll say, whilst not a particularly old vehicle with gorgeous rust and curves it certainly looks abandoned, sad and in keeping with the vegetation, untidy.

Grahame

Thank you Grahame. Wish this one had a little less stuff around it.

[Mike Buckley]

I think it's a nice image. The background provides nice context without interfering; the truck is clearly the subject for me.

Consider adding a slight vignette, perhaps dark enough to concentrate the viewer's eye on the subject and to increase depth in the image but not so dark that it's immediately noticed; it would only be noticed as missing when removed.

Though I'm a huge fan of monochromes, I prefer the color version because the rear of the truck is clearly rusty. Not so for me in the monochrome version.

As you continue to work the scene (notice that I don't allow the possibility that you won't return to it ), try lots of compositions including this basic composition but with a little negative space to the right, allowing the truck to "face" that area.

[KimC]

I think it's a nice image. The background provides nice context without interfering; the truck is clearly the subject for me.

Consider adding a slight vignette, perhaps dark enough to concentrate the viewer's eye on the subject and to increase depth in the image but not so dark that it's immediately noticed; it would only be noticed as missing when removed.

Though I'm a huge fan of monochromes, I prefer the color version because the rear of the truck is clearly rusty. Not so for me in the monochrome version.

As you continue to work the scene (notice that I don't allow the possibility that you won't return to it ), try lots of compositions including this basic composition but with a little negative space to the right, allowing the truck to "face" that area.

Mike, thank you for taking the time to provide this in-depth response - it's very helpful. I will try the vignette tonight.

I will definitely be returning to this location and will do as you suggest.

[KimC]

Consider adding a slight vignette, perhaps dark enough to concentrate the viewer's eye on the subject and to increase depth in the image but not so dark that it's immediately noticed; it would only be noticed as missing when removed.

Mike is this what you were thinking for a vignette?

[Mike Buckley]

Your vignette is definitely in the realm that I'm thinking of. However, for me, the vignette is rather obvious in the two lower corners and the upper right corner. Be careful when applying a vignette to the sky; shadows don't naturally appear in the sky, so make a vignette in a sky very gradual as to become not noticeable.

Very often I find it necessary to use a custom vignette to avoid it being noticeable. I'll create a standard vignette using my vignette tool and I'll then modify it by painting in other areas or by erasing parts of it. Whatever modifications I make to the standard vignette, I ensure that they are so gradual that they aren't noticeable.

Vignettes are highly personal, so my vignette is shown below purely as an example that is different (though perhaps not better, especially if you don't like it) than yours.

EDIT: Working with this image reminds me of how much I enjoy it. Well done!

EDIT #2: I added your photo lacking the vignette so you can toggle back and forth between them to determine which one you prefer. I would be willing to bet that lacking the direct comparison of the two images, you wouldn't know that I had applied a vignette. Yet for me, the image with the vignette is quite a bit more satisfying.

[KimC]

Your vignette is definitely in the realm that I'm thinking of. However, for me, the vignette is rather obvious in the two lower corners and the upper right corner. Be careful when applying a vignette to the sky; shadows don't naturally appear in the sky, so make a vignette in a sky very gradual as to become not noticeable.

Very often I find it necessary to use a custom vignette to avoid it being noticeable. I'll create a standard vignette using my vignette tool and I'll then modify it by painting in other areas or by erasing parts of it. Whatever modifications I make to the standard vignette, I ensure that they are so gradual that they aren't noticeable.

Vignettes are highly personal, so my vignette is shown below purely as an example that is different (though perhaps not better, especially if you don't like it) than yours.

EDIT: Working with this image reminds me of how much I enjoy it. Well done!

EDIT #2: I added your photo lacking the vignette so you can toggle back and forth between them to determine which one you prefer. I would be willing to bet that lacking the direct comparison of the two images, you wouldn't know that I had applied a vignette. Yet for me, the image with the vignette is quite a bit more satisfying.

Mike, thanks for inserting the original with your edit. Being able to toggle really displays the difference and I love your vignettes... it's so subtle, yet adds so much. Very helpful lesson. Thanks again!

[bnnrcn]

Vignette made a huge difference and now the color version makes sense Kim

Mike, thanks for the lesson. What I like about your comments is that you don't tell people just to reduce the exposure 1/3 or you don't make edits to show how good you are at it. You always explain why and how you do your edits and you do it in order to help . And most important of all, you don't discourage people. Thank you so much

[Mike Buckley]

Binnur, you make me blush.