Another church interior

[pschlute]

I underexposed this image 3 stops to prevent the sunlight shining through the window behind me from blowing out. When I went to bring out the shadows I really liked the partial illumination of the column that had occurred, so went with this theme in PP

IMGP4603 by Peter Schluter, on Flickr

[FrederickMcLean]

It looks very nice, I especially like the bright green and blue outside showing through the window. The arched sunlight takes my eye up to that window.

Regards
Fred

[DanK]

I like this image. I think keeping much of the scene in shadow does focus attention where you want.

However, if it were mine, I think I would nonetheless open up the shadows a little, leaving them underexposed but making some of the interesting framing detail more apparent. For example, this quickie below just used the shadows/highlights adjustment in photoshop, setting Tone to 15 to restrict the affected range and Amount to 20 to keep the effect small. It might be off, but it illustrates a direction that might be worth exploring.

[pschlute]

Thanks for the comments. Dan, I intend to print this image eventually and will be doing a few versions along the lines you suggest along with some test prints.

I generally prefer a moodier/ high contrast image, but I think for print my original may be a little dark.

The trickiest thing about getting this shot was keeping my head from casting a shadow !

ps, the church interior is actually quite bright.

IMGP4621 by Peter Schluter, on Flickr

[DanK]

I’m curious—have you thought yet about what sort of paper you might use?


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[pschlute]

I’m curious—have you thought yet about what sort of paper you might use?


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No idea. I use this lab and usually go for one of their fine art offerings. if you have a suggestion please let me know

https://dscolourlabs.co.uk/category/...t-gicle-prints

[DanK]

I am not very creative in choosing papers. What I was wondering about is whether I would go with a coated paper, like a baryta, or some kind of matte or fine art paper. I print mostly on barytas. My first reaction is that I would print this on a coated paper for the greater dynamic range and greater detail, compared to fine art papers. But I can see the virtue in a matte paper also.


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[pschlute]

I don't print often enough to have a feel for which works best. I have a set of samples which show the finish and weight, but other than that it is pot-luck.

[William W]

. . . if you have a suggestion [regarding what type of paper to use] please let me know
. . .

One primary consideration (for me) would be the size of the final print, and then secondarily, the purpose of the print: for example, if it were for my personal collection and to hang on my wall in enough space for 24 (inches long side) or larger, then I would be inclined toward matte, and I would be placing the print (framed) in an area of a natural light filled room: my general thinking being that the acutance of the minute detail is less important than the effect of the whole image.

If on the other hand, for a smaller print, (again depending on its pupose) I would initially tend toward an high DR paper.

WW

[William W]

If you choose to print L A R G E ... sample prints of selected areas (at the same size that the sample area will be in the final print), is a reasonably useful procedure, I tend to follow.

[Manfred M]

Peter - like Dan, I tend to go either a baryta paper (around 8 stops dynamic range) or a cotton rag paper (around 7-1/2 stops dynamic range), depending on the actual image.

I would open things up, the way Dan has suggested and I would probably go to a low OBA cotton rag for this image. It's naturally warm toned image so the two would match up quite nicely. Given all the old stones, I might even go for a slightly more textured paper here to complement the look.

I don't know the Permajet papers at all; they have not made their way to North America but I do regularly use Hahnemühle papers in my own work, but have not used either of the two papers that your printing company uses. I have yet to be disappointed by any of the Hahnemühle papers I've tried.

[pschlute]

Thanks for all the help. Will let you know how I get on.

[DanK]

Peter,

I had one thought about this. When I first started printing seriously on my own, I bought a few sample packs and printed a few images on a wide variety of papers. Leaving aside the size issue that Bill raises, I found this tremendously helpful. I remember spreading a bunch of 5 x 7 prints on the kitchen table to compare them repeatedly.

I don't know what prices your lab has, but the lab I used before I started printing my own, Bay Photo in California, is cheap enough that one could do this on a limited basis with them. Without color correction--leaving it to the photographer to do the editing--they charge $2.15 for 8 x 10. It might be worth ordering a few with different papers that you consider likely candidates.

Dan

[Manfred M]

Just to add to Dan's comment. One of the bricks & mortar camera stored downtown, where I bought my photo printer, has all kinds of paper samples available to look at. These are supplied by the paper brands and the prints on them have been chosen for how they came out, so one can get an idea that way as well.

[pschlute]

Thanks again. I do have sample prints of all the papers the lab can supply. I think a few test prints of 6x4 on different paper will assist too. I like the suggestion of using a slightly textured paper to suit the subject.

[DanK]

I think a few test prints of 6x4 on different paper will assist too.

Absolutely. Perhaps I'm not that good at visualizing, but I've sometimes guessed wrong--based on prints of other images--what my images would look like.

[Manfred M]

Absolutely. Perhaps I'm not that good at visualizing, but I've sometimes guessed wrong--based on prints of other images--what my images would look like.

+1 to this comment, Dan.

There have been a few times where I did a test print on a paper that I thought would not work and the result blew me away.

I've had the opposite happen as well, where I was sure I would like the print on a particular paper and the result was disappointing.

[pschlute]

I would appreciate any comments on this version. I have made a number of subtle changes, dodging to bring a little bit more light to the dark areas, but trying to retain a moody scene.

I think maybe the roof needs lightening a little more ?

[Manfred M]

The textures and shadow detail are far more interesting in your latest version.

I'm not particularly loving the very left hand side (the bright part of the arch and the window). They are asking for too much attention and I would consider burning those areas down a fair bit.

[pschlute]

Thanks for all the advice.

I brought out the shadows on the ceiling, and darkened the left hand pillar. I kept the light in the left side window arch.

I got a few test prints done, and settled on the Hahnemühle German Etching 310. It is a subtle texture and very matt (which suits my kitchen where it now hangs)

ps it looks brighter in reality.