Natures beautification of an abandoned home (C&C welcome)

[KimC]

I like this photo - its not often (I find) that a photograph of what are really 'weeds' comes out well, but you've really managed it in this composition

You post made me smile. The weed comment is why I wasn't sure about posting this... I loved it, but wasn't sure what others would think. :-) Thank you

[KimC]

I have thought about this for a while. While the edit that Kodiak has done is interesting and it is important to have the skill to do that, to me the feeling of the original image is more in keeping with the spirit of the message - a dilapidated old house with faded paint. The person who saw the actual thing should have the final say in what the image should look like.

Thank you for both of your comments Tony. I am a newbie -- I purchased my 1st SLR this spring (was point and shoot before) and started processing at the same time. I agree it's about personal preference; however, since I am learning, and don't yet know all that's available for me to explore, I treasure when people help me to look at things differently, and tell me how I might change the image.

On Friday evening, I posted an image of a tree in the woods (with lots of dappled light) -- there was a lot of discussion on that one as well... but that one came out just as I saw it, and wanted to remember it... so I haven't changed it a bit. :-)

[KimC]

Nice capture, a bit more work and you've got something.

Thanks - see my revised image John. Better?

[KimC]

[QUOTE=Kodiak;451221]

…so far, much better!

That's what I was hoping for -- thank you!

[Mike Buckley]

Your revised treatment and composition work really well for me. The image now displays both the facts of the scene and the mood.

About the histogram at time of capture: First, I'm glad nobody took me up on my bet. Second, when the dynamic range of the scene is smaller than the sensor can record (when the histogram appears that it will be possible to use an exposure that displays no data on the left and right sides), my general guideline (not a rule) for a scene with this kind of dynamic range is to center the histogram. Doing so provides latitude when mapping the dark and bright tones if needed during post-processing.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Kim. I like the image and your edit looks really nice

[Kodiak]

Second, when the dynamic range of the scene is smaller than the sensor can record (when the histogram appears that it will be possible to use an exposure that leaves unused data on the left and right sides), my general guideline (not a rule) for a scene with this kind of dynamic range is to center the histogram. Doing so provides latitude if needed during post-processing.

Mike, for clarity, I would like to point to these:

1. the dynamic range is a quality of the sensor, from the lowest to the highest
light levels it is capable to record information.

2. the tonal range is a quality of a scene, the highest to the lowest levels of
light reflected by any given scene.

What you meant to say was correct, the tonal range of the scene is less than the
dynamic range of the sensor… with this kind of tonal range, center the
histogram. Doing so provides latitude if needed during post-processing.

You know very well that scenes may have much greater tonal ranges than any sensor's
dynamic range. A first solution is the use of gradient filters, that I like; and a second
is the use of HDR techniques… most of the time horribly executed.

[Mike Buckley]

Kodiak,

Thanks for clarifying your understanding of the difference between dynamic range and tonal range. I had not previously come across that difference and it's helpful to know that others make the distinction.

However, as in the case of so many photographic terms, there seems to be no true standard about how to use the two terms. As an example, the Cambridge in Color tutorial makes no such differentiation. Indeed, it states that "the concept of dynamic range becomes more complicated, and depends on whether you are describing a capture device (such as a camera or scanner), a display device (such as a print or computer display), or the subject itself." The tutorial also adds in a later paragraph that "the concept of dynamic range is therefore useful for relative comparisons between the actual scene, your camera, and the image on your screen or in the final print." That tutorial that explains dynamic range refers several more times to the dynamic range as a quality of the scene.