Out of my comfort zone

[BrianA61]

Last weekend, I went with a friend, who is new to photography, to walk around downtown Portland, Oregon. He wanted to learn more about photography and get more familiar with his camera. Urban shooting is not really my thing, so, I decided to play along and see what I could find. As we were finishing up, I got this shot. At first, the shot wasn't really doing anything for me. So, after a little PP, I came up with this. Problem is, I don't know which version I like better. I added split toning and quite a bit of grain to the second one to make it look old.

#1


#2

[Shadowman]

I would have expected a bit more sharpness throughout the image at f/11, I like the first image for the original tones.

[BrianA61]

It was raining most of the day. I believe this was taken when it was just drizzling. That and my lens might have had some water on it. Very difficult shooting conditions.

[Shadowman]

It was raining most of the day. I believe this was taken when it was just drizzling. That and my lens might have had some water on it. Very difficult shooting conditions.

Were you manually focusing or handholding?

[BrianA61]

Handholding and squatting down. Should've been in Av mode to get better DOF.

[Shadowman]

Handholding and squatting down. Should've been in Av mode to get better DOF.

At 1/500sec shutterspeed you shouldn't have had any trouble handholding, but as you were squatting you introduced a bit of camera shake to the capture.

[IzzieK]

I prefer #1 Brian...these tracks led somewhere and what I want to see is not what I feel, dark, foreboding, evil place. Sorry I just woke up from a nightmare a while ago that also happened in this kind of dark, evil environment. I am still trying to settle down.

[Shadowman]

I just woke up from a nightmare a while ago that also happened in this kind of dark, evil environment.

Think of it as a place where artist's inspirations are formed.

[bnnrcn]

I prefer #1 Brian

[Mike Buckley]

I like both images equally well. Though it's difficult to tell when viewing such small image files, I think I would prefer the foreground detail to be sharper.

Should've been in Av mode to get better DOF.

That mode in itself wouldn't have improved anything; it's always a matter of one's comfort and understanding when deciding which of the various modes to use in a particular situation.

[Wavelength]

Between the tracks, no body's comfort zone just joking
Nice images indeed

[IzzieK]

Between the tracks, no body's comfort zone just joking
Nice images indeed

Especially when you are about to be squashed by a train...choooo...choooo....

[Manfred M]

Brian, these are decent shots, in spite of some of the minor technical issues you have brought up. I personally prefer the first one as both B&W and sepia tone both imply "age". I can't really see any of the noise you added, so can't comment on it. I also prefer the first image.

You have decent DoF, having shot at f/11, but as you have noted, there is a touch of softness in the images. Av isn't going to buy you much as you are already close to the sweet spot of your lens / sensor; f/11. As you have posted small sizes, it's difficult to do a good assessment. That being said, as a "rule" shooting for a sharp foreground and letting the background soften up is usually the best way to shoot these scenes. DoF charts and using the hyperfocal distance (again charts help) would have helped select a more appropriate place to focus on, ra With your zoom and aperture settings, had you focused on something around 35ft / 10.5m away, the whole scene would have been in focus.

Just as a point; shooting out of your comfort range is definitely the best way of improving your photographic skills.

[Inkanyezi]

I prefer #1 Brian...these tracks led somewhere and what I want to see is not what I feel, dark, foreboding, evil place. Sorry I just woke up from a nightmare a while ago that also happened in this kind of dark, evil environment. I am still trying to settle down.

An yesterday I was thinking of responding to this thread many times, but refrained. I have been working at a railway company for about a decade, and we had people getting killed and mutilated when they were on the wrong place at the wrong time. The image really gave me a nightmare and reminded me of the death of Sarah Jones, when trying to get off the tracks when the train came. They were filming a cot placed on a trestle bridge, without any safety measures.

Between the tracks, no body's comfort zone just joking

No, it is not a joke.

So, I don't think it is the place to suggest how to manage DoF.

Especially when you are about to be squashed by a train...choooo...choooo....

[Shadowman]

An yesterday I was thinking of responding to this thread many times, but refrained. I have been working at a railway company for about a decade, and we had people getting killed and mutilated when they were on the wrong place at the wrong time. The image really gave me a nightmare and reminded me of the death of Sarah Jones, when trying to get off the tracks when the train came. They were filming a cot placed on a trestle bridge, without any safety measures.



No, it is not a joke.

So, I don't think it is the place to suggest how to manage DoF.

Urban,

Check out the following thread which addresses your concerns Safety

[BrianA61]

An yesterday I was thinking of responding to this thread many times, but refrained. I have been working at a railway company for about a decade, and we had people getting killed and mutilated when they were on the wrong place at the wrong time. The image really gave me a nightmare and reminded me of the death of Sarah Jones, when trying to get off the tracks when the train came. They were filming a cot placed on a trestle bridge, without any safety measures.

Urban, I can understand your concern. However, these tracks are at the end of the Portland train station. I was well aware of my surroundings and wasn't in that position for very long to get the shot. When I'm out on a photo shoot, I don't lose track of my surroundings. ESPECIALLY in downtown Portland with a very expensive camera/lens in my hand.

Thanks to everyone on the comments. I have noticed that posting photos to this forum, they seem to get a little soft. I went back and viewed this shot again and it is much sharper that what appears here. I don't understand the comments about the photos being small. They appear about 3/4 screen size on my computer.

No, it is not a joke.

So, I don't think it is the place to suggest how to manage DoF.

[John 2]

............................................ but as you were squatting you introduced a bit of camera shake to the capture.

With my knees, that would definitely be true.

The first one for me Brian. Don't know why. Just subjective I guess.

[IzzieK]

Brian, did you do the USM after you translated this file into a jpg for submission? If you didn't, maybe you should have as Tiny Pic makes the posted image soft when it is translated to this forum.

[BrianA61]

Brian, did you do the USM after you translated this file into a jpg for submission? If you didn't, maybe you should have as Tiny Pic makes the posted image soft when it is translated to this forum.

USM? I export directly from lightroom to jpg. Then, upload with tiny pic. I uploaded the same file to my photo website and it looks much sharper. Something with Tiny Pic upload?

[IzzieK]

USM? I export directly from lightroom to jpg. Then, upload with tiny pic. I uploaded the same file to my photo website and it looks much sharper. Something with Tiny Pic upload?

Yes...it has been discussed here before quite often but perhaps each time you didn't notice or your were somewhere else.