Wide angle shots

[Craigie]

I bought this lens ( Canon EF-S 10-18mm 1:4.5-5.6 IS STM) a couple of months prior to up grading from my Canon 1100D to a Canon 6D.
Basically it has never had it's lens cap off since I bought.
So today I decided to take out the 1100D and the wide angled lens and get some practice.
This is a selection of the best of a bad bunch.
In #3 I have no idea what the 2 circles are below the S and between S & O.
All C&C welcome
1
I had to wait for a while before someone walked into the bright area and no cars passing prior to taking the shot, in my haste I cut off the LH side of the church.



2
Ex bowling club house now a café.



3
metal sign

[ajohnw]

I can see one under the T as well. Something on the front of the lens maybe as it doesn't look like flare from having a bright light some where out of the view. That can happen though so a lens hood is always a good idea this wide.

John
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[Manfred M]

The issue with both of the first two shots is that you are showing perspective distortion, which makes it look as if the buildlings are collapsing. This comes from pointing your camera up.

This effect sometimes looks good, but more often get a very strange looking image. I'm someone how has always loved UWA lenses, but will be the first to admit that they are quite challenging to use.

[ajohnw]

Manfred is pointing out that the camera needs to be vertical to prevent the effect. It can be removed pretty easily with software but the shot will have to be cropped.

The easiest way to minimise the effect is to look carefully at any verticals in the shot and tilt until they are vertical. On the church for instance that would probably mean standing further away and using the camera the normal way round.

John
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[Shadowman]

Nice efforts, with a bit more control on framing and some distortion control you could get these with very few distractions.

[Craigie]

The spots could possibly be something in front of the lens, as I have noticed a similar mark on an other image, taken on the same shoot.
The lens did have a hood attached.

I managed to alter #2 with the transform tool in Camera raw CC with too much being cropped.
Image #1 presented me with the problem of too much cropping on the image.
Thanks to all for comments and advice.
Everyday is a school day.