Derelection

[Autumn]

Well, here we go! Stephen has set me off with his Graffiti.

I have had these dereliction images tucked away for nearly two years.

On holiday in Croatia, we went (with some friends) a walk from our hotel and I came across this derelict hotel.

As soon as I walked inside I knew it had potential. It was an eerie feeling and I was a bit scared even though my husband stood in the doorway. I would have loved to go upstairs, but our friends were waiting and I was also afraid the staircase may not be safe.

I only had my Panasonice FX01 with me and unfortunately, I did not consider the backlighting from the windows near the stairs. So basicly these were snaps and I have done nothing with them.

Following Stephens Graffiti images, I downloaded a gritty preset for Lightroom and applied it and reduced the exposure.

Under normal circumstances, these are not the type of photographs I admire. I think that they look false and too post processed.

Anyway, I would appreciate your comments and advice.

[Stephen]

Re: Derelection

These all work well for me Audrey, but then no doubt people would expect me to say that However having seen your originals, these are now much more challenging on the eye. That gritty/edgy feel is there that's lacking in the originals. The flaky paintwork and the colours really stand out now and the eye now lingers. For me, the end result is not about whether it's pretty or pleasing on the eye, but rather whether they evoke more of a response or emotion from the viewer. I think they definitely do, and to say the originals were taken on your tiny Lumix its even more impressive

[Autumn]

Re: Derelection

Thanks for that Stephen, I was about to take my ball home. It's so long since I have posted an image, let alone in the critique forum.

I have seen a lot of images on other sites altered to this type of look, racing cars, boats, etc. and if not careful they begin to look like cartoons instead of photographs.

Anyway I have given it a try. I don't know whether it would be appreciated by the Photographic Societies. What do you think Patrick and Peter?

[Ian]

Re: Derelection

I think the second and last are a bit over-cooked for me. But I do like the third one. The first is a little ordinary to my eye.

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: Derelection

Thanks for that Stephen, I was about to take my ball home. It's so long since I have posted an image, let alone in the critique forum.

I have seen a lot of images on other sites altered to this type of look, racing cars, boats, etc. and if not careful they begin to look like cartoons instead of photographs.

Anyway I have given it a try. I don't know whether it would be appreciated by the Photographic Societies. What do you think Patrick and Peter?

Hi Audrey

The clubs have a mixed view on this type of image (just like this forum).

This heavy look appears however to be out of favour in the club exhibition circuit at this time, but that can change very easily.
I like the third with its winding stair case, have you tried cropping it to tighten up on that staircase?
I also like the last with its one open door and the half open door, come in if you dare.

Patrick

[Pol]

Re: Derelection

I love the last one. It's more like a drawing/painting than a photo but that doesn't bother me because I love the textures and colours.

Pol

[Autumn]

Re: Derelection

Thanks Pol. That is exactly how I feel. I think that this type of image is for fun and very personal.

I think I would be lucky to get 8 out of 20 for this in a Club Competition because they have been doctored too much.

To be truthful I do prefer a more natural look.

[ryme-intrinseca]

Re: Derelection

I've just seen the third one of these in the POTD section, congratulations! I really should check through the whole forum more often, as I'd missed this thread.

The third is my favourite, I love the composition. I really like the first one too.

The textures in the second and fourth are great, and the HDR has really brought them out. For my own personal taste, I think perhaps if the 'light smoothing' setting was set higher (did you use Photomatix?) I would prefer them - but that's just a matter of personal preference, and they certainly have a great style.

Now I want to jump on the bandwagon and post some of my own dereliction images!

[Autumn]

Re: Derelection

Hi Becky

They were only single snaps taken with my Ultra compact Panny FX01!

I downloaded a Lightroom Preset called MLR gritty and grungy, but it made it very light, so I had to reduce the exposure and the saturation.

[ryme-intrinseca]

Re: Derelection

Brill! I assumed it was 'full-on' HDR.

[Mick Johnson]

Re: Derelection

Not my 'cup of tea' but I do quite like the third one with the staircase.

Would be even better with a figure at the bottom of the stairs...going up.

I could imagine they would make good prints.

[ekkl]

Re: Derelection

Brilliant pictures! You have done your first Urban Explore

[ash]

Re: Derelection

Like all of these, the full on saturated look is my cup of tea, ok its not how you took the image through the viewfinder but I can't understand why the so called camera club brigade would not like them!

[ash]

Re: Derelection

Wat do you mean by full on hdr?

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Derelection

The 3rd pic is my favourite with its modernistic feel! A real belter! Love the 's' shape of the stairs! The doors of the last pic are amazing! A great set of photos you have there!