Curtain Call

[Tom]

I have been sitting on this image for almost a year now; never been happy with the PS treatment and the final result. It was a shot that had to be taken quickly and exposure was always going to be the problem resulting in much fiddling with levels etc.
Today I made up my mind to try and get something sorted out on it so I now pass it over to my colleagues here for your analysis and critique.
Many Thanks
Tom

[yoshi]

Re: Curtain Call

Hi Tom, whats's wrong with this one?　You seem to be not satisfied with the exposure of the original shot but this one , at least after the pp, looks to me pefect. The sky has not been blown out.

・・・・・

I understand the vignetting/darkening at the both side of the bottom was made intentionally in order to make the incense holder box stand out. Am I correct?

......

If I try to be critique, then it could be not the photo itself but rather the caption/title. Being a bit (only slightly though) familiar with Buddhist culture (it looks to me like a Buddhist temple), I feel the caption "curtain call" somewhat out of place - this is however due more to differences in the cultural background rather than photo preference, IMHO. If I interpret that you want to draw more attention to the outside view, then it does is a good caption for sure.
You seem to really travel a lot, Tom.
yoshi

[StuartR]

Re: Curtain Call

I like it Tom, although I'm not a great fan of vignetting and would like to see a version without it or perhaps a little less - the effect to the right of the incense burner looks a little false to my eyes (now you're going to tell me it was natural light, not a vignette ).

It's a picture that you can spend time looking at and exposure levels look pretty good to me, especially given the range you had to cope with.

Out of interest, where was it taken?

[Tom]

Re: Curtain Call

Thanks Yoshi and Stuart.
There was no vignette applied here.. The lighting on the floor is gained from outside.
In the original the curtains were very much underexposed as was the burner, but to a lesser extent. Then I applied levels adjustments to both these areas.
I exposed for the sky outside knowing that I could later have more time to deal with the shadows.
Yoshi I think you are right and perhaps a more "respectful" title could have been applied. My thoughts were centered around how the curtains were held back revealing the niceish view outside.
Stuart the shot was taken from inside a Buddhist Temple outside a town called Zhondian in Sichuan Province, South Western China.
Many thanks to you both.
Tom

[yoshi]

Re: Curtain Call

So the lighting around the burner was a natural one. - then the symmetry inside the temple is perfect!

The incense burner makes a smaller square and the curtains make an equilateral triangle and the photo frame is a perfect symmetrical square. All others inside the building is more or less symmetrical, as you see.

This style of composition gives us viewers impression of stability, while the outside scenery is not that symmetrical. Peaceful stability in a religious place and looking from there at outside view that is not stable or, in this regard, not peaceful!?

*****
I guess the Buddah statue was on your back. So your photo shows the direction that the Buddah observes the world. He must be surprised to see your taking a picture of the outside view and not of himself. "Gee, this guy is not taking my picture! Am I no more attractive that much to people in this living world?! - I need another round of meditation!"

- Hopefully I did not use improper words. "to be respectful" is surely important but that's not I really wanted to say earlier. It was a fresh view angle for me.
yoshi

[spl]

Re: Curtain Call

Its an interesting picture you've got there Tom esp for me as I have an interest in the Buddhist culture and have been in a few temples myself (although not in China).

Photographically I feel that you have lightened the insence burner a little too much. Although the idea of lining up the top of the burner with the bottom line of the door is a good one for some reason I find the contrast a bit jarring and the blurriness of the sticks themselves detracts from the effect. I would have gone for darkening the very bright bit of concrete just beyond the door - just a bit to make it a bit more restful on the eye.

[Tom]

Re: Curtain Call

Its an interesting picture you've got there Tom esp for me as I have an interest in the Buddhist culture and have been in a few temples myself (although not in China).

Photographically I feel that you have lightened the insence burner a little too much. Although the idea of lining up the top of the burner with the bottom line of the door is a good one for some reason I find the contrast a bit jarring and the blurriness of the sticks themselves detracts from the effect. I would have gone for darkening the very bright bit of concrete just beyond the door - just a bit to make it a bit more restful on the eye.

Many thanks SPL
Actually If there is one thing I dislike about it is the fact that the burner has lined up with the step. I would have liked some space in between. I appreciate the other point you make about the contrast.
Many thanks for your critique.