Weathered Red Doors

[slejhamer]

The storehouse at Moutoux Orchard, up the road from my house.

( "What's this?" you ask. "No soft focus? No false-color infrared? I didn't think he could take a normal, sharp picture!" )

Criticism, suggestions and huzzahs all encouraged.

http://members.cox.net/mschlesinger/reddoors.jpg

Stats: 1/200s, f3.2, 60mm, w/ polarizer.
PS: Autocolor, levels, crop, sharpen.

[henkbos]

Colors seems a little flat here. I would add some saturation, especially for the reds. Also crop or clone the small strech of sand at the bottom.

[pappy]

I like this as it is, very natural looking. Excellent composition, an 'eye grabber'. I find photos like this interesting. The textures of the wood siding really bring out the colour in the doors. Exposure is right on as well.

regards,
peter

[Stoneh]

It is a good pic, two doors side by side, kinda makes u wonder what is inside esp considering the large door (ok we know its a store house but if we didnt :P)

[barnold999]

I like it, the saturation on the doors compared to the building is nice. And the little door is just kind of a "funny" touch to it, I think... it is like the little wal-mart doors for the carts next to the big ones... maybe I am just easily amuzed :-/

[eland]

Mitch
Very pleasing image and good design.
Restful on the eyes.

Huzzahs are very much in order

eland

[RedShoesGirl]

I agree with henkbos...a little flat and definitely crop out the sandy bottom. If you make your browser window a little shorter, you can see how much better the image looks with just the green grass.

RSG

[slejhamer]

Thanks for all the comments.

While I agree about needing some additional green turf at the bottom, I'm not entirely convinced of the need for deeper colors, especially the reds. What you see is fairly accurate - very weathered farmhouse doors in early afternoon sunlight (apparent from the shadows.) In fact, the colors are already slightly deeper than reality, due to the polarizer. The gray woodgrain showing through the large doors suggests how thin the coat of paint has become.

On the other hand, I could saturate the whole thing and do some color shifting, in effect trying for more of a "velvia" look... that might be very interesting! I will give it a whirl.

Thanks to everyone who has commented.


By the way, regarding the colors, these are apparent in the above image:
Black: 0-9-10
Red: 180-50-50 (on the small door)
White: 250-250-250
Not really "flat" when viewed by the numbers, though I do understand that the comment pertains more to the large doors.

http://members.cox.net/mschlesinger/brw.jpg

Cheers,

[Conk]

I like it just the way it is Mitch. Perfect.

[PJM88]

Great shot! Would like to see it in B&W also.

[PJM88]

I justed tried the B&W. I retrack my previous statement. The original is much better. The door did not stand out in the B&W. Keep the great pictures coming.

[ryuwulf]

how bout converting it to B&W??
B&W, with a red filter might do the trick.
I still like the composition.

[slejhamer]

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried a b&w conversion using the Russell Brown method, set to a deep red filter. It made the doors more contrasty but the foliage didn't look good. Even after masking that part out I concluded that the image needs the color. Good idea though.

[ryuwulf]

slejhamer wrote:
I tried a b&w conversion using the Russell Brown method, set to a deep red filter.

Russell Brown????

Never heard of that method. I just slap on a red 25filter and bracket. Either way one of the pics will come out good. I think with a red filter you need a 2 stop exposure. Oh well..

nice pic either way.

:)

[tenerife]

Great shot..
I like the composition, but i dont see the work of a polarizer...
I see only verry short shadows... whas it early afternoon...? Becorse of the light colors..?
Regards from Tenerife
Klaus

[marie]

I've loved it from day one

best wishes
marie

[slejhamer]

Russell Brown????

Never heard of that method.


Ryuwulf: The Russell Brown method of B&W conversion is explained here: http://www.russellbrown.com/tips/pdf/colortoB&W.pdf

I was talking about after-the-fact conversion, whereas what you are suggesting would require shooting in B&W. I can't reshoot, but I can create the effect of using colored filters during post-process conversion. It's pretty simple and highly effective. Give it a go. :)

Klaus: The polarizer effect is subtle: no glare or reflection in the small glass window, and colors that are slightly deeper than reality. Early afternoon, about 1:30pm EDT.

Marie: Thank you!