"The Big Top"

[dphoto]

Hello all,

Here's another shot from my stay in Vegas. For some reason, I just found this structure compelling, so I shot it. :)

Thanks, as always, for any input!
-Deva

http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/BigTop01.jpg

[cloudless]

I like the composition but it looks a bit too dark. Try a little more exposure and increase the contrast too.

[Boojum]

The structure IS interesting. Less depth of field would have helped with this photo to blur the background of parking lot etc. The raw and chaotic quality of the background distracts from the geometric interest of the structure. I like how the subject was composed.

[cloudless]

IMHO it is nice to include the parking lot as it shows the grand scale of "The Big Top." However it could be less distracting if you increase the contrast and let the big top to be brighter.

[dphoto]

Hey cloudless and Boojum,

Thanks for the input! I think you both are right... I needed more contrast. Also, I agree that the exposure was a little on the dark side.

Here is my dilemma... I was shooting from behind a very dirty window. The greater the exposure, the greater the dirt became a problem. Here is a "dark" exposure, and a "light" exposure. I'm afraid that the lighter exposure is just not clean enough. What do you think?

Here is the "dark" exposure:
http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/BigTop02.jpg

Here is the "light" exposure:
http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/BigTop03.jpg

Thanks again for the input. Given the circumstances, I think the darker exposure is the better one. Dang, if only those windows would have been cleaner! :)

-Deva

[cloudless]

I don't think the dirt is that bad, but yeah the darker one looks better, it is more moody. I really wish you have a wider lens to capture the whole thing.

[dphoto]

OK, I hate to post so many variants of the same thing, but I think this may be the best modification yet. Here is a blend of the lighter exposure and the darker exposure:

http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/BigTop04.jpg

Cloudless, do you think this variant ruins the "mood" of the shot? Yeah, sorry I couldn't get the whole thing in there. Actually, you're not missing that much of it. I cropped a little off the right to match what I was missing on the left. I shot it with an 18mm lens from the 29th floor of the hotel. I don't have a wider lens, and this was as high up as I could get. :)

Thanks again for the input!
-Deva