Stairwell - critique / suggestions please

[Anders Östberg]

This is looking down the stairs outside my office, saw this for the first time today. I had the wrong lens and no tripod, so I just shot a couple to get a feel for the motif. This was the least blurry of the bunch - handheld at 1/6s isn't my strongest skill. :)

What do you think, is this anything? It has been done a gadzillion times, but maybe one more is interesting? I'll go back this weekend when the place is empty, with a tripod, and get a bunch of different versions. Anything you'd advice in terms of composition, angle, lighting etc?

Also, do you like the B&W look for this type of subject? The color one was a bit dull to me, so I tried desaturation and bumped the contrast a bit.

http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10d/pictures/misc/Stairwell_2673.jpg

[garethhhhh]

I love the effect, you should definately go back with a tripod & make sure everything is in focus.
It looks a great shot already, the b&w treatment works for me. :wink: :D

[ssim]

This is a great shot. I would say perfectly framed. Yes it would be nice to get the lower left part of the image in focus with greater DOF but this shot really works for me the way it is.

[roanjohn]

Amazing!!! Great job..........The b&w effect makes this photo. Change nothing.

Ro1

[Volatile]

very MC Escher

http://www.mcescher.com/Gallery/back-bmp/LW346.jpg

I like it.

[timmyquest]

I cant tell if i'm walking down a hall or looking down some steps.

I love it myself :)

[mr_clean001]

I never get tired of these types of shots. This one is great. I agree - go back with the tripod and the B&W effect works well.

[Anders Östberg]

Thanks all for your encouraging comments! I'll go back with a tripod and get a few different angles on this, with greater DOF. It'll be interesting to see what that does. I'm wondering if it will be a better photo if it's sharper, maybe it will distract the eye more from the center, but we'll see.

[chris.bailey]

There is nothing new under the sun and most shots have been done before or at least based upon something that has been done before. Does not detract from a great picture and it is definately worth taking a tripod back. B&W conversion is good but I would try some other methods rather than pure desat. Using a channel mixer adjustment layer gives you a lot more control.

[Anders Östberg]

There is nothing new under the sun and most shots have been done before or at least based upon something that has been done before. Does not detract from a great picture and it is definately worth taking a tripod back. B&W conversion is good but I would try some other methods rather than pure desat. Using a channel mixer adjustment layer gives you a lot more control.

Thanks Chris! I've seen the channel mixer mentioned in a couple of discussions, I'll have to investigate this. There's quite a few things to learn in Photoshop... :)

[chris.bailey]

There is nothing new under the sun and most shots have been done before or at least based upon something that has been done before. Does not detract from a great picture and it is definately worth taking a tripod back. B&W conversion is good but I would try some other methods rather than pure desat. Using a channel mixer adjustment layer gives you a lot more control.

Thanks Chris! I've seen the channel mixer mentioned in a couple of discussions, I'll have to investigate this. There's quite a few things to learn in Photoshop... :)

Is there ever!!!! Channel Mixer as a means of B&W conversion is one I use a lot and being an adjustment layer you can always go back and change it.

[BAGraphy]

Looks really good. If you get the angle right this will look more like a hallway as opposed to a stairway. Love to see the results.

[msol]

Great picture, and I guess it just *needs* B&W since such a staircase is usually very grey or colorless.

When you go back, maybe you should also try an angle where the convergence point is more towards the left or right instead of in the middle. Don't know wheter that's better since the current symmetry is so beautiful. But � would like to see that version too.

I hope you will post your results after your second shoot.

[Anders Östberg]

Went back to get sharper pictures, here's some edits.
Doesn't look too shabby in color either I think.
Your comments are welcome! :)

Top floor, looking down:
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretNoMore/photo/10D/pictures/misc/pmbstairwell/pmbstairstop_2713.jpg

One floor down, looking down:
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretNoMore/photo/10D/pictures/misc/pmbstairwell/pmbstairwellmid_2716.jpg

Ground floor, looking up:
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretNoMore/photo/10D/pictures/misc/pmbstairwell/pmbstairsup_2718.jpg

Ground floor, looking up, reversed:
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretNoMore/photo/10D/pictures/misc/pmbstairwell/pmbstairsupreversed_2718.jpg

And finally, a new sharper version of the initial image.
I didn't get it quite perfectly centered unfortunately...
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretNoMore/photo/10D/pictures/misc/pmbstairwell/pmbstairwelltopbw_2712.jpg

[shelbix2020]

I am officialy dizzy :?

I like the white ones looking up, even though you cant see as far

[msol]

I was so wrong in my statement that this needs B&W. The gold colors in the first photo's and the silver in the second series is just wonderful. I prefer them way above the B&W. Nrs 2 and 4 are the winners IMHO.

Good job!

[Anders Östberg]

I was so wrong in my statement that this needs B&W. The gold colors in the first photo's and the silver in the second series is just wonderful. I prefer them way above the B&W. Nrs 2 and 4 are the winners IMHO.

Good job!

Thanks Marc!

I was actually a bit surprised myself with this new batch - I tried B&W but found I like the color versions better. The composition in the original picture is still the best to me though, it's somehow balanced in some way I don't feel with the new ones.