Sign of the Cross

[Deckham]

Critique more then welcome.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/Deckham/Photography/Skylines/SignoftheCross800framed.jpg
Sign of the Cross

[alexclc]

I am no expert, so take this for what it's worth. I love the composition and colors, but would have preferred the cross be in focus as opposed to the roof.

Alex

[Robert_Lay]

Nothing seems to be in focus for me - maybe it's just my tired old eyes.
If you could post a small chunk centered on the cross as a full detail 100% crop, we could see if it's any good.

Sorry, poor choice of phrase.
If you could post a small chunk centered on the cross as a full detail 100% crop, we could see if it's in focus.

Tnx,

[Ronald S. Jr.]

It's a nice shot. It doesn't have to be sharp to be good. Sharpness is secondary to composition.

[Snapman]

I prefer it with a little sharpening but maybe you intended it to appear soft to give a painted effect. Even so, I don't think the cross is in focus.

I like the composition though and think it's a good picture.

[TeeJay]

I'm not too sure it's "composed". Admittedly it more-or-less follows the "rule of thirds" but apart from the fabulous colours in the sky, I'm affraid I don't find much that appeals to me in this pic. Sorry.

TJ

[Deckham]

Thanks for the comments, guys :)

Story goes like this -
Went out shooting at a pretty locale. Came back with ~150 shots. Scanned through them quickly, deleted ~50. Scanned through them in full screen, sent ~ another 70 to the '2nds' bin. Played with the remaining, and ended up keeping ~ 10 that I liked.

Went back to the '2nds' bin, and this one kept calling me. So I kept it alive, threw out most of the others, and kept coming back to this one. Out of focus, crops don't really enhance it. Still - I liked it. Perhaps the soft colours (it was taken right at the very end) or the softness (300mm hand-held), maybe the iconic cross symbol (I am not religious). It confused me why, when so technically bereft, this kept drawing me in.

Finally, I decided to stick it in here and see what the reaction was - if it was just me.

Regarding 'rules' - for me, rules are simple - I like it, or I don't :)

[Robert_Lay]

You're right - subtle pastel colors and the overall dark mood of the scene, the beautiful harmony of the sky with the church really draws you in.

Don't let our complaints about focus destroy that for you. Go with the gut!

[Radtech1]

I think is could be a decent shot. It has classical balance, that is, the smaller element (the cross) is higher in frame than the more stout element (the chimney) - and as mentioned, the cross and chimney are on the third lines both horizontally and vertically.

Colors are pleasing-ish. If it were mine, I would tone down the stripe that runs along the top of the roof. I think that it commands too much attention relative to the rest of the shot. I do like the muted blues on the building.

The big problem for me is the sky. To look at it, it seems as though it is a poorly done HDR attempt. It appears as though there is a halo around the cross, and to the viewer's left of the chimney that suggest the sky was patched in, or brought up in intensity. What did the sky look like "out of camera"?

My ¢02.

Rad

[Deckham]

I think is could be a decent shot. It has classical balance, that is, the smaller element (the cross) is higher in frame than the more stout element (the chimney) - and as mentioned, the cross and chimney are on the third lines both horizontally and vertically.

Colors are pleasing-ish. If it were mine, I would tone down the stripe that runs along the top of the roof. I think that it commands too much attention relative to the rest of the shot. I do like the muted blues on the building.

The big problem for me is the sky. To look at it, it seems as though it is a poorly done HDR attempt. It appears as though there is a halo around the cross, and to the viewer's left of the chimney that suggest the sky was patched in, or brought up in intensity. What did the sky look like "out of camera"?

My ¢02.

Rad

Thanks for the comments, mate :)
The sky is the original, but yes, it has been raised in intensity, as has the whole image. Clarity was used in LR1.1, levels and saturation in PS. In the original, the sky is more subdued, with very little rosy glow.