Boring shots, what could have been done?

[aspiringphotos]

I've seen very interesting wide angle shots of ordinary scenes, and these are not interesting. No PP other than image sizing to post. What do I need to do? Move up or down, closer, farther? Lens not wide enough to get the desired effect? PP effects? Be brutal. I can take it.

[Walczak Photo]

Well...this is just my opinion here, but to me it simply looks like it's a matter of the subject. From the shots here this looks to be a garden center or nursery or something and it's really just not all that interesting as a whole. Ordinarily I would suggest picking a single subject...a flower, bush or something specific and focus (no pun intended) on just that subject but as you're trying to do "wide angle" captures here, the best thing I can really suggest is just try experimenting a lot...everything you said...try different angles, different vantage points, etc.. In fact here if you have one, I might even try using a fish eye lens to get a different effect. Don't be afraid to be creative...I might even look around this place and see if they have one of those big chrome garden balls (sorry...no idea at all what they're actually called) and shoot the reflection in the ball.

I'm not sure if that was really much help or not, but hopefully someone will have some more specific suggestions.

Peace,
Jim

[KarlosDaJackal]

Your missing interest points. Also their is no contrast, well there is contrast, maybe conflict is a better word.

Everything in both images, pretty much looks exactly how you would expect it to look, so its not saying anything. Some sheds and some plants. I don't think you can create drama in an image of just sheds and plants. Now if we had some huge smoke stack from a nuclear power plant in the background all of a sudden we have a conflict.

I saw a wrecked petrol pump the other day and it had a plant growing out of the opened motor. That's an ordinary scene with something interesting going on. Similarly I saw a pedestrian crossing sign that had been clipped by a truck and was bent at one side, where the man was just about to walk into. That's just irony handed to you on a plate, all you have to do is capture it.

It would be interesting to know what you saw that made you want to take the image in the first place, maybe you see something that we don't.

I think for that style of image (ordinary scenes that have a lot of interest) you need, patience, an eye for the unusual and lots and lots of luck.

[aspiringphotos]

Thanks. The reflection ball is a great idea.

[aspiringphotos]

Your missing interest points. Also their is no contrast, well there is contrast, maybe conflict is a better word.

Everything in both images, pretty much looks exactly how you would expect it to look, so its not saying anything. Some sheds and some plants. I don't think you can create drama in an image of just sheds and plants. Now if we had some huge smoke stack from a nuclear power plant in the background all of a sudden we have a conflict.

I saw a wrecked petrol pump the other day and it had a plant growing out of the opened motor. That's an ordinary scene with something interesting going on. Similarly I saw a pedestrian crossing sign that had been clipped by a truck and was bent at one side, where the man was just about to walk into. That's just irony handed to you on a plate, all you have to do is capture it.

It would be interesting to know what you saw that made you want to take the image in the first place, maybe you see something that we don't.

I think for that style of image (ordinary scenes that have a lot of interest) you need, patience, an eye for the unusual and lots and lots of luck.

Great points. I know exactly what you are talking about with the ironies and conflict. I've been looking for those little opportunities and haven't found them yet, but I know they're out there!

That's not what I was going for here because you're right, there's no conflict or juxtaposition. What I was trying to accomplish was more graphic in terms of taking advantage of the lines. The sheds have some vents with the horizontal slats, the side of the barn has interesting grain and lines of the batting. Clearly I didn't get anything interesting graphically and I'm trying to figure out how I could have.

Thanks for your comments. I do love those ironic sign pictures (do you have a link to the pedestrian crossing sign?).

[KarlosDaJackal]

I think if you are aiming to capture texture like grain in wood, you need to get very close, maybe so close that people see the texture and then end up wondering what its part off. The 2nd one could work if their was no sky and we zoomed in on an area where some of the beams are missing.

Just regarding the conflict thing

The things I found potentially most interesting in the first one was the megaphone thing on one of the buildings. Maybe a shot with that up high, above the flowers in the foreground would have worked. I would be thinking what do these flowers listen too, Sinatra? :cool: Or if the colours where messed up a bit adding a red evil tone it could look like the speaker is barking down orders off "grow faster" :evil:. You'd probably have to lie on the ground to even check if that angle was realistic and it might not work for all the effort.

The other thing that caught my eye was the difference between the old wooden sheds and the plastic looking greenhouses at the back. A shot that had one of each of them could work.

Another thing you could do if they sell plants would be put a potted plant with lots of for sale tags against what looks like a normal natural group of plants, and try make the for sale plant look a bit sad compared to the natural flowers. Maybe have the for sale one facing the others, with the others out of focus so it looks like its saying goodbye.

All those Ideas can be a lot of work and still not come out with anything usable. I love just looking around places and asking, why is that their? what purpose does that serve?

P.S. http://www.flickr.com/photos/karldenby/2836747075/ its from my home town, which is a nice place but you would not be able to tell from this picture ;)