name that hdr

[va-guy]

couple new shots
1. old ford not sure of year or model
2. halifax va war memorial

[MikeFairbanks]

I like the Ford, but I think you should erase the milk jug and the nose of that car in the background.

Second photo looks good too, but needs to be counter-rotated a little. Set those columns vertical if possible.

[Scottes]

I like both photos - tonemapping looks very good in both - but both could use a few improvements.

On the car, I agree with Mike about the milk jug and second car. Also, I think it could use a bit more empty space in front of the car, rather than behind.

The memorial is better, but needs straightening. I'd also wonder how that would look if you were 10 feet to either side. I'm wondering if the interaction between the memorial and the treeline could be better.

[va-guy]

yeah i agree with knocking out the jug and car
i was not sure how to straighten out the memorial
i finally got my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II think i going to re shoot this they are closed by

[Scottes]

If you're going to re-shoot, just make sure the camera isn't tipped to one side - make sure the camera is level from left to right.


For both shots, try walking around a bit, from side to side, to try different angles. Try to be aware of the background and how it interacts with the subject. For the car, mind the trees and make sure the lines of the trees don't clash with the lins of the car. For the memorial, see if you can get the tree line to complement the lines in the roof of the memorial. Think about the balance of the scene that you see in the viewfinder - whether light/dark areas or two items in the scene.

[MikeFairbanks]

yeah i agree with knocking out the jug and car
i was not sure how to straighten out the memorial
i finally got my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II think i going to re shoot this they are closed by


If that were my picture, I'd open it up in Photofiltre (a free program), and simply rotate it counter clockwise about 4 degrees and then do a very subtle crop to get the frame correct again.

That's how I rotate (or in this case, counter rotate).

[MikeFairbanks]

It might be less, like 2 or 3 degrees counter clockwise that it needs to be rotated.

You can always undo any mistakes you make, and as always: Save as, save as, save as.

[MikeFairbanks]

Man, this thing was tricky. I rotated it 3, then 2, then 1.5 and it still looks a little strange.

Must some optical illusions here.

But, maybe this helps.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q295/thepirannah/51111.jpg

[MikeFairbanks]

I think to rotate it correctly you'll have to use one of those walls in the background.

Use a grid for help.

The above was counter-rotated 1.5 degrees and it looks like I went too far.

[va-guy]

yeah its is tricky i messed with it when i made it couldn't get right i will try to get it level when i try next time

[Gary McDuffie]

The Ford is likely a '63 1/2. Yes, it was actually called that. It came out mid-year and was marketed as such. The drastic rake to the rear window set it off from the '63.

On the second one, I agree. It doesn't look right either way. The lens distortion messes with it too much. With a wide angle, you have to be sure you get the subject dead center to miminize the distortions and tricky leveling. I suspect leveling the wall is about the best and most "honest" thing you can do to it.

[MikeFairbanks]

I had a 1964 and-a-half Mustang.

This was back in the mid 80s. Then I bought a crappy new truck and abandoned the Mustang. My mom sold it and (rightfully) kept the money.

Dumb, dumb, dumb.