Bodie hotel pan

I'm thinking about having this printed and I'd like to hear your thoughts. At this smaller size, the image looks dark at the bottom but looks better to me at a larger size. If you click on the image, you can view a larger version.

This was taken just as the sun was coming up.

IMAGE LINK: http://genelewis.smugm​ug.com …66073&k=zKjnjnL​&lb=1&s=X3

I like it, nice composition. Big different in IQ when you look it on the site. I don't like HDR's but the ones on your site are a different story! What did you use for those, photomatix?

Personally, I love it, I think that you did a good job on making the shot very interesting, I'd hang that if I shot it. The blacks look good for that kind of shot, to me.

Even though there's not a thing wrong with it, 'maybe' look at the power lines and telephone pole on the bottom right of the shot, 'maybe' that would make it look a little better. If you left it, it sure wouldn't hurt, but it seems that it'd look cleaner if it were removed. I know that you are capable, I've seen some of your Photoshop stuff.

Anyway, I'd love to be able to see that place, AND come back with a shot that good, so consider yourself lucky, and able.

Randy

Nice comp. Looks a bit underexposed to me. Like the reflected light in the upper windows.

erikfig wrote in post #14922132
I like it, nice composition. Big different in IQ when you look it on the site. I don't like HDR's but the ones on your site are a different story! What did you use for those, photomatix?

Thanks Erik. I use either Photomatix or SNS-HDR for all my merging and tonemapping and finish back in Photoshop. This shot was also shot and processed as an hdr.

recrisp wrote in post #14922151
Personally, I love it, I think that you did a good job on making the shot very interesting, I'd hang that if I shot it. The blacks look good for that kind of shot, to me.

Even though there's not a thing wrong with it, 'maybe' look at the power lines and telephone pole on the bottom right of the shot, 'maybe' that would make it look a little better. If you left it, it sure wouldn't hurt, but it seems that it'd look cleaner if it were removed. I know that you are capable, I've seen some of your Photoshop stuff.

Anyway, I'd love to be able to see that place, AND come back with a shot that good, so consider yourself lucky, and able.

Randy

Thanks Randy. I felt that the telephone pole and lines were insignificant enough not to bother with. I don't think it's too distracting. I will be removing the contrail on the Cain House photo. In fact, I'm in the process of re-editing some of my Bodie images and adding them to this gallery.

GorgeShooter wrote in post #14922271
Nice comp. Looks a bit underexposed to me. Like the reflected light in the upper windows.

Thanks George. I wanted to keep a high contrast look for the black and white version. When I open up the dark areas, it tends to look too flat to me.

If anyone is curious, here's the full color version. Here, you can tell that the sun is only lighting the upper part of the hotel a little better.

IMAGE LINK: http://genelewis.smugm​ug.com …36568&k=sLFKCkW​&lb=1&s=X3

Actually I think the color version is better except for the halos around the buildings.

Love the color version far more Gene.it really is a lovely scene.

Really like the color version. AND you've got an eye for the lines.

BTW is there really a house behind the wooden fasade? Looks like a Potemkin village to me

RobinH wrote in post #14926467
BTW is there really a house behind the wooden fasade? Looks like a Potemkin village to me

It is as I expected. I don't know why American Old West Towns did this.

http://www.flickr.com …s/marlinharms/3​668527183/

Thanks very much for the comments. It looks like I'll print the color version.

Here's my shot of the reverse angle to the Bodie Hotel and the other structure...taken later in the day of course.

I like the color version much more.

I think the color works much better as well with some dampening of the slight haloing.
The B&W looks too dark on my monitor. I guess the facade was just a marketing job to make the hotel look bigger. Cool location for a shoot but it must have been a long drive to get there.

I guess I'm just crazy, I still like the grittiness of the B&W shot myself...
The color one's fine, but to me, it just doesn't have the history or the oomph a picture like this uses to tell a story.
This wouldn't be the first time I was different...
The color ones looks like I just drove up on a movie set or something! heheh
Print it both B&W and color! ...or...not...

Randy

recrisp wrote in post #14928664
I guess I'm just crazy, I still like the grittiness of the B&W shot myself...
The color one's fine, but to me, it just doesn't have the history or the oomph a picture like this uses to tell a story.
This wouldn't be the first time I was different...
The color ones looks like I just drove up on a movie set or something! heheh
Print it both B&W and color! ...or...not...

Randy

I'm with you, I liked the B&W version better. A little dark, but felt it fit.

That's the thing, old buildings like these always look better in black and white I think. I feel like it enhances the character of them more. And of course, we're used to seeing old objects like these buildings in black and white so it's kind of engrained in our minds much like thinking that WWII was black and white.

Here's one more that I recently re-edited and that looks best when viewed large.

IMAGE LINK: http://genelewis.smugm​ug.com …07648&k=LH4kdns​&lb=1&s=X3