b/w wide shot

just a wide shot in Asbury Park, NJ

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Very nice!
Are you aware of exactly why the verticals are converging? Were you concerned that your wide angle view might produce some distortion?

My impression is that the lens is pointing above the horizon, which will cause converging verticals even when there is no distortion from the lens - it's a fact of perspective.

Nice lighting, although a little flat and good nominal exposure. In order to get a more dramatic B&W of this scene, you may want to try it when the sun is lower in the sky (and behind you, of course).

I take it that this was an afternoon shot. You may want to try it a little later in the afternoon.

Does it really say "Greetings from Asbury Park" on the top of that building?

Hi Bob. I wasn't concerned at the time about the wide angle distortion because I was testing my first lens. It didn't even occur to me at the time. That is interesting about pointing the lens at the horizon. Yea, was an afternoon shot. And yes, it says "Greetings From Asbury Park." I'm not sure what building that was or is, but Asbury used to be a very happening place about 30 years ago. Now its a ghost land wating to be remade. The problem is the wait has been about 15-20 years now.

So it is advisable to point the lens below the horizon at all times?
(or at least most of the time?)

Thanks

No - not below. Directly at the horizon is preferred, and that will always be level - just as if you had a bubble level mounted on the camera. Any time the camera is pointed anywhere except exactly level, the vertical lines will either converge (when pointing above the horizon) or diverge (when pointing below the horizon). Most important is that it has little to do with the optics - it is just a fact of perspective - no different than the fact that as you stare down the length of the railroad tracks, the rails appear to converge together in the distance.

Very interesting. Thanks for the info.

Pup, I did a quick PS correction using Edit-transform-skew. Not perfect but you get the idea.

Bob, good info and i'll remember that one for the future.

Marc

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You have to love perspective control in photoshop. I know several architectural photographers that for years relied completely on view cameras for their work. Now I see them with there digital slrs doing the same work and getting better results. I personally use a hotshoe level and or a small hand held level if I am doing any architectural work. Its still a primary practice to start with a good image before having to rely on PS for correction.

I am still learning photoshop. I have version 7. I tried to do the Edit-transform-skew and I had absolutely no luck, so I better hit the books : /

Pup, After you do Edit-transform-skew, pull the upper right corner point to the right. You will see that it straightens out the right side. Then repeat with the upper left corner point.

You can also do Edit-transform-perspective which will allow you to shift both sides equally. This is done by pulling one of the upper points outward.

Good luck