A thread for real estate, architectural, and interior design photography

I think I like this one more than the first just because of how much more I see, even though I'm a sucker for one point perspectives.


I would have cloned out the neighbors garbage can if I was going to keep that much detail in the window. I hate garbage cans

seaLere wrote in post #18225106
I think I like this one more than the first just because of how much more I see, even though I'm a sucker for one point perspectives.


I would have cloned out the neighbors garbage can if I was going to keep that much detail in the window. I hate garbage cans

Ugh I know, there's not a whole lot of source to clone from but I thought about doing it. On the first image I changed the color to gray just so it doesn't jump out and will probably just do the same here.

Looks like the same stone as on the gable. Might be able to clone from there.

golfecho wrote in post #18225209
Looks like the same stone as on the gable. Might be able to clone from there.

You my friend, have a keen eye! Can't believe I didn't notice that. Thanks!

s1a1om wrote in post #18225877

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I'm not sure if this is a real estate shot or just an abstract shot but there is way too much going on here for me, especially if it's a shot for somebody else. It's hard to tell if it's HDR or how it was processed. The shadows all over the home are distracting and I would have personally done something to make the different colors of windows less obviously. I'm also not a big fan of the stars as I'm not sure if the sky or the house is supposed to be the focal point of the image. My eye just doesn't know what to do when I look at it. If artificial lighting was added I would be sure to watch the direction it's coming from. The way the light is shining on the house/front of the bushes makes it seem like somebody is parked in front of the house lighting it up with headlights or something.

I think this would be better suited as a painting.

seaLere wrote in post #18225893
I'm not sure if this is a real estate shot or just an abstract shot but there is way too much going on here for me, especially if it's a shot for somebody else. It's hard to tell if it's HDR or how it was processed. The shadows all over the home are distracting and I would have personally done something to make the different colors of windows less obviously. I'm also not a big fan of the stars as I'm not sure if the sky or the house is supposed to be the focal point of the image. My eye just doesn't know what to do when I look at it. If artificial lighting was added I would be sure to watch the direction it's coming from. The way the light is shining on the house/front of the bushes makes it seem like somebody is parked in front of the house lighting it up with headlights or something.

I think this would be better suited as a painting.

I appreciate the feedback. I wanted to try photographing a house and getting the stars in the sky. It was 2 exposures. The first shot makes up the majority of the image, while the second brought back some detail to the windows. No artifical lighting was added. The light on the house comes from the neighbor's house across the street and a few streetlamps, which as you noted add some intense (and chaotic) shadows.

I also didn't notice when I was taking the photos, but you are right about the colors in the windows. Each room is painted different colors, which tinted the light coming from them.

Perhaps next time I could try taking the photo in a portrait orientation to get more of the sky in, so it draws your attention more to the sky (assuming that's what I want).

s1a1om wrote in post #18225912
I appreciate the feedback. I wanted to try photographing a house and getting the stars in the sky. It was 2 exposures. The first shot makes up the majority of the image, while the second brought back some detail to the windows. No artifical lighting was added. The light on the house comes from the neighbor's house across the street and a few streetlamps, which as you noted add some intense (and chaotic) shadows.

I also didn't notice when I was taking the photos, but you are right about the colors in the windows. Each room is painted different colors, which tinted the light coming from them.

Perhaps next time I could try taking the photo in a portrait orientation to get more of the sky in, so it draws your attention more to the sky (assuming that's what I want).

Yeah if those shadows are being cast by a neighbor's house there's not much you can do there short of overpowering them with your own lighting or blocking the light somehow. They are pretty harsh, must be security lighting or something? Opening the blinds and drapes would help with the different colors to an extent, you could also do a window layer and add a solid color layer or colorize or... whatever method you prefer of the millions of techniques in PS haha. Overall I think the brightness of the house is a bit much for the sky but I see what you're trying to do. Subtlety is your friend in these type of shots. Also watch those converging lines, a quick skew in photoshop would go a long way.

s1a1om wrote in post #18226054

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That's some serious HDR treatment, looks unnatural

s1a1om wrote in post #18226054

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RE agents want to show how the rooms flow together and permanent features such as windows, doors, floors so a wider angle shot would be more successful. This style of HDR look has really died out in my market.

s1a1om wrote in post #18226054

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I agree. I say avoid HDR completely....it should have died out everywhere already.

In terms of composition, I would say keep things like that table too close from the frame. The table looks warped/crooked. Sometimes circular shapes near the edge of frames are tough to deal with. (clocks, etc)

Perhaps it was overprocessed, but the HDR effect in it was minimal. Here is a single exposure of the room with no HDR effects (or tone mapping). As you can see the main difference is the dearth of exterior details, which were brought back a bit with a second exposure in the first image. The fire looks a bit better in this one, but very similar. The shadows are also slightly darker, but I could have brought those up to match the first. I'm not necessarily disagreeing that the image was overprocessed, just showing that it doesn't seem (to me) to really be an effect of the HDR used to bring back some outside details. If you disagree, please help me to see what I'm missing. I'm still very new and learn a lot from everyone's comments.

s1a1om wrote in post #18226205
Perhaps it was overprocessed, but the HDR effect in it was minimal. Here is a single exposure of the room with no HDR effects (or tone mapping). As you can see the main difference is the dearth of exterior details, which were brought back a bit with a second exposure in the first image. The fire looks a bit better in this one, but very similar. The shadows are also slightly darker, but I could have brought those up to match the first. I'm not necessarily disagreeing that the image was overprocessed, just showing that it doesn't seem (to me) to really be an effect of the HDR used to bring back some outside details. If you disagree, please help me to see what I'm missing. I'm still very new and learn a lot from everyone's comments.

Ah okay so it's the processing (in lightroom?) that is causing that look. My advice is to basically never touch the clarity slider, it essentially causes the same issues that HDR does and is way too easy to go overboard with. I understand that the far wall/fireplace/overall scene is very similar in hue and value, so it's tempting to use a heavy hand when adjusting micro-contrast, but subtlety is your friend here.

Another element that needs to be addressed is your camera positioning: when doing a one-point perspective it is critical to make sure your camera is level (press the info button a couple times and you should find the digital level) and and completely perpendicular to the opposing walls/features. The horizontal lines in this image slope down to the right, especially the fireplace, and the verticals are out of whack, it gives it a real funhouse feel. Also make sure to check the 'enable lens profile correction' box in lightroom to get rid of the barrel distortion.

Overall I like the mood of the image, and the framing for the most part, it's a strong composition (not the best if if it's for real estate but for promotional material it's great) but it's the heavy-handedness with the processing and the skewed lines that prevent it from being a fantastic image.

erk wrote in post #18226225
Ah okay so it's the processing (in lightroom?) that is causing that look. My advice is to basically never touch the clarity slider, it essentially causes the same issues that HDR does and is way too easy to go overboard with. I understand that the far wall/fireplace/overall scene is very similar in hue and value, so it's tempting to use a heavy hand when adjusting micro-contrast, but subtlety is your friend here.

Another element that needs to be addressed is your camera positioning: when doing a one-point perspective it is critical to make sure your camera is level (press the info button a couple times and you should find the digital level) and and completely perpendicular to the opposing walls/features. The horizontal lines in this image slope down to the right, especially the fireplace, and the verticals are out of whack, it gives it a real funhouse feel. Also make sure to check the 'enable lens profile correction' box in lightroom to get rid of the barrel distortion.

Overall I like the mood of the image, and the framing for the most part, it's a strong composition (not the best if if it's for real estate but for promotional material it's great) but it's the heavy-handedness with the processing and the skewed lines that prevent it from being a fantastic image.

Solid info here.

The one point compositions are fantastic shots (not the best for real-estate generally but very aesthetic images overall) but in doing so, you have to be exactly straight on and level or else it's not worth doing them.