Yes - I am that old. Not only is that the name of a Hall & Oates album, but something special to me - at least, it's MY name for it. This last Saturday I took some time to myself and a page from
Jientje's book and went out to take pictures - something I hadn't done in ages. Annie was busy all day and Zach was all wrapped up in his video games, so I was uncommitted and, for a while at least, free as a bird. Now, unlike Jientje, I don't have anything anywhere near as ancient and photogenic as Antwerp to go walkabout in, so I sought out one of my favorite things to take pictures of - my railroad car, my 'abandoned luncheonette'. Well, not MINE, actually, just somewhere I've been going for a long time to take pictures. I have been watching this old railroad car, once a luncheonette or diner, deteriorate for at least 10 years. When I started taking shots of this old girl, she was pretty much as she looks now. The only real change has been in her windows. There was some glass in some of them, at first, which is now completely gone, and her wooden window frames are slowly falling apart. This was my first visit to this old girl with a digital camera. She stood up well to my Canon 30D. I LOVE digital. There are so many ways it is better than film.
You see her above as she sits on her concrete foundation, concrete stoop intact and unchanged for years. The biggest change is in the weed trees that have sprung up in the last few years.
And here we see the horns of my dilemma. I know I need to go back and shoot this again. I need to use a tripod and a level to make sure I get 'perfect' shots - that verticals are, in fact, vertical and that all other lines converge properly. But what I don't know is which view is 'better' - the upper view, which is at 'eye level', or the view below, which is about waist level.
So maybe you guys would be willing to help me make up my mind?
Ndinombethe.
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19 comments:
What's with you professional photographers, that you're always worrying about perfect lines? I don't see what could possibly be wrong here? I love how you played with the shadows and the sunlight to make a perfect composition. I love the detail in the roof and the woodwork better in the third picture? What a great place to go to shoot pictures! I would have lovd to have been there with you!
It's always interesting to see how two people make very different pictures from the same subject!
Wow - these are great Lou :)
I like the 'above' one - something about the light and shade, and the symmetry.
G
xx
I like them both as they each express a viewpoint. Would also be fun to get close enough to take some in the windows from outside. I agree with Jientje that the shadows and sunshine work well. Nice compositions, Lou! There could be a whole series here.
I no NOTHING about professional photography...
but there is something about the lighting in that last one that draws me to it.
You are so talented.
I love stuff like this Lou - you did well by her!
ha ha, me in my infinite wisdom of going with what feels right would say the bottom one, it's lighter...
For me, the view from above is way more appealing. I think waist level would work on a shot of the window frames, closer, but the first shot inside the car...is damn near perfect!
Will you take me here when I come for Blogher? I'd love to shoot her!
I kinda like the waist unless you can get more lighting into the ceiling. The above shot has 1/3 of the ceiling in it and it's too dark to see the detail. So I prefer the waist.
I'm with Hockeyman and like the waist shot better for the same reasons.
I like the waist shot the best. I like the way the light hits the floor and gives shape to the windows. It looks like something Andrew Weyth would have painted.
I like the waist shot better. I felt it drew the eye in just a little more.
Whoa. You're hard core. I would have never noticed a difference or any of the nuances you mentioned.
Now that you've pointed it out, I prefer the first (eye level) :)
I'm all about the waist level shot. Not sure why, but it seemed to have more appeal. Now are you totally confused -- you didn't get a consenus. I went back and looked after deciding which I preferred.
Nice pictures and a wonderful place to go get some alone time.
I'm partial to the second one. I like the perspective.
Jientje: Professional?
Myst_72: Thank you, Gina.
Bama Cheryl: Actually, I took 40 shots when I was there. Series, maybe.
Ashlie: Thank you, Aslie. You're sweet.
Cat: Thank you, Cat. I've been working on her for a long time.
Shadow: Always go with what feels right.
S.A.M: Of course I'll take you there.
Hockeyman: Actually, all of hte ceiling detail is in the shot - but add fill light really washes out the detail outside. I might go back and shoot for HDR.
M+B: Thank you, ma'am.
Moneythoughts: Thank you, Fred. That's cool.
Joyce-Anne: Thank you, Ma'am. I just may have to print them both.
Momisodes: Thank you, Sandy. You're not making this any easier, you know.
Patsy: Thank you, Patsy. ARRGGGHHH!!
Uh huh, waist shot. And my brother is the same way about lines. It's definitely a photographer thing.
I like the waist level. It catches so much more.
Oh, I love this, what a place! :D
Re level, I like the "eye" level better. It seems to have more depths.
:)
I don't understand the problem.
I love them all. This is something I would love framed in my hallway to calm me as I walk down there to deal with teenage hormones.
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