Acropolis Museum

Not having got any feedback for last week's comp entry, I thought I might try for some c&c here...




This was taken at the new Acropolis museum in Athens. It's a quite sensational place - the location (see my entry in this week's comp - to be posted), building and contents. It also happens to be extremely photogenic, so if ever you're in Athens it's a must.

I really like the geometric shapes made by the reflections in this one, and the colours in the sky which look quite film-like.

I'm not so keen on the crop - I think the top and the bottom aren't adding anything to the picture so I'd be (rather predictably for me) tempted to go for a square crop and just keep all the good stuff in the middle.

I liked it as soon as I saw it and particularly like the dynamic composition. I'd try it in mono because my eye is distracted by the person in red.

I wonder too if it might have been better with a figure entering the building rather than leaving it?

I half agree with hefty but I think a crop that has the dark area hitting the top left corner and the diagonal reflection hitting the bottom right corner works well. Not sure about BW, try it!, or perhaps change the colour of the persons clothing to something less eye catching.

Otherwise, I really like it!

K.

Have played about with this.

I know what you mean Hefty/Kris about a sqaure(r) crop honing in on the area of interest, however, somehow I feel the image loses something by doing this. For me, the upper and lower parts of the photo as is lead the eye in. Also, I'm clearly a more rectangular person - and getting more so since I acquired an LX3 which has a 16:9 aspect ratio which I've totally fallen for (hardly ever use the others of 4:3 & 3:2 - and am beginning miss this on my K20D).

Ken, I see what you mean about the garish dresses. Had originally thought this was a nice additional element (with their reflections), but I've tried desaturating them and it's much better like that. Also tried a b&w conversion, but not so keen on that as you lose the contrast between the illuminated area and the already rather monochrome shade. (Your weekly comp entry's hilarious, by the way:lol.

Thanks for the comments.

I notice Panasonic launched a new firmware update for the LX3 this week that adds a 1:1 aspect ratio. Square is the new widescreen!

I agree, brilliant shot!
maybe more of the top than the bottom

It would have been a real winner in Black and white, with the reflected woman separated from the door and all the bystanders cloned out.

Nonetheless.....A great picture and well seen/captured.

I've played around with this bearing peoples' comments in mind. Have kept it in colour as for me it just doesn't work so well in B&W (perhaps this has something to do with my conversion skills and experts like Martin and Lilly would have more success). Have also stuck with a rectangular frame - though it's now squarer with more of the central image included. I cloned out the people other than the waiter. As for separating the latter from the door - this would require reconstructive surgery currently beyond my PP skills (were you suggesting this Martin, or just observing how ideally it would be good?).

What do people think ?




By the way, I don't really want to post these large images. But for some reason, when I perform the last step in re-sizing from ca.1000 to 800 pixels the image really degenerates. Of late, I have been following Daniel Bridge's advice here: link, but while this has improved my files down to about 1000 pixels, the final step results in a significant deterioration. Any suggestions gratefully received.

I missed this, Mhuni.

I like the image and its abstract elements. It looks like it needs the horizon corrected back on the level, though.

I think you did a good job, with the last one. The waiter, in a ideal situation should have been one step further away
to separate him from the door, in the reflection. (that kind of PP goes beneath my skill's :lol
TBH..I don't think it is possible without showing its manipulated.

A big improvement in my opinion

I love the lines and shapes in this picture! As Martin says, it would have been perfect if the waiter (or whoever it is) had been one step further ahead, but I think it's superb as it is.

Cheers Lilly, Paul, Martin, Peter and Lidy.

Shame about the waiter. At the time it was taken I was concentrating on his (real) position in relation to the shade from the overhanging concrete. I'd decided this was optimum - only to find out subsequently that his reflection wasn't. It just goes to show how much you have to be aware of when shooting.

I think in cases such as these a really "great" photo can often be down a question on luck.

You capture a scene and do or do not notice an extra element which can change the emphasis entirely.

To be able to measure up all possible elements in a scene like this with a moving target is not easy.