Going back to Andrews 3 posted crops just above, I do think the 3rd one there is most realistic - that is quite bright light coming in the window afterall. So long as it tapers off to shadow fairly quickly from the window surrounds into the interior then that will work very well I think.

I have not been able to us use the computer with my photo software on for a couple of days, but I hope to be able to offer up a Photomatix version very soon now that I have your DNGs

I'm sorry this was missed Philip, when there are many photos being posted into a thread the pages jump on so fast as has happened here. I accept you point on the way that lighting reaches the camera sensor, ie coming from two different sources (direct & reflected) it will have a very different impact ... however, that 'effect' is simply yet another technical deficiency of the camera sensor, much like the dynamic range limit is - and as we are trying to compensate for these limitations I don't see that we should in fact want to reproduce it. I would be aiming to reproduce a 'what the eye sees' effect rather than any 'what the camera sees effect'.

The laughs just keep on coming Its a new direction for sure, and there are plenty more strangers in the area just waiting to be photographed, so keep an eye out for more pics on the theme.

Rest assured though that it is unlikely to detract me from my core pursuit of documenting the fields & hillsides of the Croydon/Surrey borders. Thanks again to all who have looked at the set and commented .... now, who mentioned grain on the wood? ... I really must find a plug-in to strip that out immediately!

Did someone mention halos? Let me see ... ah yes, there it is on 'Gotham'. Or am I seeing things? Now where's gwing when ya need him!

Well, I ensured I took a full cross section from the window display ... however, South Kensington is a rather well-to-do area

Good to see some low-key key building shots Doc, and all beautifully taken. Yes, converging verticals can work sometimes - the cranes is a classic example which makes them look like their having a private meeting!

Its all a bit doom & gloom, but effective no doubt. It works best where the highlight areas take up a smaller part of it. Where there's greater contrast across more of the frame the edges start to reveal themselves too harshly - better where the transitions are slow & smooth.

What approach to metering did you take? Was it spot on the highlights, or did you look for midtones and lower it from there?

Thats it, I claim exclusive rights to my own opinion

But lets be sure we're debating the same thing - I am not saying that there are not two independent 'exposures areas' here (inside and out). It is the blend zone that I'm questioning. If it were a landscape with darker ground and bright sky, then yes, a blending approach could work well with fairly simply masking and brush work along the horizon.

But the complexity of the transition zone between inside & out on this type of church image is where these techniques fall down, or become impossibly complex to control. That is why HDR is called for - a more sophisticated management of the blend, the natural transition of lighting levels from one to another. It all depends on the actual subject in question - there's no one size fits all solution.

Nice one Philip! Shoulders? Yes. Heads? Maybe not I did face quite a conundrum though with focusing - really needed a bit of Cabstar's expert advice on where to focus in the absence of any eyebrows!

Some changes and clarity would help for sure - but hey, don't you think that David's thread here has had an effect? I notice quite a bit more 'sizzle' on the forum - lots of pictures to discuss and interesting subjects. There's plenty to get stuck in to ... the new HDR thread is a case in point. We just have to see if Andrews church interior can break my record of views and replies from the 'Riddlesdown' HDR debate .

But its a pity there are so many more viewers than commentators in matters like this. The issue of exposure, scene dynamic range, identifying key tones for reflected light metering, and ultimately making creative choices about your images presentation and best processing approach, are matters for all of us - something everyone can have an opinion on and experience to share ... or questions to ask.

Its just a little in-house dig Andrew - its not to question anyone's choice if it works for them. I do like to provide some balance and offer up discussion on alternatives though.