The latest assignment for the photography class I’m taking gave us several options. I chose architecture, which proved to be more difficult than I thought it would be. We were asked to find a picturesque building that is at least two stories tall. We had to shoot the building at its full height and in at least two other angles. We were challenged to create converging lines in at least one picture, and correct them to some extent in another. We could also shoot details and alter the perspective. I tried everything. I had more success with some shots than with others.
I chose to follow advice on shooting architecture that was provided on one of the reference sites for this lesson. The advice helped me to set up the shots in other than my usual random and haphazard way. The primary advice was that buildings don’t move. That’s stating the obvious, I guess, but it went on to say that in order to achieve adequate sharp focus in an architectural photograph, it is necessary to use the camera’s lowest ISO (ISO 100 in my case) and to set an aperture that provides a large depth of field (I alternated between f/16 and f/22). A slow ISO and small aperture require a slow shutter speed (1/30 resulted in the best exposure for me) and thus it is imperative to use a tripod.
I chose to photograph the historic Tower Theater in downtown Roseville. Vernon Street was almost deserted at midday today and I felt free to set up my tripod and try different compositions and angles. When I got home and viewed the photographs I took, I was generally disappointed. I took only 37 photos which is a small number for me; I took only 4 or 5 in each of 8 different poses. I discovered that I don’t know how to position the scene well when using a tripod. In many of the photos, minor adjustments I made in the position of the camera on the tripod resulted in vastly different and many unacceptable composition changes I hadn’t recognized through the viewfinder. I also discovered that I didn’t adjust the camera to level in both vertical and horizontal positions on the tripod. Tripod use is obviously something I need to practice.
Contrary to my usual and intended practice to post photos straight out of the camera, today’s photo was one of those photos that was not perfectly exposed and I had to apply Curves adjustments in Aperture. When I realized my exposure was wrong and made the adjustments in shutter speed to achieve correct exposure, I failed to return the camera to the same position and the composition was poor. I chose composition over correct exposure today, but to show that I can do get the exposure right, I am posting the correctly exposed, poorly composed photo as well.
Focal Length 20mm
ISO 100
f/22
1/200
Curves Adjustments
Focal Length 18mm
ISO 100
f/22
1/30
SOOC
I read this earlier today- and had trouble understanding it! No wonder you are having problems- it’s hard- who would think? And I admire your bravery (as usual) standing on a street corner with a tripod!
I also think SOOC is a pretty ambitious goal for RAW photos- might as well shoot jpegs! My goal is to get the exposure correct- and the composition- period! You are too hard on yourself.
I really like both photos- love the starburst effect and your angle is perfect! Great shot(s)!