Abandoned

[RhondaH]

These images were taken early in December. I tried to use the natural light as it was a clear, bright day and to avoid a direct shot into the abandoned building because it was full of junk. I am very interested in hearing how these are viewed and suggestions for improvement. This is very exciting for me. Thank you in advance for your time and effort.

[RhondaH]

ugh! I just noticed my shadow in the last image!

[Geoff F]

Yes, easily done.

With the first image, I wonder about a slight crop from the bottom and left to reduce the amount of snow and that little bit of a second building?

Exposure and focus are fine will all of them.

[FrankMi]

Great images Rhonda!

When I see scenes like this I wonder what it may have looked like in its prime, what the folks may have been like, and what caused the structure to become abandoned.

I also note that they used solid wood on both the outside and the inside but no insulation. Unlike the solid wood walls of a log cabin, it must have been very hard to heat in the winter.

[IzzieK]

Just a thought, Rhonda...welcome to CiC...I like this project very much. For improvement,
#1 -- please put a space between your photographs so it doesn't flow from one image to the other.

#2 -- you might find that you get to know more of the owners if you take a shot of its "junks" too...and share it with us. Read remark of Frank in his post (second paragraph.) I agree with him.

#3 -- Image #1 need some cropping at the bottom -- too much snow that is not really necessary to the shot at all. It would have been nice if you have more of the sky at the top...

#4 -- #2 image need a bit of straightening. The building is leaning to the left a little bit...What pp software do you use? This can be remedied in post processing (PP), or after the fact.

It will be interesting to see a full shot of that red building too....? Any chance of that?

'Hope I am not asking too much...

[Shadowman]

In the first image I like the inclusion of the snow' I would have probably shot from a different angle; including more of the front end of the house and allowing most of the side to fade into the background. I think all of the others are good isolated sections that would work well shown with the first image.

[FootLoose]

I like the 3rd and 4th, Rhonda, because they show detail in the grain of the wood.

I like the textures in the 5th also, although I think you might have tried to include too much in the frame.

[RhondaH]

I'm so excited!! You all are great!

Thanks Geoff!

Thanks Frank! we own the land the building is on - it has been in my husband's family for a couple of generations I think. I have access to some of the history, it was my mother-in-law's childhood home I believe... not sure where the junk has come from though. But after you and Izzie put forth the question, I think I might look at it differently.

After Geoff and Frank's comments, I realized I'd never had a manual for my camera. I have now downloaded a copy of it. I'm going to learn how to use the settings it has. Thank you gentlemen.

Thank you Izzie! I will put lines in between future photo posts. Your suggestion about straightening, that is to bring the left side of the photo up and the right side down? Since we own the land, I can go there anytime! Your thoughts and suggestions have got me wanting to go back and work on this. I will see if I can get in close to the red building and try new angles on the front building like John suggested.
The program I have is Windows Live Photo Gallery.

Thank you John!! I think I understand that you're suggesting I shoot from the front of the long side of the building, more head on than at the angle including the 2 sides?

Thanks Greg! #5 was/is a busy one... so, would you take closer shots of the different textures, and fill the frame with one texture at a time?

I do very much appreciate all of your input, encouragement and suggestions. This is what I've been looking for but I didn't know it till I discovered you. Thank you so much!! It's bitterly cold right now, -24 Celcius without windchill, so I will see if I can bear the temps in the next few days to spend some time outside at the other farm. You've stirred me up! Have a great night or day - wherever you are.

[davidedric]

Nice images, Rhonda. My favourite is #2 for the composition and "feel", and I also like the way you have looked for interesting angles and textures. Love the light. I could see this as a series of images of the building through the seasons. If you are interested in old buildings, see if you can find on here some of tbob's (Trevor, a BC resident) pictures of farm buildings.

And congratulations on your successful post

Dave

[Manfred M]

A nice series, Rhonda. I tend to have the same view as the other posters.

Just one comment to give you a bit of compositional insight on why people might be telling you to reduce the amount of snow shown in #1. Our eyes tend to be drawn towards the bright areas of the image. If that interferes with the view of the main subject (the building in this case), it tends to weaken the composition. That is what is happening here.

I also like the way you have arranged the series; you use a wider "establishing shot" to provide the viewer with the context of the scene and then explore the details. This technique is often used in cinematography.

[FrankMi]

I will put lines in between future photo posts.

Hi Rhonda, you can edit the first post and add a return (Enter) between each of the [IMG] lines to get the spacing in this thread if you like.

[IzzieK]

Rhonda...here is a quick edit from Photoshop CS5 extended. I will pull it down if you do not like it --

[bnnrcn]

Welcome Rhonda . I agree with the others about cropping #1 from bottom and from left. I also like Isabel's straightened version of #2. Nice images

[purplehaze]

would you take closer shots of the different textures, and fill the frame with one texture at a time?

Hi Rhonda, that's what I would do. I would suggest that you look at the elements of your scene, and choose one thing, be it texture, pattern, whatever, and isolate it. Know what your subject is and frame it so that it will be unmistakable to the viewer. If you are like me, you may not know what attracted you about the scene until you have the image up on your computer and then you slap your forehead and say to yourself, "I should have [fill in the blank]." And then you go back out and try again. Lucky for you, you have ample opportunity for do-overs with this subject.

Welcome to the forum, by the way; it is always great to see a fellow Manitoban. It looks like the cold is going to break in time for New Year's; here's hoping we both have a chance to take advantage of it, photography-wise.

[FootLoose]

Thanks Greg! #5 was/is a busy one... so, would you take closer shots of the different textures, and fill the frame with one texture at a time?

Yep. Just like Janis said. I would work the scene to death - or until my card was full. Textures, shadows, lines - and then when they are on the computer, different crops and processing to bring out what I like most about them.

[RhondaH]

Thanks so much Dave, if you hadn't helped me I may still be wandering about! lol I will see if and I can locate tbob. I hadn't thought of a series through seasons, but I like that idea!!!

Thank again Frank! I have done it, slipped lines in between.

Thanks Manfred, for filling in the blanks about the snow!

I think I see what you mean Izzie... just trimming a bit off the edges cleans it all up nicely! And with the building straightened, it is more pleasing to the eye. Thank you for illustrating that for me. I do have to confess, I'm not much of a post photo editor. I may need to hone those skills as well. LOL

Thank you Binnur! I appreciate your contribution!

Thanks Janis!! A fellow Manitoban! I found myself pulled over on the highway today and going through a ditch to capture ice on tree branches, grass and weeds... in this horrible wind. LOL but I do hope to spend some time on the other farm - the temps look wonderful for a couple of days then back into the deep freeze... going to have to "make pics when the sun shines" so to speak, hey??

Thanks Greg and Janis - I will focus on capturing the textures individually and see where it takes me.

Again, you all are stimulating my senses and motivating me!! I appreciate your contributions and encouragement so much!

[IzzieK]

No Rhonda...I did not trim (cropped) anything off your image. I just straightened it with the ruler in Photoshop...we all have to start somewhere....so fire away your questions and post some images and do not forget to look at other posters too and comment on them if you cannot critique on their shot. We also like to know what you think and analyzing at shots other than yours is part of the learning process. Commenting on them tickles our ego too....

I think I see what you mean Izzie... just trimming a bit off the edges cleans it all up nicely! And with the building straightened, it is more pleasing to the eye. Thank you for illustrating that for me. I do have to confess, I'm not much of a post photo editor. I may need to hone those skills as well. LOL

[RhondaH]

After receiving the wonderful advice, I went out for another shoot on January 1st. I also started a new job this last week so it's taken me till now to get my post up.
I tried a new angle that included the red barn in the background and cropped most of the snow in front.
#1


I got a couple of interior shots:
#2


#3

[RhondaH]

I had an error message and couldn't add more pictures to the last post in edit mode...

Focusing on one texture at a time:
#4


#5


#6


And a shot of the red barn
#7


Thank you!

[flashback]

After receiving the wonderful advice, I went out for another shoot on January 1st. I also started a new job this last week so it's taken me till now to get my post up.
I tried a new angle that included the red barn in the background and cropped most of the snow in front.
#1
]

Hi Rhonda, I think you have some interesting (potential) shots. I do like #1, there is a sense of emptiness and abandonment. I hope you don't mind (and I'll remove it if you want) but I did a quick B&W conversion. This is one of those images that I believe works better in B&W.