C&C: Ultra Wide Angle - Heidelberg

[TheBigE]

All,

I was hoping to gather some constructive feedback on a set of photos that I took over the weekend. I went out only equipped with my 10-24 mm UWA Nikkor Lens, my goal was to spend some time with this lens and understand it better. In addition, I was really trying to work on ensuring I obtain a nice sharp photo and good composition. I spent most of the time in AP and working with either -0.3 or -0.7 EC.

Enjoy and thanks. Gallery is HERE

Probably one of my favorites - Locks on the bridge


This one seems a bit blah - I think the color of the building saves it a bit and with the castle in the back.


Gates to the City - I feel it is a good composition, and I find I spend more time getting close and looking up with my UWA. I was pretty course with the Adjustment Brush in LR to get the sky to pop a bit more, but this looks to be a bit HDRish.


Walkway into the city - the ubiquitous shoot from the street view

[just me]

I hope I do not appear to be unkind, but, although I like the colors on all images, but I found them a bit confusing regarding the presented size, and angles.......

Griddi......

[Manfred M]

Erik - right now you seem to be at the stage where you are using an UWA the way you might shoot a normal lens. That technique is generally not one that is going to work.

Image 1 - crop the left 1/3 of the image and the bottom 15% or so to see what that does for you. There is too much bridge and river that does not contribute to the image.

Image 2 - The castle is the exciting part of Heidelberg; an ordinary building, perhaps not. There really isn't anything particularly interesting in this image, and building a shot purely on the colour of an ordinary building? I don't think that is going to work out for you.

Image 3 - I find this the most interesting shot of the series, but find that the orange building on the left is distracting. Crop that out and a bit on the right, and I think you will have a stronger image.

Image 4 - this shot is a pretty typical one when someone is using an UWA as he / she would a normal lens. Ask yourself; what does the bottom half of the image do for the shot? Crop out the bottom half and you have the beginnings of a decent street shot. UWA shots, not handled carefully give you either too much foreground (as is the case here) or too much background and sometimes both.

When composing with an UWA, generally you have to ensure that your foreground, middle ground and background all have items of interest in them.

[rpcrowe]

#1: Although including a predominate foreground subject is IMO the key in shooting a UWA image, the angle of this image turns me off...
#2: I would have liked to see the bottom of the distinctive red building, The image seems somewhat incomplete...
#3: I am not usually a fan of extreme angles in images but, I tend to like this image...
#4: I like this shot because of the predominate cobble-stone foreground...

[Shadowman]

A few good examples on your link, the bike shot, archway/car, plaza, and building. Most just need a different orientation or wider view of the area.

[TheBigE]

Erik - right now you seem to be at the stage where you are using an UWA the way you might shoot a normal lens. That technique is generally not one that is going to work.

Image 1 - crop the left 1/3 of the image and the bottom 15% or so to see what that does for you. There is too much bridge and river that does not contribute to the image.

Image 2 - The castle is the exciting part of Heidelberg; an ordinary building, perhaps not. There really isn't anything particularly interesting in this image, and building a shot purely on the colour of an ordinary building? I don't think that is going to work out for you.

Image 3 - I find this the most interesting shot of the series, but find that the orange building on the left is distracting. Crop that out and a bit on the right, and I think you will have a stronger image.

Image 4 - this shot is a pretty typical one when someone is using an UWA as he / she would a normal lens. Ask yourself; what does the bottom half of the image do for the shot? Crop out the bottom half and you have the beginnings of a decent street shot. UWA shots, not handled carefully give you either too much foreground (as is the case here) or too much background and sometimes both.

When composing with an UWA, generally you have to ensure that your foreground, middle ground and background all have items of interest in them.

Manfred - Thank you for the excellent feedback. Given that I am not even 100 shots into this lens, I can see how it takes a different mindset. I really wanted to go out only with the Lens and try...as you can see some success and some not so successful. Certainly the image is enhanced by adding something in Foreground, MIddle and Background...but I always seemd to find myself in a situation like either photo 3 or 4. EIther looking straight up inclose or lying on the ground. I was hoping to find some other avenues in which to employ this lens....this will take time and more practice.

Thanks Again

[TheBigE]

I hope I do not appear to be unkind, but, although I like the colors on all images, but I found them a bit confusing regarding the presented size, and angles.......

Griddi......

Griddi, No worries and not unkind at all. We each see something different and it is good to have a constructive feedback. I can see in some cases the angles may not have worked for everyone. A day later and a bit removed there are a few photos that could have been better presented. Thanks for the feedback

[TheBigE]

#1: Although including a predominate foreground subject is IMO the key in shooting a UWA image, the angle of this image turns me off...
#2: I would have liked to see the bottom of the distinctive red building, The image seems somewhat incomplete...
#3: I am not usually a fan of extreme angles in images but, I tend to like this image...
#4: I like this shot because of the predominate cobble-stone foreground...

Thank you Richard for taking the time for some feedback. Of the four posted, I think #3 has grown on me more and more....but to me it feels like the typical wide angle photo that most people take...maybe I am wrong...I was pushing myself to find a different presentation of the same city gates that you see in all the postcards.

[TheBigE]

A few good examples on your link, the bike shot, archway/car, plaza, and building. Most just need a different orientation or wider view of the area.

Thanks John for your feedback. I was curious what you mean by orientation....camera tilt, more in scene, closer?

I enjoy the car/arch photo and it would have been nice to get a few feet back to get more in photo but I was limited by a building. Looking at this photo a day later, I think I could have had some success with Pop Up Flash and brought out some of the color in the car....oh well live and learn. For others I have repeated photo we are discussing below.

[dubaiphil]

When composing with an UWA, generally you have to ensure that your foreground, middle ground and background all have items of interest in them.

I agree - the Rule of Thirds should also correspond to depth within an image if possible

[Manfred M]

Thanks John for your feedback. I was curious what you mean by orientation....camera tilt, more in scene, closer?

I enjoy the car/arch photo and it would have been nice to get a few feet back to get more in photo but I was limited by a building. Looking at this photo a day later, I think I could have had some success with Pop Up Flash and brought out some of the color in the car....oh well live and learn. For others I have repeated photo we are discussing below.

Erik - this one is more along the lines of what I was thinking.

Dipping into my archives, I think this demonstrates what I am thinking; taken with a f/2.8 14-24mm lens at a focal length of 15mm on a FF body (this would be like a 10mm focal length on your camera). The tuft of grasses is probably 30cm from the from of the lens, which is my foreground; the lock gates, walls and hardware are perhaps 3 - 5m behind that (middle ground) and the trees are off in the distance (background).