Urban Decay

[Alpha_7]

Today Keith and I were searching for urban decay and really didn't find any, and then when I tried to go home I found it at and around St Peter's station so I unpacked the camera and took a few shots as I walked down the highway, I got plenty of strange glances but I didn't care, while it isn't and grundgy or dirty as Marty or Piro's stuff, I hope the treatment suits.






For bigger version check here. http://alpha7.potatis-gallery.com/dslr/Urbantrial/

[ABG]

Hi Craig,

All of the images are technically sound, but none are particularly emotive for me. For mine, these are just a recording of some graffiti, while Martys best shots open a whole window (sometimes literally) into another way of life. The last of your images comes close to doing this, but it's just a (safe) peek from the outside. Again, using Marty as the example, you can almost feel his heart pounding while he's taking the photos in an alien and unfriendly environment. He dares to tread where mere mortals (like me) daren't go. Keep searching. You'll find the urban location you're looking for.

[Alpha_7]

I hear you Andrew... I'll keep scouting out better places, this just happened to be on my way from St Peter's to Macca's so it's hardly the drug den that Marty has found, but I'll find somewhere when I get back (I might have to rope in Keith has backup..)

[Marty]

Hey Mate,
you have good conversions on your images.
They don’t have any great impact to me, but the fourth would be my favourite, due to the textures of the flaking paint.
I have one big suggestion, get much closer to your subjects and use more perspective.
For instance, in the first shot if you moved more to your left, you could have composed the shot without showing the end of the wall in the alleyway. I like the way the wall fades into darkness, but the shift to light detracts from the image (my opinion). Also on the graffiti shots, try not to clip off the corners of the artwork, as in this image because the artwork is the main focus of the image.
The second is just too busy, but with no main subject or focus.
The third again I think you need to shift your angle and use perspective again.
The fourth is the best image, it’s a good shot but again I would try shooting closer with a different angle. You should also use a bit of dodging on the dark areas nearer the top of the building, just to bring out bits of random detail, this will make the top of the image more interesting

Its good to test your ideas, some things look great to the eye but its hard to capture them well, this happens to me a lot.
Graffiti is very hard to capture well. I have practiced recently and I am still not happy with my results after a few hundred tests, some look great but they just don’t have what I am looking for.
Good first try, just keep trying and you will get the results you want.
Marty

[PiroStitch]

Craig, shoot high ISO

First pic - try a tighter crop. I personally would have gone for a portrait rather than landscape pic and don't be afraid to get down low to create a sense of height if you're photographing a building.

2nd pic doesn't grab me as it's a wooden door with graffiti. I tend to look for more interesting graffiti than some juvenile's "tag".

3rd pic - I like this pic, but maybe try adding a bit of vignetting and instead of going for a full b&w pic, desaturate and leave a hint of colour.

4th pic - Probably my pic of the bunch but composition lets it down a bit. I'd be tempted to re-take this pic and have the white wall centred with the lines leading the viewer to the sky.

[Alpha_7]

Wayne All shots were ISO 800, not sure why I didn't bump it up higher, I do it by accident enough : ) I agree about tags if the subject is going to be just graffitti then it has to be good / interesting stuff not lame squiggles

Thanks for the encouragement Marty and the suggestions about getting closer

[PiroStitch]

Craig, go out at night while your head is still shaved Bit of a generalisation, but I think people will be less inclined to approach you with a shaved head...although the cops will be a different issue