Houses of Parliament, London

[Alpha_7]

Two different versions of this London Icon, niether really represent the scene as I saw it but given the ordinary weather and light I've tried to spice it up a little, so comments ? Feedback what do you think ?

Thanks,
Craig

[Louie]

I like what you have done with the first one, shows warmth and cold at the same time.

The second one I didn't like at first because it looked a bit flat and just like typical London weather but it is starting to grow on me now, looks a bit cartoonish.

So my pick is the first one, but overall I'm not much help at all!

Elena

[Yi-P]

I like the 2nd one with bit nostalgic look on this old city

[stubbsy]

I actually prefer #2 - has a more English feel to it (bleak and cold). I'd adjust curves slightly though for a touch more contrast

[Oz_Beachside]

did they relocate Big Ben to Piza?

I like the treatment as a photo, but I dont like them. You have sucked the sandstone color out of a very golden colored building...

Perhaps bring back a little yellow. And maybe dodge on the light beaming through the hollow under the bridge, just doesnt match the building lights exposure above the bridge.

[methd]

Saw your signature, so couldn't help myself.... whacha reckon...

[young_einstein]

Two different versions of this London Icon

Are they both processed from the same original shot???

[Alpha_7]

Two different versions of this London Icon

Are they both processed from the same original shot???

Both are from the same HDR image (just different tonal maps for each).

Methd - Thanks for having a play with it, I'm not sure if it works for me, its a bit too fluro.

[young_einstein]

Which software?

[Alpha_7]

Photomatix Pro - I highly recommend it, it's a great tool I'm having a lot of fun playing with it, and getting results I can't get straight out of camera.

[the foto fanatic]

did they relocate Big Ben to Piza?

I guess this is a reference suggesting that "the horizon is not straight".

It's an interesting exercise - test the vertical lines of the Big Ben tower (I just did this in Lightshop) and you'll find that it is dead vertical.

I think there are several visual elements that trick the eye into thinking that the picture may not be level:
- the photographer is not square to the bridge;
- the bridge isn't horizontal; it rises towards the centre;
- there is some lens distortion at the edge of the pic that is causing the building on the far LHS to "lean in".

This is a common dilemma faced by photographers, especially if using a wide-angle lens - which element of my picture do I want to be horizontal/vertical?

Sometimes, as in this case, it is impossible to get everything square unless you use the free transform ability of Photoshop.

[gstark]

Trevor,

Sometimes, as in this case, it is impossible to get everything square unless you use the free transform ability of Photoshop.

They've taken that away from me ... I'm only allowed three crayons at the one time now, and only a plastic spoon.

[sirhc55]

Craig - I like both

[ATJ]

I prefer the second one as it is more a representation of how the buildings actually appear.

[rokkstar]

I like number 2 Craig - The processing is more to my taste although 1 seems closer to what it looks like to me.

Tell me you went the other side of the bridge though and got it in all its glory?

[Alpha_7]

I like number 2 Craig - The processing is more to my taste although 1 seems closer to what it looks like to me.

Tell me you went the other side of the bridge though and got it in all its glory?

Sadly Matt no I didn't, I do have some other shots though that I will get around to processing, I didn't even think not to have the bridge in it (derrr).