I’m working under a deadline for black and white photo’s needed for next years printed calendar for the agency I work at, so, this photo and post is somewhat a placeholder for the blog which hasn’t received much attention lately.
Post-processing is eating up more time then I initially imagined. What’s expected is nice pristine images of regal church buildings, however the local utility companies have out done themselves in placing every power line, road sign and stop light possible directly in front of many of the city churches.
I do as much as I can when composing the photos, knowing I’ll later have to remove these distractions pixel-by-pixel — still a lot of painstaking work and I’ve already reshot a couple to give me a little less disadvantage.
Our fall road-trip, which this photo was from, seems long ago now…but the autumn colors are just coming into their own locally.
Love your fall colors.
Steve, thanks!
We’ll take whatever we can get. Nice one.
Ken…I appreciate that!
I swear utility companies and construction companies do it on purpose – I think they have a consulting photographer, who advises them on the most photogenic aspects of a building, so they can go stick a pole right in front of it.
JP…Amen!
I’ve taken a lot of pictures of churches (and other buildings too, I guess) and I always tried , as you have, to eliminate the “distractions”. I hated wires and parked cars and even people who were discourteous enough to be standing in the way. Then I had an epiphany of sorts. Why remove them? If they’re part of the scene, then maybe it’s best to just leave them there and snap away.
I realize that images for calendars and the like might have to be a little “cleaner”, and I know that all of this is based on personal taste, but for me the problem was immensely simplified when I decided to just see things as they were at the moment. Anyway, good luck with all the “pixel cleaning”!
Nice image, by the way. Haven’t done much “fall color” stuff over the last few years. We’ve been in the desert during peak color times in NY. Not many trees there…….!
Paul, normally I’m perfectly fine with taking things as I find them, distractions and all, and seldom do any pixel cleaning except in the most extreme cases. I wish I was a little more skilled at doing it.
These photos are not for me. They are to be included in a calendar honoring local churches who over the last 25 years were either part of the founding members or have shown continuing support to a local agency in helping those in need via counciling, financial assistance, food, clothing or shelter. That need now is greater then any time in those 25 years. For this I personally want these churches to look as nice as possible without those dang distractions.
Hey, thanks on the image. The colors this fall have been good.
I can certainly understand your statement about increased need. I just saw a statistic in this morning’s paper that said that more than 50 % of U. S. wage earners make less than $27,000 per year. I was stunned. To me, that’s not enough to live on, certainly not comfortably. And it’s significantly less than what the “middle class” used to make. And those are the people who are actually employed today. Things ain’t good. So yes, clean up those images!
Yes, there is no magic in photography, a lot of work has to be done. Sounds like you’re doing the work which means it will get done and be awesome.
Monte, thanks…don’t know about awesome…I’ll just settle for “done” about now! :-)
Nice placeholder! I’v also neglected my blog as of late, luckily I got some free time this week to visit blogs I like. I think the colors on this photo are exceptional. There’s maybe a 5-6 days in the Fall where you can capture the most amazing colors nature has to offer, even shorter in the mountains.
Nik, thanks. I’m enjoying this project but will be happy to finish it…getting close!
Those autumn colours look absolutely amazing and the blue sky makes them even more vibrant. I wish you good luck and lots of energy for the project!