[Banded Drake]

Decided to go out and try and get some shots . There was so much to shoot but this shot is one that caught my eye . I am starting to really fall in love with B/W photos ( and pretty soon will be shooting B/W when i know that i am going to convert anyway ) . Just wanted to see what yall thought . There will be more im just to tired to play with anymore of them .






Please tell me what you think .......... Shawn

[NT73]

Not a big lover of graveyards really. Everything looks to be leaning to the left and the ones at the back I think should be sharper. That may be the resizing, and under the trees looks a bit dark.
But the setting and layout is good.
By layout I don't mean lay out .
Oh and I have just done my first wedding.....

[Toad]

Drake:

Well, I have shot a TON of graveyard photos - so welcome to the club - we are a dying breed...

Almost all of my graveyard shots start out like this - in that they look very amazing when you are there - but in almost every case, I find mine tend to look a bit subject-less when viewed on the screen. I believe that is because I try to cram too many objects into the frame. What I usually do is some extreme cropping to highlight one particular aspect of the scene that shows the grave in relationship either to the envionment, the dearly departed, or to another object. When I do this, it refines my vision.

Once I have the crop I want - I usually do some fairly extreme processing on the shot - because, let's face it, a graveyard is kind of an extreme subject, and it can handle it.

One of my favorite tricks is to force the black point (left slider in Levels) way into the histogram - past the real black point. This radically darkens the photo, and can simulate night even in bright sunlight. Then I usually do some extreme sharpening, because the sharpening halos on this sor tof shot tend to look like moonlight on the tombstones.

This is the exact technique that I have used to mess with your shot. As usual, please feel free to disregard this advice as you see fit. You have a shot with good "bones" here - and not everybody shares my enthusiasm for over the top processing.

Best Regards
Toad

my humble attempt:



[edit]
Yikes... Sorry for saying "extreme" 4 times in one post - err 5 now...

[Banded Drake]

NT73

Thanks for the comments, i knew there was going to be a lean in the photo, only because these are pretty old ( some where in the mid 1800s ) and they are all leaning a little bit ( and besides i do not have a very level eye ) so all of that being against me.

And Congrats on the wedding , i hope it went better than my first

Toad

I see exactlly what you are saying . There is no " real " subject to the picture. Too much to look at . I really like what you did , i think i will have to play with a few more that i took . Some that arent as " busy " and try your tech. out and see what i can come up with.
I have some really cool looking stuff that i wanted to do a series on ( if i can get them to look right ) i will be sure to post them for you .
The stones that i really like are the oldest that i can find, so i have a that you can read the dates and all on .
Ok enough rambling time to go play with some photos LOL


........ Thanks for the advice .......... Shawn

[smarti77]

Shawn - I can't say that I have ever gone to a graveyard to take photo's yet. There is definately potential here though. I like the four headstones of changing sizes. I agree with Toad - dont be afraid to play with the levels a bit more.

[smarti77]

Oh and I have just done my first wedding.....

Why don't I see any shots yet????

[Toad]

Drake:

Here's one I did a couple of years ago that uses the same technique with levels - it also works with color...

[Banded Drake]

I really like that one Toad ,
The lines are great , Is this a military cemetery?


Thanks Smarti , i am still learning to get the Levels to look right ( in my eyes ) . I have never really played with them so its a long learning process for me LOL .

......... Shawn

[Pat]

Hi Shawn - I photographed and indexed a cemetery of over 2500 graves a couple of years ago and quickly discovered that sharpening the headstones was the worst thing I could do, contrast first to make the text a little more readable, then maybe a smidgin of sharpening. I took photographs in colour and then if wanted converted them to black & white. Also important is the time you visit the cemetery, light problems etc. If you just want atmosphere visit the cemetery at dusk and get down to ground level to take your shots, to ward off ghosts take a friend

[Banded Drake]

Thanks Pat,

I was really bored and just wanted to do something different . Then i found myself enjoying everything around me. I felt a little strange out there shooting but it was prob. the most peaceful shoots i have had .


to ward off ghosts take a friend
I brought my wife so as not to get gobbled up


..... Shawn

[smarti77]

Drake:

Here's one I did a couple of years ago that uses the same technique with levels

Toad - That is a stunner. Beautiful.

[Toad]

I really like that one Toad ,
The lines are great , Is this a military cemetery?

Yes - it is one of the the French cemetaries at Verdun commemerating the Battle of Verdun (1916). The French lost approximately 400,000 men during this battle - and the Germans lost a similar amount.

I always shake my head these days when I hear the French called cowards (and worse) for not getting involved in Iraq, We seem to have so little concept of history these days.

[Pat]

This is one of the military cemetery at Westhoff, Belgium. My father's eldest brother is buried there, a victim of WW1, the figure in the photograph is a kind Belgium who undertook to photograph the grave for us.

[alastair_hm]

This is one of the military cemetery at Westhoff, Belgium. My father's eldest brother is buried there, a victim of WW1, the figure in the photograph is a kind Belgium who undertook to photograph the grave for us.

http://www.shuttertalk.com/forums/images...sthoff.jpg

I think this would be better if you cropped the sky right down to give the image a letter box format.

[Pat]

I think you are right

[Toad]

Lovely shot, Pat. I agree with the crop suggested - that will help bring the viewer's gaze down to the countryside where it belongs.

When you see a photo like this, it is easy to forget the horrors that they went through in the trenches in WW1.

[Banded Drake]

I agree Pat , I really like this shot .

I would have liked to see more of the graveyard , ( agreeing with alastair_hm on the crop. ) But I like what you have done with the shot .


......Shawn

[Pat]

This is a better view, none of the family have gotten as far as Belgium, even after all these years Uncle Bill is still talked about (happened long before I was born ) and the repercussions of his death on his mother. He was killed just before the end of the war by a stray German bomb. Photographs were taken by a Belgian who lives near the cemetery and takes part in looking after the graves for which we should give thanks.