This is a large, almost round building with new apartments, dating from 2004, called "Kemphaan". This was the first time that I was on the inside square and to be frank, I was impressed.
All the time during the building of it I hated the building and expected offices. But it turned out to be apartments and there was a pretty social and mini-urban atmosphere here. I returned several times that day to see how the sunlight worked and even that was nice. Now I feel like exploring getting an apartment myself at this place. Parking underneath, walking distance from the historical city centre and an easy way out of town. Always someone around, so a lot of social control to prevent crime. And I like the neo-roman/classical style of the building.
The Architecture challenge was a lot of fun. I must have shot 100+ photos (always NEF) for this challenge, 20 of them of this building. I processed 50 raw files and 25 of them went trough Photoshop. At first I had a close-up of the pillar facade uploaded for the challenge, but I changed it sunday-evening. You'll see, now this one is going to do poorly. :(
I chose this photo (uncropped) because it has several architectural elements in it. The floors, the concrete banks, the round staircase, the pillar facade and some bicycles for scale.
I chose B&W because with B&W you can focus more on form and light without being overwhelmed and/or distracted by the color. Just as with photography, sometimes the emphasize on color tries to hide flaws in the design or composition and light.
I work in construction and to be frank, most architecture nowadays sucks. The best work I see is from the 1920's. Sometimes I get these old drawings for renovation purposes. It is as if by following the hand of the architect on the paper you learn the bigger picture. Much better compared to the modern CAD and 'it doesn't suck, that's is my style' kind of crap.
Materials is also a factor. In this photo the pillars and floors are made out of concrete. If you'd be serious you'd make the pillars from marble. On the other hand, a guy like me would not be able to afford to live there in that case...
Post processing:
Nikon Capture (DSC_0224.NEF)
- Digital DEE sa=7, ha=1, tresh=190
- Sharpening = low
- contrast tone = normal
- save as jpeg
Photoshop 6 (DSC_0224.jpg)
- no cropping!
- FM chroma noise reduction
- FM Shadow Recovery Pro
- FM B&W Pro;High Contrast B&W + level 1 DR
- PT-lens distortion correction
- USM on the LAB lightness channel 200% 0.3 0
- throw away a&b channels
- convert to greyscale
- convert to RGB
- added border with canvas tool
- save for the web (Dsc_0224.jpg)
Date: 15.01.2005 at 12:48:05
EV ±0,00 EV
Program: A - Aperture-priority auto
Metering mode: Multisegment
Zoom: 27 mm KB (18,0 mm Real)
Orientation: 270° / Z:left S:Bottom
35mm Focal length: 27 mm
Image Quality: RAW
Focus Mode: AF-S
Lens Information: 18,0-70,0 mm/F3,5-4,5
Statistics
Place: 95 out of 225 Avg (all users): 5.6395 Avg (commenters): 6.8000 Avg (participants): 5.5429 Avg (non-participants): 5.7910 Views since voting: 920 Views during voting: 233 Votes: 172 Comments: 5 Favorites: 0
Appealing composition, but the shadow severely diminishes the impact. I'd have scored it higher otherwise. Perhaps there's no time here with full, suitable light? 5.
hmm interesting. I can't decide if I like the left edge. I'm thinking there should be some space to the left of it. I like the bench as a place of focus. The lighitng is ok though not exciting. Nice curve and flow to the composition. the two focus points seem to be the column and the bench but the balance between them appears to be askew. Check the foreground too next time and clean it up -there's litter by the bench which detracts from the picture. Good work. 6.
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