[Rob Barron]

This is a view from just outside Christchurch town centre where I just loved the house and field and so composed it to get it as well as I could without including the junk that is just out of shot on both sides! I put the horizontal lines roughly on the thirds and the front door and the metal gate on the other thirds. I used Lucisart on a separate layer and then lowered that layer to about 40% opacity before blending back to the original layer. I did that to accentuate the wonderful stonework of the house which actually put it back to how it is in real life. It got a bit flattened in camera so I wanted to reproduce the lovely textures that made me take the picture in the first place.

Hope you like it.
Cheers,
Rob

[nichpr]

Looks like a Postcard. (that was meant as a compliment) You should show this to the Tourist Board. I'm sure they would love it. Makes me want to visit......
- Paul

[skipper954]

Hi Rob

I was going to say crop the bottom, but when I tried, it lost most of its depth. So I won't say that.

Perhaps you played with Lucisart a bit too much. It looks a bit like a cartoon, maybe posterized is the right term, but I am not sure.

I do like the composition, the different fences on each side of the house, and the priory, which adds height to the image.

skip

[Gary Bagshawe]

Great image Rob, great composition and colours but... something doesnt sit quite right. I think it is the blue of the sky so that said it may be my monitor. The tower and sky almost look like they have been painted. But as said above (as a compliment) picture postcard stuff

[fionaB]

yep its absolutely wonderful, but i agree with gary,. there is something not right with the sky although it may be down to compression........ can u go back to adding the lucis art and dONT add it to the sky, cos i have noticed that where i have used it on big expanses of sky that it makes it look "odd". stunning image as always otherwise tho Rob

Fi

[Dabhand16]

How about a lower viewpoint? I knelt down for this.......

I know it could be better finished, but I always find working with low res images more difficult.

[Rob Barron]

Graham, I was already down on the floor, took this shot about 2' 6" above the ground in order to capture the tall growth for a bit of foreground interest.

I agree with Gary and Fi about the sky, it does look a bit overdone and yes it may well have happened when I added the LucisArt filter so I'll bear that in mind for future use, thanks.

Thanks for the comments about could be a postcard, I do take that as a compliment because I have sold photos to postcard companies and they simply won't buy them if they are not up to scratch as they get offered so many! I must confess I have only been successful with 5 so far and have submitted probably ten times that but I am just happy a few got taken on as a bit of a pin money earner

I did think about printing out a copy and knocking on the house owner's door to see if he/she would like it. Not to sell, just to say thank you. After all, they have kept the house looking good enough to be a picture so might encourage them to know people do realise and appreciate it.

Cheers all,
Rob

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

Graham, I was already down on the floor, took this shot about 2' 6" above the ground in order to capture the tall growth for a bit of foreground interest.

Yes, but I'm shorter than you!

[Rob Barron]

LOL, fair enough