The Gatehouse

[Bonsaidad]

This gatehouse was part of the Mackworth estate, a very influential family that lived in this area.
The drive from here is around 1 mile long, and it leads up to what was the house, a very large property.
There is very little left of it now, just the foundations, and a few walls.

The cellars have been uncovered, as the sunken garden has.

There is a very large cascade within the grounds, that also has been uncovered and is beautifully when the water is flowing fast.

I hope to do a series with the remaining buildings in the grounds.

Its council owned now, and is being well looked after


Comments and criticism welcome.




Best regards Paul

[theMusicMan]

Re: The Gatehouse

Hi Paul

Thanks for the background information relating to this post; I always enjoy reading a little about the who, what, when, where and why of a shot.

Now then, as this is in the 'Looking for Perfection' section; I'll post my opinion on a few things regarding the image.

Compositionally, it's quite pleasing, but I feel could have been improved by repositioning oneself to get a little look down the lane beyond the gate. At present, when you start to look at the shot in more detail, the eye is inevitably drawn to the gate - which I suspect is what you wanted - but then there's nothing there, and one gets a sense of disappointment. If there were some of the 'what's beyond the gate' showing then the image would have greater interest.

Positioning whatever is beyond the gate at one of the third/third intersections, and allowing this to lead the eye down that path could have significantly improved this shot IMHO. There seems to be something obviously interesting down there, just look at the way the sun reflects on the inside edges of the arch!

Considering you've used tonemapping here, the image remains quite a flat in terms of colour range and dynamic levels. The sky is still somewhat blown and shows no detail. I think the image does lend itself very well to tonemapping treatment, but could look so different if a wider range of colours and contrast were used in the processing.

There you go, please don't be offended at my comments because (1) they are just my opinion, and (2) you did post in this section, and (3) it is a nice image.

[Bonsaidad]

Re: The Gatehouse

Hi Paul

Thanks for the background information relating to this post; I always enjoy reading a little about the who, what, when, where and why of a shot.

Now then, as this is in the 'Looking for Perfection' section; I'll post my opinion on a few things regarding the image.

Compositionally, it's quite pleasing, but I feel could have been improved by repositioning oneself to get a little look down the lane beyond the gate. At present, when you start to look at the shot in more detail, the eye is inevitably drawn to the gate - which I suspect is what you wanted - but then there's nothing there, and one gets a sense of disappointment. If there were some of the 'what's beyond the gate' showing then the image would have greater interest.

Positioning whatever is beyond the gate at one of the third/third intersections, and allowing this to lead the eye down that path could have significantly improved this shot IMHO. There seems to be something obviously interesting down there, just look at the way the sun reflects on the inside edges of the arch!

Considering you've used tonemapping here, the image remains quite a flat in terms of colour range and dynamic levels. The sky is still somewhat blown and shows no detail. I think the image does lend itself very well to tonemapping treatment, but could look so different if a wider range of colours and contrast were used in the processing.

There you go, please don't be offended at my comments because (1) they are just my opinion, and (2) you did post in this section, and (3) it is a nice image.

John, in no way could i be offended with your comments as thy are more in the way of advice on what i could, and should have done.
My original intention was to photograph the complete building and not to emphasis on the gate itself, but as you say it would have been better looking through the gate.
I will put all these errors down to experience and gain knowledge from this image, so the next time i can think that much more before the shot.

I did not want to introduce to much color into the image, as i have had many reviews on other forums say that i have overdone things, so i tried to keep things as natural as was possible.
I used Color Dodge on this image, not to much and set it to 5% so as not to overdo things.
I can always retake this shot at a later date as i am often passing that way, i have plenty of others i took on the same day, but different locations so please look out for the posts.



Best regards Paul

[benvendetta]

Re: The Gatehouse

Pictorially, a record shot, albeit a reasonably enough one. Apart from the PP that has been applied there is very little author-input and that is what will always lift an image above the average. I do find the burning in of the sky rather overdone.
As part of a series on the location it would be fine but as a single photograph it is quite ordinary I am afraid, IMO.

[Bonsaidad]

Re: The Gatehouse

I intended this to be part of a series i will be doing over the next few weeks, i have already taken the next shot in the series, and this is of "The Memorial Gates", a tribute to the fallen hero's of the two world wars. this is next along the driveway.
There has been no alteration to the sky whatsoever, and as an historical building i find plenty of interest in it, and the others within the estate which covers miles of land.
As part of the original estate, there is even a folly some three to four miles away, thats how big it was.
The council own the property now, and its used as a country park, the very large cascades have been uncovered and restored, the foundations and cellars of the original house have also been unearthed.
Within the grounds are three large lakes with plenty of wildfowl, and the wildlife in the forests are exceptional to the area.
There is even a 9 hole golf course, thats if your interested in golf.

I know i am going to enjoy capturing all these images as a series.



Best regards Paul

[benvendetta]

Re: The Gatehouse

I hear what you are saying about the sky but it does look like it has been burnt in slightly. Either that, or it is a product of the HDR process.

[Bonsaidad]

Re: The Gatehouse

It probably is the processing Dave, but a big thanks for pointing it out to me, i have noticed that sometimes it throws up little problems that have to be rectified, and as long as you spot it all well and good, then its a simple job to be done on Elements.


Best regards Paul