How would you level this?

[MassArt Images]

What is level in your eyes? I took this as a grab shot while waiting for an eastbound climbing the West Slope at Lilly,PA. What would you level from since it appears that some houses are level while others are not? This was shot with a 400mm fixed lens too.



I did not upload this since it doesn't stand a chance. I thought it would be interesting to discuss since leveling images is an issue with so many photos.

[JimThias]

Needs to go CW a little bit. Everything in the photo aside from the two houses on the right is leaning to the left. Maybe nuke those houses?

[MassArt Images]

Originally Posted by JimThias

Needs to go CW a little bit. Everything in the photo aside from the two houses on the right is leaving to the left. Maybe nuke those houses?

I wonder if it is mine subsidence that causes this. I can't be lens distortion, correct? I guess it would be better to crop those two houses out, but the picture doesn't lie. Lilly,PA is not level.

BTW, that is the first time an attachment went thumbnail on me...Hmmm

[troy12n]

Regardless of the leveling, the cropping on that is horrible, I dont kow why they didnt reject it for bad cropping

[MassArt Images]

Originally Posted by troy12n

Regardless of the leveling, the cropping on that is horrible, I dont kow why they didnt reject it for bad cropping

Troy, as I said in my OP, I did NOT upload the photo. I was just looking to discuss how to level this assuming this was the final version. You missed the point.

[Insert_Name_Here]

That crop sucks

[CSX1702]

Originally Posted by MassArt Images

Troy, as I said in my OP, I did NOT upload the photo. I was just looking to discuss how to level this assuming this was the final version. You missed the point.

Oh I'm sure he knew, but the TROY has to issue a verdict. I think it's in the rules somewhere.....

[Holloran Grade]

Wait!

Lets all jump in on how "grab shots" are looked down upon.......

[MassArt Images]

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

Wait!

Lets all jump in on how "grab shots" are looked down upon.......

One of my favorite grab shots.

PhotoID: 395507 Photograph © Carl Massart

[Holloran Grade]

Originally Posted by MassArt Images

One of my favorite grab shots.

Nice shot.

My statement was tongue and cheek since most of the Pulitzer winning photos in photography over the years have all been "grab shots."



Grab shot

[troy12n]

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

My statement was tongue and cheek since most of the Pulitzer winning photos in photography over the years have all been "grab shots."

Of course, but that's what photojournalism IS by definition

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

Grab shot

My first reaction is to say I don't believe you. There is nothing in this shot that suggests that you didn't have time to think about composing the shot, and no action in the shot requiring speed.

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by JRMDC

My first reaction is to say I don't believe you. There is nothing in this shot that suggests that you didn't have time to think about composing the shot, and no action in the shot requiring speed.

He was just strolling by, turned, clicked, kept on walking.

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by JimThias

He was just strolling by, turned, clicked, kept on walking.

That explains the centered subject. He just didn't THINK.

[Holloran Grade]

Originally Posted by JimThias

He was just strolling by, turned, clicked, kept on walking.

For 14 miles that is pretty much what I did.

Too bad the sun wasn't out for the first 7 miles, but it made the last 7 that much more interesting.

Too bad those box cars were in the shade by the time I got back to them.

In the photo above I was looking to get between the tracks looking at the tunnel and I normally would not walk around like this on active tracks.

Here is a few frames before.

[JimThias]

By the way, could someone explain to me the point of this new "feature"? Very strange....

[MassArt Images]

Originally Posted by JimThias

By the way, could someone explain to me the point of this new "feature"? Very strange....

Attachment 8500

Jim, I commented on Mike Danneman's photo below and in my remarks I put a hyperlink to a very similar photo. When you click on the link it puts the photo in the comment section. Maybe I did something wrong but it appears to be similar to what you have shown. Weird

PhotoID: 474896 Photograph © Mike Danneman

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphot...474896&nseq=11

[MassArt Images]

Here is one for a level discussion. It also has a poor light/backlit ding also so this has the K.O.D. For sake of discussion, what is the screener using as the level reference? This will help us in the future on our never ending quest...... cue the Star Trek music , in search of the final frontier, to boldly go where no man has gone before.....Inside the Mind of a Screener

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...55&key=1178010

[CSX1702]

I think that screeners do not really use specific objects for leveling and will reject it if it looks unlevel. And in this case, their appears to be a slight CW lean. And if you are looking for objects to use for leveling; the platform lights, the switch light, and that pole to the left of the crossing appear to be leaning ever so slightly to the right. So, I guess rotate about .25 degrees CCW and maybe give it some distortion correction.

Also, since I correctly predicted the bad cropping on your other post, you may also get a bad cropping or a composition/ balance rejection the next time, if you were to submit it again. Maybe B&W?


I like it though.

[JimThias]

What Derek said. Carl, you can pretty much see everything in that photo leaning to the right.

[MassArt Images]

Dang when I first looked at it I thought is leaning left so I rotated .2 CW. Guess I will undo that and maybe go B/W and try to brighten it some or darken the sky. What else could I do to make it "pop" more so they don't say it is backlit?

[MassArt Images]

Originally Posted by CSX1702

Also, since I correctly predicted the bad cropping on your other post, you may also get a bad cropping or a composition/ balance rejection the next time, if you were to submit it again. Maybe B&W?


I like it though.

I tried B/W. Still got a backlit ding.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...61&key=7890317

[JRMDC]

BW was, easy to say in retrospect, not a good choice. I think the issue is "not enough light on the subject", which in this case translates to blah light. The BW, which eliminates the color and also raises the viewer's expectation of seeing tonal contrast, makes this all clear. The original color shot has the feel of what I think of as awkward flat light, although it might benefit from a fresh take on processing.

Maybe set it aside for a few weeks and then start from scratch.

[ME 488]

Originally Posted by MassArt Images

I tried B/W. Still got a backlit ding.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...61&key=7890317

This shot looks cloudy, not backlit. The B&W version has a lot of noise for a shot from 2014. I'm not crazy about the composition either. There's a lot of clutter on the left, with potentially interesting equipment either awkwardly cut off or blocked by the lamp posts and signs. I also think there's too much blocking the view of the station. If you have a different frame with the Motor Coach in the left of the image, and the center and right showing the switch stand, signal, and (a not cut off) water tower, I think that would be better. I don't know if that would stop a screener for rejecting it for weather/lighting reasons, but that's life.