Ok, Photoshop experts need some critique and advise

[SNAPaPHOTO]

I posted earlier that I have been tasked to do some shots for a hotel chain to update thier website and marketing materials. The challenge for me is these are simply static shots, and I guess I am not looking them right.

I need some help, how would you enhance or improve these pictures? The only thing I would do differently is in the gym try to lower the camera to pick up the stationary bike just off the left of the image but I know I have to be careful with the super wide lens and don't want to distort the lines on the treadmills.





The pool Shot
D300S
11-16mm 2.8 lens
aperture value f/14
ISO 100
Shutter 2.5 seconds
Focal length 12 mm
no flash


Gym (small room maybe 12x15)

D300s
11-16mm 2.8 lens
aperture value f/14
ISO 100
Shutter 2.5 seconds
focal length 14mm
no flash

[Richard A Busch]

As far as the face on the runner not being seen is right no ID not getting paid as a model. The trick I have seen is going high making the room as big as possible. For the pool try to add some warmth to the photo and try from the door to the outside. If you use a model here just have her or him turn their head cause there is no way to make it look like a lap pool. The outside is gray if shooting w/ the window open like you have it wait for a sunny day (sets the mood) or if your on a limited time frame shut the blinds. Hope any of this helps

Richard

[SNAPaPHOTO]

I will try to wait for a sunny day, these were two trial shots I snapped relatively fast last night. The runner on the treadmill was a guest. I asked permission to take his picture but these are not the final products. Just a quick snap to get some ideas from you all.

Richard, I agree that one of the typical samples shows for a higher perspective, and when I tried that with the 11-16 lens it had allot of distorition from the lens although it is a great 2.8 11mm non fisheye, 11mm is going to be 11mm and when you go above or below view tend to be stretched in appearance.

[Richard A Busch]

What lenses do you have?

[Fibonacci]

I am with the consensus here in thinking that you would most likely benefit from a higher POV. There is entirely too much attention given to the ceilings of both rooms; areas that hold no interest for the guests. However, I will accept your defense that a higher POV would exaggerate the distortion effect of the 11mm lens so I did the one thing left: I cropped the ceilings out. Here are the results:





My own opinion is that the panorama effect adds to the feel of wide expanses, which is a good thing. Just my idea.

Also, I love the fact that you have used a long enough shutter speed to blur out the runner. Great idea. However, I have come to the conclusion that your runner is also a vampire as his reflection does not show up in the mirror across the room!

[SNAPaPHOTO]

Let me address both post here, fibonacci I liked the idea of cropping the ceiling out. and I didn't notice the runner on the treadmill was not visible in the mirror, neat vampire look but not for this venue.

Richard, I am using a Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 aperture lens. I love the lens and cannot speak highly enough about it. I use it at just about every wedding reception, an any time I need a super wide angle lens not to mention the 2.8 for low light and shallow DoF. I have correction guide for CS4 shown below for the lens, so I will try it up high when I go back to the client site, but in my uses for it at other venues it has distorted the images.

Plug these figures into Photoshop CS4's lens distortion filter to correct the distortion. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.

DX at infinity
DX at 10' (3m)
DX at 1' (0.3m)
FX at infinity
11mm
+4.3
+4.0
+6

12mm
+3.2
+4.0
+5.5

13mm
+3.0

+4.0
+9.0**
14mm
+2.2
+2.0

+7.7*
15mm
+1.0

+5.5
16mm
+1.1
+0.5
+2.0
+5.0

[Richard A Busch]

I was just wondering about the 18-24 mm range if you had anything there? Also take 2 photos and stitch together You get the HPOV but the look of a wide angle

[savona]

I think you did well, I especially think the pool photo is well done. I like the idea of cropping out the ceilings. Here is my take on the pool photo.

[cruzz]

Hello,


I am not a expert in photo-shop. ya but i have its good knowledge. so i think that all the photos are good and sir snap is right.please tell me that which camera or lens you used.


thanks!!

_________________
photos on canvas

[Adaptive]

On the pool photo, your white balance is off.
You can play with levels and colors all you want, it won't help much.
If it's possible, go back and shoot using custom wb & greycard
You will see a WORLD of difference...