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The House of the Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables
vawendy


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Classic Novels (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2013 Challenge shots
Date: Oct 15, 2013
Date Uploaded: Oct 15, 2013

[Oct. 22nd, 2013 11:16:54 PM]

Yes, this was taken at Jamestown Settlement. It wasn't a setup shot, it is an historical interpreter at one of the reproduction forts.

I don't photograph the interpreters very often, and I didn't realize how difficult it really was. I'm not comfortable saying "hey, can you stop and pose for me", so I sit there with my camera, waiting for the ends of sentences, and pauses between words while they're speaking, to try to get the shot. Since they're usually talking while working, it's a lot more difficult than you think! Otherwise, they usually pose for the camera -- turning and smiling, which isn't what you're looking for.

The lighting in this particular building was wonderful, but very dim, so I had to shoot at 1000 ISO, but still had to try to catch her during pauses in speech, action, etc., since the shutter speed couldn't do it.

The commentor was right, the lighting on the face was done wrong in processing. It was a little too shadowed, and I tried to bring it out more, but over did it.

Thanks for all the comments -- both positive and critical. It's always interesting to get feedback.

The funny thing is: I loved the lone piece of fruit on the right. Since it's not staged, I had no control over that (except through cropping) -- but I adored that particular piece, so I left it in.

Regarding the letterbox. I wasn't crazy about that either, but the front of the fireplace was so dark, and the front bowl was cut off so abruptly, a 4x6 crop (or anything more) just had way too much dark space above, and really showed how badly I cropped in camera. The letterbox saved it a bit. Not the best save, but still a bit of a save. :)

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 86
Avg (all users): 7.0000
Avg (commenters): 6.7143
Avg (participants): 7.0244
Avg (non-participants): 6.9844
Views since voting: 1542
Views during voting: 236
Votes: 105
Comments: 30
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 10/29/2013 09:42:39 PM
Excellent lighting and composition. Love the action going on at the hearth. Would make a good cover - even with the letterbox format for I can see the title lettering at the top and the picture as a band that goes across below the middle of the cover. Congrats on 4th place finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2013 09:42:37 PM
Excellent lighting and composition. Love the action going on at the hearth. Would make a good cover - even with the letterbox format for I can see the title lettering at the top and the picture as a band that goes across below the middle of the cover. Congrats on 4th place finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2013 09:46:35 AM
Well, great job, congrats on HM
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2013 11:07:34 AM
Told ya this'd work didn't I? You gotta stop doubting. But where are the image details?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2013 05:22:08 AM
Congrats on your HM Wendy. Interesting how one commenter commends the lighting and another points out the shadows vs the source of its light as being incorrect. One voter calls out what he believes technical flaws yet votes a 7 where others would have started with a 5 and deducted 2 to be left with a 3. Posthumous comment seems to me to hold more positive than negative, yet settles on a 4. I'll never get these voting patterns :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2013 02:13:01 AM
Fantastic, Wendy. Congrats on 4th.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2013 12:34:27 AM
Whoo Hooo Wendy!! This is so NICE!! Congratulations on a Great Finish!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/22/2013 11:49:56 PM
a deceptive warmth? 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2013 06:02:26 PM
(Know that I only vote in even numbers.)

A six for you. Beautifully staged and technically very good. Not the type of photography that moves me very much, but I appreciate it on its own terms.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2013 11:31:38 AM
great imagery here, the pot over the fire is what truly sells this to me
a score of 8 to go with the seven gables
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2013 12:42:30 AM
Beautiful light. I'm going to guess Wendy, because this looks like Colonial Williamsberg...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2013 12:31:11 AM
Very well done. Beautifully lit.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2013 09:56:23 PM
A likable shot taken probably in a historic place where they have reenactments - everything is working here but there is not much connection with the novel. I wished for some witchcraft, some odd things... some guilt ... a gable ...
If you staged this, it's quite good - there are a few details here and there to die for - the woman's blouse, the rotten apple or quince, whatever it is it's so nice. I do not like in the least the thin lines that delineate the image - just the dark maroon would have been great to let everything float.
I give it a 6 though - but if you staged all this, I regret not having marked it higher
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2013 08:14:24 PM
7...nice natural window light and definitely harkens back to the era.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2013 06:39:20 PM
A scene directly from the novel..

Everything here is simply fantastic. While I don't see a strong story here, I do really like the image simply on visual merit and applicability to challenge topic.

9 for you. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2013 03:42:39 PM
Lovely composition and beautiful details. There is something that bothers me though. When I look around the table I see a light that is coming from left that is then contradicted by the way her face is lit. With no shadows from the fire or the light that supposed be coming from behind her makes it feel too unnatural. Also, the light doesn’t seem to be as natural as the rest (perhaps achieved by dodging?). I can appreciate the difficulties and complexity of lighting a setup like this and I would have no real idea on how to achieve it. It’s just that with so much effort that has been taken to produce this it should all feel natural. 7.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2013 09:34:25 AM
I like the way is set, the beautiful light, colors. Very well shot. It somehow misses something and I can not point it out. a solid 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2013 12:34:58 AM
Excellent retro style.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/19/2013 01:11:43 PM
gorgeous lighting and sense of atmosphere. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/19/2013 11:53:52 AM
Not keen on the crop and certainly not the border.The image has been well produced but is not to my taste.6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2013 09:56:28 PM
It's a nice find and well photographed, but seems a bad fit for the chosen novel. It has the period costume and furnishings, but none of the gloomy mood. I give high points for technical proficiency though. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2013 08:59:49 AM
There were a few from this challenge that really captured the story well. After much internal debate this was my favorite of them. I assume this is from a recreation or tour? Or you just happen to have a cooking pot over the fire in your 200 year old kitchen...10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2013 12:53:13 AM
Back in time
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2013 08:57:30 PM
I like the lighting in the photo. I don't know anything about the book, so I can't comment on that.

Gave it a 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2013 05:52:45 AM
Wonderful lighting!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2013 04:04:43 AM
Classic little scene, the little bowl between the woman and the apples probably clutters a bit. A good effort to be true to the period.6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/16/2013 06:55:56 PM
Great idea, great composition, great lighting! Overall, just a great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/16/2013 12:34:05 PM
This is a great image. I really enjoy how the older lady is going on about her business. Everything works so well here.
Great color. Nice light. Good detail.
Well done. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/16/2013 12:05:42 PM
I haven't read this book, though I can see you're taking a shot to evoke the period. The composition is not compelling, though. What is the significance of the peeled lemon on the right, given such prominence? The light on the fruit is more interesting than the light on the person, whose face is rather flatly lit... though I'll give you a point because the activity seems real and not staged. 4
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/16/2013 08:32:02 AM
Very nice execution and lighting. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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