The processing is a bit over the top, and above the church!
The sky is like nothing I have seen, predominantly because of the deep blacks in between the white puffs. I like it.
The church itself appears odd. The absence of detail on the roof and closed off windows gives it a simplified and illustrated look. I think I would prefer some detail but this is a stylistic rendering, so I dont get to say.
The building appears distorted, although I am not sure what corrections are indicated.
Overall, a moody, powerful image with interesting contrasts implying a strong message.
What was your goal Bob?
Goal: push the processing envelop in BW; use my 12-24 which was retrieved from under several sweaters in a dresser drawer for this purpose.
The capture was taken with this image in mind although not so dramatic as its final version. A spontaneous, not planned image although I did make a special effort to return to the church once I discovered my original target had vanished into new construction. I liked the simplicity of the structure, one of the many austere rural churches found locally - very red brick and brilliant white entrance, steeple, and metal roof.
The acuteness of the perspective is intentional and purposeful - diagonals of roof, ground, and major cloud trail originate at left.
Processing drove me nuts - moire of brick and an external AC unit that took me awhile to figure out how to remove and keep some semblance of a coherent brick pattern.
So ultimately my goal was an image with some drama and touch of eccentricity that might hold the viewer's attention. Message? Whatever message the viewer chooses to take away. Should that occur, I would feel for once I have accomplished something.
It is a bit of an odd angle ... but it is compelling nonetheless. Dynamic PP of the sky pulls your eye away from the church enough that the "odd angle" isn't allowed to "take root" and become overly bothersome. Kind of a "slight of hand" diversion away from the angle/distortion, if that makes any sense.
The church kinda looks like it is breaking @ the foundation / sliding down the hill ... which sorta goes along with the dramatic sky wreaking havoc vibe.
I might like to see it straightened up a bit ... but even with it's peculiarities .... it is still compelling / captivating in ways that are hard to put your finger on / describe.
Reminds me of something that Hitchcock & Adams might have collaborated to produce.
I might like to see it straightened up a bit ... but even with it's peculiarities .... it is still compelling / captivating in ways that are hard to put your finger on / describe.
And another, perhaps more perplexing - I did not take the time to clean out the extraneous wires etc. that later should it survive.
I think what also struck me in the second is the almost garish HDR-like quality, at least for a larger view, I still enjoy the uncomfortable aspect of the perspective, find it makes me want to solve the visual puzzle.
