Indoor Reflections, a photo from North Yorkshire, England

Photographer's Note

This shot is taken inside the West Tower of Helmsley Castle I have to credit my friend Fiona for the idea for this one. While I was getting into contortions trying to get low enough to take my previous shot without getting wet, Fiona was looking the other way and had spotted the reflections in the huge puddle on the floor (more of a pond really :))
As well as liking the use of arches as a frame (previous shot) I also like reflections, so not to be outdone I took some shots of them too. It was very dark in the tower and the sky, although by now cloudy, was still bright, as the windows are looking west and south. I took a variety of exposures and this is the only one with any detail in the sky. It’s not perfect, but I wanted to share it as I think it is quite original (except for the ones Fiona took). The blurred part of the water is from the wind through the glass-less windows.
In converting from RAW I used exposure compensation -1 and then recovered the detail in the walls with the shadows and highlight tool in Photoshop.

Last post from Helmsley castle.

branley, huynt, cobbydale, imrek, Floydian, plimrn, JCG, Paolo, jwmunro, Gerrit, chrisnet, john_c, syd1946, ChrisJ, besnard, peter1892, mortijo, josepmarin, stego, riclopes, s_a_s_h_a, Emile, Didi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

carper (96) 2006-12-16 3:49

very unusuel shot Kath,
but I like it, the pov is great and the sharpnes is oke, the quality of this shot is great, very well seen and good job, well done, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

king (4242) 2006-12-16 4:00

Hello Kath
Nice composition.
I like the sphere, with thanks to the dark colours.
TFS,
Huub de K.

ohe (2334) 2006-12-16 4:04

Dear Kath,
Very nice shot !
Great idea to use the reflection. Colors are very nice.
Thanks for sharing,
- Olivier -

danyy (0) 2006-12-16 4:10

Bonjour Kath,
une photo très graphique, bien cadrée et on peut dire que le contre jour est bien négocié, on remarque même le détail des pierres à l'intérieur.
Have a great week-end.
Daniel.

branley (3681) 2006-12-16 4:33

Hi Kath,

I really like this shot. The view outside is bright & fantastic and contrasting sharply with the dour interior. You've exposed it very well as we can see by the detail in the stonework. As for the old window....well, it's perfect. A fine capture.

Regards

Stephen

amaryllis (37047) 2006-12-16 5:00

Bonjour,

j'adore ce genre de prise de vue avec des réflections et là tu as su capturer le paysage avec ciel et arbres et la réflection du ciel bleu dans l'eau
bravo
juliette

huynt (5081) 2006-12-16 5:11

Hi Kath
It is very intersting shot. I like it. Well capture. Congratulation. Nice week end. Huy

cobbydale (1958) 2006-12-16 5:57

This is a great shot Kath. I really like the colours - the view outside the window looks a bit painting like and has a slight luminescence, and the dark walls have just a hint of sunlight oin them. The exposure is spot on too which I imagine can't have been easy.
TFS. Leon.

imrek (4) 2006-12-16 6:19

HI Kath,
very good one, well managed lightscheme and sharpness...good composition...well done!!!
have a nice we!
imre

Floydian (30970) 2006-12-16 6:55

Hi Kath,
These kind of pictures are not easy to create, and post processing can be difficult because highligts and shadows are all over. Most people just push the S/H sliders in ps way to far so that the whole image looks flatt and dull. In this one i see an excellent play between light and shadow which create good depth and a very intriging point of view.
The movement in the water is essentieel for not making it to sterile and the light from outside is excellent exposed.
But what i like best is the light on the walls and on the window bars...wonderful.
Have a nice weekend, Henk

plimrn (21344) 2006-12-16 7:17

Hi Kath,
The reflection is interesting and unique while the lovely slope of the winter hillside under the bright cloud-enhanced sky provides strong back-up
Regards, Pat

JCG (35153) 2006-12-16 7:34

Hi Kath,

A very beautiful original photograph. Qualities of the image are undeniable, the lights is extraordinary and gives to the stone a texture which I like very much. The reflection in water is superb. It is very pleasant to look at and detail. Excellent work, cheer.

Best regards and a good WE,

Jean-Charles

UlfE (14641) 2006-12-16 7:40

Hi Kath,

I love this original shot. What really fascinates me is that i looks like streaming water or that it is windy indoors. Even if the conditions were not the best the result is fantastic and think you have done a suberb job!

Cheers,

Ulf

Paolo (41258) 2006-12-16 8:24

Hi Kath, amazing and wonderufl image, with a brilliant composition and excellent quality.
great picture.
thanks, ciao

delkoo (68) 2006-12-16 8:53

hi kath
a fine capture, very interesting reflection of the light coming from the window, properly balanced .

have a nice W.E
did1er

jwmunro (286) 2006-12-16 8:56

Hello Kath -

This is a difficult shot to get just the right amount of light in all the right places. You have done well maintaining the required exposure for the reflections and the reflected sky as well as the detail in the window frame. I do like the lighting on the window and the soft detail along the window frame and the walls. S&H was done with a soft hand, mouse, and is perfect. The sky is a little off and looks almost painted but the detail in the tree is OK. One other touch I think I would have made was to paint out the floor grating and blend it into the shadows and the reflection. Well done in a difficult situation.

Thank you for sharing

John

vincz (19113) 2006-12-16 9:01

Very good composition Kath. Inner reflections are not that common! The qulaity of the light you got through the window is amazing we can follow it as it gets in and things get darker. Very well done.

michiels (4170) 2006-12-16 9:14

hi Kath,

I like this one very much. It's almost surrealistic, could be a paint of Magritte.
regards, inn

lukie (0) 2006-12-16 9:56

Hello Kath,

I like this one. It looks like a painting. Your friend Fiona, is she also a member of T.E. ?

regards,

Luc.

Gerrit (62042) 2006-12-16 10:09

Hi Kath,
good idea and the result is fine too. The light on the window is also very good.
Regards, Gerrit

chrisnet (23062) 2006-12-16 11:13

Hello Kath,
You have captured a nice reflexion of the window, good exposure and framing. I like too the cloudy sky behind the window. Well done.
Regards
Christian

john_c (24666) 2006-12-16 11:48

Hi Kath,
A most effective and eye catching shot, with the eye alternating between the reflections in the pool and the distant view through the window. I like the proportions between foreground and background here, and the overall mystique of the scene. The exposure level is perfect, as there is just enough light to discern the stones and masonry of the castle walls. Since I have lingered so long enjoying this photo, it is only fitting that it be added to my favourites. Superb work, Kath.
John

gilou530 (34) 2006-12-16 15:11

salut kath
des reflets en intérieur fallait le trouver et le faire avec le contrejour, bonne netteté , bravo
amitiés
gilbert

t0mmm1 (5442) 2006-12-16 16:10

hello Kath,
wonderful exposed picture and nice composition... of this almost abstract art ;))
Have a nice day,
Tomi

syd1946 (1167) 2006-12-16 17:03

Hello Kath,
A pleasant and unique composition!It looks like a mystic place!The reflections are great giving a big interesting to the image.Also a very good handle of the low light.Excellent!

Greetings,
Thomas

erdna (5713) 2006-12-17 0:40

A very well taken shot! The exposure is superb, it makes the light and the dark place so natural without over exposing the exterior.

Thanks for your comments on my photo,"Greens Among the Gold", I appreciate it.

Andre'

ChrisJ (171852) 2006-12-17 4:16

Hi Kath

Hey, you could have a regatta in there! Wonderful reflections none-the-less, with excellent lighting, colour, & sharpness. Tfs!

markstaples (15670) 2006-12-17 4:24

Hi Kath
Another clever idea - you're exposure and PP work has picked out just enough detail and the image is lovely and sharp. Nice one Kath.
Best wishes
Mark

besnard (59196) 2006-12-17 4:52

Bonjour Kath
Très belle composition de cette fenêtre avec des reflets bien saisis. Voilà le genre de photo plutôt insolite qui me plait énormément.
Merci pour le partage et bon dimanche.
Nicole

eza1701 (3345) 2006-12-17 5:57

Hi Kath,

This is a great imaginative shot, taken in difficult conditions. The sky is slightly over exposed but I don't think you could get it any better with one shot. One possible way would be the '2 shot method', where you expose one shot for the sky and then take another shot exposed for the inner building. Once you have the two shots, combine them in PS.

Best Regards,
Paul.

peter1892 (1681) 2006-12-17 8:21

Hi Kath - the exposure is excelelnt, you've done extremely well with this one as nothing is over-exposed, and at the same time the darker areas retain plenty of detail. I also like the distortion caused by the ripples on the water itself.

mortijo (12828) 2006-12-17 8:52

Very well tought and executed photo. The reflection in the water is excellent. The sky outside is a bit over exposed, but overall it is good result.

berke (154) 2006-12-17 11:11

Hi Kath,
Very good subject and perfect composition.Excelent exposure and outwindow colors.Nice reflection .TFS..

josepmarin (59385) 2006-12-17 13:42

Hello Kath,
Simple, with few elements, but very beautiful composition, a great work with the difficult light and good capture of the reflexes of the window and of the sky in the water.
Fantastic shot.
Regards,
Josep

Stepan (27210) 2006-12-17 14:41

The light in the window is soft and great. We can imagine the sun and the time you shot that. Excellent contrast management too. A technical master compo, according to me.
Stéphane

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2006-12-17 17:50

Hi Kath,
Really impressive image and tremendous capture!
Good colours and reflections too...
Nice work, Best regards.
Ahmet

guillaumejm (0) 2006-12-18 17:53

hello kath,
Not an easy picture to manage light and contrast. But you did it well. Just the I prefer the sky colour in the reflects than through the window. This composition is really original!.
Kind regards
JMarc

coco (30439) 2006-12-19 2:31

Hi Kath.
Clever, very clever picture. And also beautiful.
The light and the reflection over the water, the light, the window and te view through the window... really a fantastic picture.

Thanks for share.

(technically also a good work)

riclopes (35577) 2006-12-19 3:04

I agree that this one is original, Kath. I looked out for the photos of Fiona (is the nickname Aurora70?) but may be she isn't a member of TE...Usually, I get impressed by the quality of your work and this one is no exception. The way you managed to show the inside and outside without ruined none of them is increadible, considering the conditions. And the outside view...for me is perfect! I would have so many nice photos if I was able to do this kind of works. Apart that, I like very much the wind effect on the water.
Ricardo

Angshu (56760) 2006-12-20 3:31

Hi KAth
Admirable photograph...I admire how you handled the lighting & the PP done to enhance the visual effect. The outside view is perfect lightwise, while in the interior I like the small ripples on the water casued by the wind. Capturing in RAW seems to have so much benefits as I see from your images...a learning point for me
Regards
Angshu

s_a_s_h_a (607) 2006-12-21 2:32

Hi Kath,
Beautiful shot and great idea to use the reflection (it was add to my theme "Reflection"). Colors are very nice.

Good work
Alex

Emile (20352) 2006-12-22 16:33

Excellent shot and excellent work Kath. The reflection is very good but I love the way we see the details in the stone wall and the view of the sky through the old window.
This is a great shot with good composition and POV.
Well done and TFS.

Didi (61589) 2006-12-25 12:39

Hi Kath
If you wanted to have a normal sky, your foreground will be very dark.
In photography it's impossible to have a quite normal balance betweel inside and outside without any artifact.
You have two possibility to make it
A discret use of the flash.
But I think that the new HDR way can do some miracle betwwen an outside measure of the lights and an inside measure.
But I loved your nice composition.
Merry Christmas.

Photo Information

Copyright: Kath Featherstone (feather) (51130)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11-23
Categories: Castles, Architecture, Ruins
Camera: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 18-70DX, RAW
Exposure: f/18.0, 1/3 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Reflection, favorites.alt, English Heritage, Moody, Helmsley and Rievaulx [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-12-16 3:47
Favorites: 1 [view]