Critique Moonrise at Fermilab

[acnomad]

It has been a couple years since I tried this capture. It was very clear (and bitterly cold) today so it seemed like a good opportunity to give it another crack. This time, I shot multiple frames to get both the moon and the metal sculpture in focus. The stacked image is cropped just enough to straighten it. Finally, I took some extra liberty in post processing to increase the orange glow coming from the setting sun behind camera.

"Moonrise at Fermilab"

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[Mike Buckley]

Absolutely brilliant composition. It makes me wonder if it wouldn't be even stronger in monochrome.

 

[acnomad]

Absolutely brilliant composition. It makes me wonder if it wouldn't be even stronger in monochrome.

How would you approach a conversion?

 

[Mike Buckley]

How would you approach a conversion?

I would try to establish the relationship between the circles while ensuring that the moon is the brightest of them without losing detail in the moon.

 

[Pa]

That's a very interesting photograph. As usual, I think I would prefer the color version, but it might be interesting to see it in monochrome.

To me it would be an even stronger composition if the moon were a little further toward the NW corner of the frame. But I do realize that the moon is not a prop that you can arbitrarily relocate and I don't know what other constraints you might have faced.

Excellent job of getting everything in focus.

 

[Mike Buckley]

To me it would be an even stronger composition if the moon were a little further toward the NW corner of the frame.

That's a great idea, especially if you like tight crops as much as I do. Cropping on the left and at the top just above the top circle would make that happen.

 

[Cslucas34]

Beautiful job with the stack. I do like the contrast in colors you chose to accentuate. I think it would work either way, but I do think this is an excellent candidate for B&W as well!

 

[acnomad]

To me it would be an even stronger composition if...

I did try quite a few compositions. Here are some of the others:

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[Mike Buckley]

The composition in the image captured at 4:15:53 works really well for me.

 

[Cslucas34]

I really like the contrast and luminosity of the moon on the last one. I know it’s too late now, but how cool would it have been to have shot the whole transit across the frame with that structure! They all are great though and really can’t go wrong with any of them. I like the idea you toyed with by placing the moon in one of the cut outs, very creative.

 

[acnomad]

how cool would it have been to have shot the whole transit across the frame with that structure!

A good idea for the next time...

 

[bpdougd]

I used to work at Fermilab (although not FOR Fermilab... I maintained the DEC PDP15 and PDP10 computers they used in the late 70's). I like the original image best.

 

[Palouse]

Love the rich color, stark contrasts, details and composition of the original post.

 

[Pa]

The composition in the image captured at 4:15:53 works really well for me.

I agree. That is about what I had in mind.

 

[acnomad]

The composition in the image captured at 4:15:53 works really well for me.

I agree. That is about what I had in mind.

Perhaps I'll spend some time stacking that one.

 

[Clix Pix]

This is a wonderful image!!! Very, very nicely done. I really love the colors in it and I think that they really "make" the image in a way that B&W really wouldn't. Since you shared other possibilities, too, I'm also rather partial to #7277......

 

[Butlerkid]

I agree about image 4:15:53.....and I also like the strong composition of 4:20:31 although it might be stronger if the far right bridge circle were not cut off.

 

[acnomad]

I agree about image 4:15:53.....and I also like the strong composition of 4:20:31 although it might be stronger if the far right bridge circle were not cut off.

Karen, I actually worked on that image a bit before deciding to go with the one at the top of the post. It absolutely would be better if the circle in the sculpture at the right side of the frame were whole. This is a 5-image stack. After the first one I realized that the focal points between the sculpture and the moon were completely unnecessary and simply wasted computing effort and waiting time. Here it is:

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[Allan]

I like your original one best - it just "hit me." Love the colors too so I am not sure I would like b/w.

 

[Butlerkid]

Karen, I actually worked on that image a bit before deciding to go with the one at the top of the post. It absolutely would be better if the circle in the sculpture at the right side of the frame were whole. This is a 5-image stack. After the first one I realized that the focal points between the sculpture and the moon were completely unnecessary and simply wasted computing effort and waiting time. Here it is:
View attachment 1651338

With such a great subject, it is always nice to "play" with both horizontal and vertical compositions. Well done!