"Finding Straight" is often a toughie for me as well! Maybe someone would step up and give suggestions. (If you use RAW in your post processing, there are sliders to distort, and upright lines that are askew...)
It's great that you are testing out and working with your WA. I have a 14-24 and recommend two things...First is to learn to work with, rather than against, the distortion. So in this shot, I would get lower, and have to ends of the arch poles at each lower corner of your shot. This will exaggerate the spread of the arch at the bottom while narrowing it at the top. Your position matters a lot to avoid a lopsided look so just experiment at different points from directly centered to one or the other sides, etc. Second, recognize that there is a difference between documenting the architectural elements and creating an interesting composition. Go for the interesting composition. If you convert to b&w, it makes it easier to see how you are doing with the form. Last ting...if you DO want a realistic photo, you will need to capture quite a bit more that what you are actually going to end up with in your crop after doing lens corrections in LR. For example, if you want the top of the arch, frame it so you have a lot of the sky to that will go away as you adjust. I hope this helps!! It took me over a year to feel I had control of this lens, and even then I still feel I have a lot to learn! I've just gotten a new fisheye and feel like I'm starting over again with learning!
@taffy Thanks for your awesome reply. I didn't have much time when I took these shots. I will definitely need to go back. I want to work on architecture. This lens has helped me with my real estate listings, that's for sure. Those are a whole lot easier! I will do some more experimentation.
@danette If using for real estate, try to stay closer to the 20mm than the wider setting. The wider you go, the greater the distortion and for reality shots, it's hard to get them to look even slightly normal. Good luck! And sorry about all the typos...hopefully context helps you figure out what it was supposed to say (thing, not ting; so, not to)
I wanted to wait until I had LR pulled up on my laptop at home before chiming in. I echo all of @taffy's excellent suggestions. I agree... the wider the lens, the more distortion. Centering and lining the shot up is just so critically important. Stand in the center of the aisle or "line." Check the viewfinder, top, bottom and sides, to get the shot as "centered" or lined up as you can. Each "edge" or side of the viewfinder matters. Sometimes, you have to move up or down, to minimize distortion effects before you shoot. If there is a railing etc to rest the camera on, as you line up, this is helpful (I don't like tripods because I have to carry extra stuff around). Once you get the shot, leaving extra space around the edges (because you will lose some of the shot when you correct the perspective) time to edit in LR.
I am no expert in LR, at all, here is how I do it: Looking on the left side menu, in "Develop" mode, you will see some choices. "Basic," "Tone Curve," etc. Moving down the list, directly under "Detail," you will see "Lens Corrections." With the "Basic" tab highlighted/selected, just click on "Auto" or "Full" correction. Often, I will get different results from each. I will undo one and try another, to compare. Sometimes, checking the box "enable profile corrections" makes a difference, other times, not.
If you have Photoshop, there are super ways to correct twists or distortions in your perspective using the "Camera Raw" filter, once you open the shot in PS. If my shot is really messed up or I have the time, I can open it there and really go to town. :)
I hope this is helpful. I adore architecture photography, even though I haven't done too much of it lately. Feel free to ask, if you have questions. Getting some good shots will really help your listings, I would imagine. Enjoy! :)
@rosiekerr I do use the lens corrections in LR. I will try the alternate methods you suggest. I don't do PS. I suppose my minds down on Las Olas were a surprise. I need to take some time and experiment. Of course, you can critique whenever you want!
I am no expert in LR, at all, here is how I do it: Looking on the left side menu, in "Develop" mode, you will see some choices. "Basic," "Tone Curve," etc. Moving down the list, directly under "Detail," you will see "Lens Corrections." With the "Basic" tab highlighted/selected, just click on "Auto" or "Full" correction. Often, I will get different results from each. I will undo one and try another, to compare. Sometimes, checking the box "enable profile corrections" makes a difference, other times, not.
If you have Photoshop, there are super ways to correct twists or distortions in your perspective using the "Camera Raw" filter, once you open the shot in PS. If my shot is really messed up or I have the time, I can open it there and really go to town. :)
I hope this is helpful. I adore architecture photography, even though I haven't done too much of it lately. Feel free to ask, if you have questions. Getting some good shots will really help your listings, I would imagine. Enjoy! :)