16th September 2014 - Sad old building

We popped out this morning to do some shopping and stopped on the way back to post a letter at the main sorting office. This old derelict building is nearby between the sorting office and Wellingborough Station. I think it must have been part of the station at one time as the arches on the doors and windows are similar to the station building. I have tried to find out what it was and why it is just standing there empty and falling down but so far no luck. It looks so sad and unloved!!

I only had my Iphone and the wide angle caused some distortion of the vertical lines. I have straightened in PS but have lost the top left hand corner of the roof. I think I will go again with my big camera and see what I can do.

For my mentoring group - I am still looking for an interesting building for my architectural shot. This is about as interesting as it gets in Wellingborough!! LOL!!
@taffy @newbank @888rachel @golftragic @sullivar

Uploaded for my extras album to fill in a space

[Pam Knowler]

@taffy @newbank @888rachel @golftragic @sullivar I gave this an HDR feel to bring out some detail and give the sad old building a bit of life - do you think it's too much?

[gloria jones]

This shot is full of great textures, nice angle.

[Taffy]

I do like this!! I like the bright feel to an old decaying building, the textures that you've brought to such life, and all the contrasts. You've made the architectural elements throughout pop. I also like the processing. What I've learned on the site and from my more critical colleagues is that HDR is definitely a controversial process, from 'never never use it' to 'it's my style.' In the end, to me it's about whether or not it's allowing you to create the image you had in mind. For this image, I think the bit of overprocessing works well and you end up with a striking composition. I agree, to be 'right on' you want the full roof, but you already knew that. And, I like that dead clump of straw on the left -- it fits the mood well. I'm sure other group members will want to weigh in as you've combined this weeks' theme with our earlier one that we've now had experience critiquing.
@newbank @888rachel @golftragic @sullivar

[Taffy]

PS -- did you try this in b&w? I suspect it will become a great example of how the mood -- not simply the composition -- can vary between color and b&w.

[Newbank Lass]

@taffy I'd agree with taffy that the HDR processing works well. I like the textures it has brought out and the colours. It gives a derelict building a sense of vibrancy. I think Taffys b and w suggestion is good too. I do like the colours a lot but I think it could have a whole different feel in b and w.

[8yearson]

I personally like playing with HDR and it has its place, such as here. I think this has really bought the textures to life and highlighted the decay.

[Pam Knowler]

@taffy @newbank @jackie8 Thanks for your critique - i will try the B&W version tonight. I did this HDR but I hate it when you get a halo or strange sky which it had. I therefore took this into LR and lightened the sky with a filter to get rid of that "HDR" effect. Trying for a combination of HDR and normal if you can understand what I mean.

[Cindy]

Don't you just love places like this, look at those colors pop, good processing

[Judith]

Great capture and processing.

[Alison Tomlin]

Really like the pop of red in this so I'm going with the colour version

[Janiskay]

I like this one better than the black-and-white. I like the colors especially the red and seeing the Brackson seeing the timbers for the roof the old whitewash door colors of the weeds I just like this one.

[Kay Hodges]

So pretty

[Sue Wilde]

My first reaction was that this is overprocessed but it's growing on me. I rather like the colours

[Marnie]

Don't you just hate it when bits of your image disappear like that? That aside, this is a strong image of a lovely old building. In one sense the absence of a roof shows off the architecture and skeleton of the building very well.We can see that the structure is solid brick, including interior wall/s and that the heavy timber rafters are close together and capable of bearing a significant load. The style and elaborate brickwork and pointing temporally situate the building in the railways heyday during the Victorian era. The pattern of windows and doors makes me wonder if it could have been some kind of accommodation for railway workers of some kind. As for the image itself, I particularly like the grittiness of the details HDR has brought out. The pop of the red door is a little distracting, but I can live with that to get the richness of the colours in the brickwork. I really like the anachronisms of the yellow lines, ripped poster and No Parking daub. I think removing the tree branches top right would improve the lines quite significantly. Summary: I think it's great, and a fav for me.

@taffy @888rachel @newbank @sullivar

[Debbie]

I like the b & w better!

[Rachel]

Oh Pam, what a wonderful old building, and great for architecture. I love all the different lines and shapes on it, and those great archways. I like the HDR effect, as it has really made the brickwork pop. It might be a touch oversaturated, but it really does make this a striking image. Great shot!