1.12.06

Finding the "Perfect" view

I guess it's just one of those days. This project partly involved a shot of three villas by the pool. The tricky part was to find a appealing shot that could showcase the architecture, and at the same time really focus on the three structures.

First shot, is rather composed in a way wherein the subject was about two-thirds in frame. And the horizon was just about 1/3 down. (Following the "rule" of 3rds.) Of course, I also had to make sure to give that 3-dimensional effect by at least showing two sides of the structures. And since it was a development to showcase, I figured to show some of the pool area as well.



Second shot, was approached as to make the structures really come at the viewer. To achieve this effect was to really use a virtually wide angle lens and get as close as possible to the subject. And I thought it would be nice to really give the feeling, as if one were viewing it from inside the pool. However, the drawback of this shot was that it created some "clutter" where by the lower-left side of the image where the chair and plants converge.

Personally, I preferred the 2nd shot. And I think, I could remove this "clutter" by adjusting the chairs and plants. But alas, this shot was rather "controversial." And to consider it artistic is subjective indeed. In the end, the client (like the majority) was more comfortable, and was drawn to the 1st shot. Nevertheless, I was satisfied that it took really sometime for some to consider the "best" image.


...so, the moral of the story is "you win some....you lose some." But at least dare to do the unusual, because "safe" can sometimes be "boring." (not that the 1st image was boring!)

Tech note: These images were simply "draft" renders. Lit in 3ds max, and rendered with Vray using one Direct Light. Some quick colour correction, brightness and contrast adjustment and background replacement were also done in Photoshop. -- only for "preview" purposes.