Tilt-shift lens...

[JohnnyRebel]

Is it still worthwhile to shoot architecture with a tilt-shift lens, or can somebody give me some advice on framing in preparation for correction in photoshop? I want to start a project, shooting country churches in the local area. In the past I have had the illusion of the bell-tower or steeple falling backwards. I am getting photoshop in Feb (student discount), and so do not know the options but understand that you lose some of the image when correcting.

The 24mm tilt/shift lens would be difficult to buy right now, as it would mean something else would remain unpurchased. Also, the project will be over a long period of time so renting would be difficult also.

JR

 

[RobDickinson]

Heya.

Shift can be corrected in photoshop but you will loose resolution and a fair chunk of the picture, if you dont need large prints and you work out what your going to loose beforehand and compensate (i.e. shoot from further back) then you will be ok.

A 24tse is a superb lens though!

 

[Deleted member 4644]

It depends. It is possible to fully correct tilt/shift in photoshop. However, the process will essentially "crop" the corners/sides of your image. You will lose a fair bit of a frame, depending on how shifted it is.

Here is a very basic tutorial for Photoshop. Please note that Ken Rockwell is a controversial figure in the photo world. His basic advice is OK, but he says some funny things. But this guide is fine as a starting point: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/correctinglensdistortion.htm

 

[twistedlogic]

can somebody give me some advice on framing

I'm not much into architecture but if you use a longer lens and shoot as parallel to the building as possible you will have less work to do with PS.

Are these churches that tall?

 

[JohnnyRebel]

I'm not much into architecture but if you use a longer lens and shoot as parallel to the building as possible you will have less work to do with PS.

Are these churches that tall?

Good point. Generally one story, perhaps two in a couple of instances. The issue would be bell towers and steeples. I might get out and take some test shots at 20mm, I might just need a tall ladder or portable scaffold.

JR

 

[twistedlogic]

I might get out and take some test shots at 20mm, I might just need a tall ladder or portable scaffold.

JR

That was going to be my other suggestion, lol. You could stand on top of your car, hah.

 

[Dubb]

if you don't need high res, just use a wider lens and crop. Just make sure to shoot level or close to it - I think perfectly straight verticals look a little odd in many cases, so I'll angle the camera up just a tad even when using the 24 PC-E.

Using Photoshop to correct the effects of camera tilt is a rough hack at best. It's easy enough to get the verticals straight but it almost always throws off the proportions of the building and/or introduces some odd perspective quirks. Rockwells example is very, very wrong - the building looks too squat, it's obvious from the original that in real life the building is proportionally taller.

What I do if I don't have my full kit is switch to portrait orientation (using the long axis of the sensor where you need the extra pixels), shoot roughly level, do a 3-4 shot panorama, and then crop. Even (carefully) handheld, this gives much better results than straightening the verticals in Photoshop.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

if you don't need high res, just use a wider lens and crop. Just make sure to shoot level or close to it - I think perfectly straight verticals look a little odd in many cases, so I'll angle the camera up just a tad even when using the 24 PC-E.

Using Photoshop to correct the effects of camera tilt is a rough hack at best. It's easy enough to get the verticals straight but it almost always throws off the proportions of the building and/or introduces some odd perspective quirks. Rockwells example is very, very wrong - the building looks too squat, it's obvious from the original that in real life the building is proportionally taller.

What I do if I don't have my full kit is switch to portrait orientation (using the long axis of the sensor where you need the extra pixels), shoot roughly level, do a 3-4 shot panorama, and then crop. Even (carefully) handheld, this gives much better results than straightening the verticals in Photoshop.

Thanks for this information. I will give it a try. It'll be after the holidays before I can do some experimentation. I'm going to try and find a challenging church for my experimentation. I'll post here when I have something. Thanks to all.

JR