Aphrodisias Stadium

[Dvir Barkay]

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/12185571283_c065c1657e_o.jpg

The best preserved Roman built stadium in the world, the stadium at Aphrodisias is an impressive sight. Over 300m long and 60m wide, it can hold over 30,000 people. The midday sun was harsh, so I used a polarizer for maximum effect.

(It might look slightly tilted CW, but the distant mountains are no indicator since they are going away from the site)

Sony A700, Sony 16-50/2.8@18mm
F/13, ISO 200

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Dvir, a very interesting scene and thanks for the history and specs of the stadium. For me I would use Selective Color and reduce the blacks on both the blue and cyan channels to adjust the sky color and cast on mountains just a tad. I might also try adding some detail extractor to the stone work only to help emphasize the seats. Nice work!

[David Stephens]

I agree with putting more detail in those closest stones. This is a great perspective and hard conditions, with a bright, cloudless sky. Unfortunately, when we travel and visit sites like this, we can't come back in the evening or the next morning and have to deal with what we happen upon. You did very well here.

[Dvir Barkay]

Well there is one cloud :bg3: , but yes first off the site is only open from mid morning (already harsh light in the summer in Turkey) to mid afternoon (Still rather harsh light) so the only way to get sunset type shots is to visit in the winter when the days are shorter. I will try adding some more details with clarity and see how that looks.

[Dvir Barkay]

Ok I reduced the blacks a bit in the blue/cyan channal and I also added some clarity to the foreground.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5526/12217068445_1075310059_o.jpg

[David Stephens]

That's a nice improvement.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Dvir...that works better for me

[Don Nelson]

Repost goes a way towards improving.
You could even out the sky - which gets darker off to the right (polarizer used?)
And there is more detail in the statium - which TC and DE, used lightly, will bring forward
Perhaps something like this: (no additional sharpening)
137379

[Dvir Barkay]

That looks good too, I actually didn't fully correct the vignetting on purpose. Btw I am not good with the photoshop abbreviations so TC and DE are? I like your version as well, maybe just a tads too much contrast for me, but its personal taste here.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Repost is an improvement in my eyes. I feel the sky is too dark for the FG exposure, even with a polariser used. Perhaps even out the exposure some more?