Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Massive - and I mean massive

semmickphoto · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 5:48 pm

Why do I get this massive distortion?

This is seriously bad.

Kit lens 18-55 shot at 18mm f/8

What can I do about this? Other than purchasing a new expensive lens.

cpaulfell · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 2430

That is normal wide angle distortion. A more expensive lens will not solve the distortion issue and it can be corrected for in PS.

This was shot with a 10-22mm lens at 10mm. Checkout that Space Needle :)

semmickphoto · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:00 pm

I think I am not following you on the needle.

It seems to be straight? Was that done in Photoshop. I have been straightening in CS5 as well, but I thought the distortion was really bad this time.

And what does IR mean?

And final questions, is distortion accepted for stock, or do I need to straighten it all out. Acutally, is distortion accepted at all?

:)

mikenorton · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:05 pm

I got this one in.

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=70420801

semmickphoto · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:06 pm

cpaulfell · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 2430

semmickphoto · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:14 pm

Ok, I see. So its normal and SS will accept.

I also just read up on distortion on the net, so I am aware its normal because of light entering the camera at different focal lengths.

All questions answered and thanks to all.

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:15 pm

You can buy a very expensive lens to correct it in camera or just shoot more of it and correct it in PS.

mikenorton · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:21 pm

The distortion you have is called "Keystoning" and it happens because you are closer to the bottom of the buildings than the top of the buildings. The farther something is from the camera the smaller it will appear in a picture. If you were to find a camera position half as tall as the building then the keystoning would go away.

rinder99 · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:58 pm

it's about "Planes" ron. that why serious architecture shooters use shift and tilt cameras. never a DSLR unless your at the same height as the subject.Easy fix in PS but you have to account for it when shooting your gonna lose 20% of the Image unless to capture more to begin with.Architecture photography is very specialized to do it correctly.It was "My thing" for many years and I loved it. shapes and shadows.

cpaulfell · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 2430

rinder99 · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 7:10 pm

Not well. not enough Movement.You need front and back and side to side.Canon tried to make one but it just didn't do the job. 4 x 5 full tilt field camera with dig back is the way to go. I used 11 x 14 film.I miss that puppy.And a better Idea of the size of that thing. Here it was with my assistant in death valley 2006 right before I sold it.One shot about $60.00 better nail it or go broke trying.LOL 25 ISO at F128.

robhainer · Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 2746 Location: Dallas, GA, USA

Shoot it looser, then you and free transform it in photoshop. This one still needs some fixing, but gives you an idea of what you can do. Most of the time, it's not really worth worrying about and I just go with the distorted building.

digigandalf · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 5412 Location: Twinsburg, OH

Looks like you took the river cruise. Here's mine from about the same spot. I left most of the distortion alone.

But I actually prefer this one of the same building.

At least it looks like the rain stopped for you! (or was that taken earlier?)

semmickphoto · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 8:27 pm

Hahahaha, I thought you submitted my photo. LOL.

Yeah, I took the architectural tour. Yesterday. Still raining.