Interiors with GH1 + 7-14

[soundimageplus]

Its amazing what a difference one small detail in camera design can make.
From time to time I shoot images for a property renovator, when the house is finished and ready to go on the market.
For the first time I used my GH1 + Lumix 7-14mm zoom. Using the articulated screen, I was able to use the tripod mounted camera at low angles. This was a huge bonus in terms of correcting the verticals, in that it took far less time than normal to post-process and didn't involve me crawling around the floor at the shoot.
The GH1 screen is just so useful in difficult situations and I really cant understand why all cameras don't have them.
Its also worth mentioning that the 7-14 zoom produced very sharp images. I used it at F8 throughout on 100 ISO.
The client was very impressed, despite being somewhat skeptical about me turning up with with my small red GH1. They have been used to me using large DSLR's in the past, and this was a surprise.
However I took the trouble to take a laptop and show them what I was shooting, and this soon made them realise that the smaller camera meant no compromise in quality.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45203414@N06/4370084910/" title="GH1 7-14 Zoom by soundimageplus, on Flickr">

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

"500" height="375" alt="GH1 7-14 Zoom" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45203414@N06/4369335563/" title="GH1 7-14 Zoom by soundimageplus, on Flickr">

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

"600" height="338" alt="GH1 7-14 Zoom" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45203414@N06/4370084748/" title="GH1 7-14 Zoom by soundimageplus, on Flickr">

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

"500" height="375" alt="GH1 7-14 Zoom" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45203414@N06/4369335425/" title="GH1 7-14 Zoom by soundimageplus, on Flickr">

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

"310" height="450" alt="GH1 7-14 Zoom" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45203414@N06/4369335387/" title="GH1 7-14 Zoom by soundimageplus, on Flickr">

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

"284" height="450" alt="GH1 7-14 Zoom" /></a>


http://soundimageplus.blogspot.com/

 

[Amin]

Thanks for sharing your experience and examples! I thought that interiors might be an area where MFT would shine. It's nice to see confirmation! Oh, and I agree that the articulated LCD on the G1/GH1 is so nice to have. I never considered this feature to be very important, but now that I've become so accustomed to having one, I'll be looking for it in future purchases.

 

[BillN]

really good work

 

[Brian Mosley]

Thanks for sharing these... this would be a great subject to use something like PhotoAcute - to increase the dynamic range, reduce distortion (straighten the wavy walls at the edge of frame) and give you even sharper results (use 2x superresolution output, scale down to 1.5x original resolution for best IQ)

Alternatively, perhaps try flash indoors to lift the levels closer to outside?

Great job!

Cheers

Brian

 

[BillN]

use something like PhotoAcute - to increase the dynamic range, reduce distortion (straighten the wavy walls at the edge of frame) and give you even sharper results (use 2x superresolution output, scale down to 1.5x original resolution for best IQ)

Brian

sounds painful!

 

[soundimageplus]

Dynamic Range

The dynamic range is a problem. I try if possible not to shoot on sunny days as that becomes impossible.
This one is a combination shot, with the window coming from a shot with 2 stops less exposure than the shot of the interior.
Its really important to keep the interiors bright, and if the DR is just too much then I will let the highlights burn out.
Its not a bad thing as it does simulate the effect of sunlight streaming through a window, and it can also "hide" a less than inspiring exterior!
I like to straighten manually, the Photoshop warp and distort tools are very useful for this.
Flash is difficult, sparkling new homes have a lot of shiny reflective surfaces and can be a nightmare to control.
There is also an element of "placing" the image somewhere between an estate agent snapshot and a full whack, large crew magazine shoot.
There is sometimes a suspicion on the part of a prospective purchaser if a shot is too perfect and I'm always asked to avoid that.
The other handy thing about these shoots is that the owner gives me a property release and I sell the images via various websites,
which provides a substantial income for me.

 

[andyw]

Lens looks like it does a great job! and how much is this lens??

 

[soundimageplus]

£900 or therabouts.

 

[deckitout]

Hi
Nice images, may I ask approx what focal length was used, also do you have to shoot with a view to leaving space each side as if I recall correcting trims a little off each side

 

[soundimageplus]

Yes as you suggest - I used 7mm for all the pictures as it does leave room for correction which can take a lot of the image out. Those extra mm's come in very useful.

 

[dcisive]

For interiors and much more, I've had great results using an outboard flash with a Gary Fong Diffusor. They are the best I've ever utilized. So nice and diffuse is the light that it easily illuminates all you are attempting to illustrate with NO specular highlights to annoy. You may want to look into it.