Photos - AMC Empire Theater restored - exterior architecture

[Midtownkid]

I did some quick reading on google and they tend to roost on buildings that are the most architecturally intricate - (duh?)

Isn't that such a shame!  Don't they have any respect for our historic structures!!  

[moderne]

I think the pigeon  problem DT was worse years ago.  Lots of buildings with ledges and cornices are now gone(how they gonna roost on H&R Block?).  And not as many trains loaded with grain going through the middle of town.  I know someone that raised pigeons and his wife took them to the west bottoms and released them.  They beat her home.  Maybe the solution is a lot more nesting boxes for falcons.  When I was living at the View I saw a falcon snatch one in mid-air right in front of my window. 

[KCTigerFan]

Yet more pigeon control measures being installed this week.

I guess it's an improvement, but did anyone think of the birds?

[Midtownkid]

That's good to hear!  Any additional cleaning to follow?

[LenexatoKCMO]

Can anything be done for the Midland?  As important as the Mainstreet's dome is aesthetically - I would gladly trade some grime up there if it meant I didn't have to shitcrunch my way down the sidewalk everytime I walk by the Midland. 

[KCTigerFan]

Yes, both will get another full clean. 

Working with others downtown to make sure they don't just pack their bags and move across the street.

That's good to hear!  Any additional cleaning to follow?

[staubio]

Yes, both will get another full clean. 

Working with others downtown to make sure they don't just pack their bags and move across the street.

I'm sure you've got all the reach you need but if DNA can help out in this process at all, please shoot me a note. We hear from residents about the pigeon problems, including those that get to trudge through the shrapnel in their morning walking commutes.

[KCTigerFan]

Great.  The pigeon problem in metro areas is a tough one.  Here's hoping solution # 255 works! 

I'm sure you've got all the reach you need but if DNA can help out in this process at all, please shoot me a note. We hear from residents about the pigeon problems, including those that get to trudge through the shrapnel in their morning walking commutes.

[KCPowercat]

OK so I just bought this...


So to try it out I walk around taking short clips downtown and took one of the Empire.  I wanted to make sure it started up quick, video was good, and the small 2x zoom was enough for what I wanted....so here is my video of the Empire (make sure to click the HD button if it doesn't do it automatically)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQx1TciTqas

what do you think?  Is it a keeper camera?  I wanted something really small and in HD.

[KCKev]

Looked really good. My cannon 3 meg doesn't even compare. I have to pan slowly or the camera wont keep up.

Seems to be a great choice.

[blujdude87]

Cool pictures, although I think the photoshopping could be better.  The halos around every little light are driving me insane.  That and all the blues seem too colorized & oversaturated, like in the windows reflecting the sky, it feels unnatural.  You did a great job with the picture of the dome above, except the bright sprite/halo from the light above the dome.  It detracts far too much from the photo.  Overall not too bad though, good work for an amateur photographer.

[PumpkinStalker]

Cool pictures, although I think the photoshopping could be better.  The halos around every little light are driving me insane.  That and all the blues seem too colorized & oversaturated, like in the windows reflecting the sky, it feels unnatural.  You did a great job with the picture of the dome above, except the bright sprite/halo from the light above the dome.  It detracts far too much from the photo.  Overall not too bad though, good work for an amateur photographer.

That's toss' style. It's what makes his pictures awesome.  They over-exaggerate colors. Some of his pictures are plastic or metallic looking. Many including myself like his work just the way it is. Just because it's posted on a forum doesn't mean it's amateur either.

Edit: I'm very gullable. What's up MD or Chef!

[IraGlacialis]

Great pics Toss.

Cool pictures, although I think the photoshopping could be better.  The halos around every little light are driving me insane.  That and all the blues seem too colorized & oversaturated, like in the windows reflecting the sky, it feels unnatural.  You did a great job with the picture of the dome above, except the bright sprite/halo from the light above the dome.  It detracts far too much from the photo.  Overall not too bad though, good work for an amateur photographer.

That is the effect you get from combining exposures. It is actually one that is desired for HDR.
It is one of those "different strokes for different folks" type things.

As for the pigeon problem: needs moar falcons.

[blujdude87]

That's toss' style. It's what makes his pictures awesome.  They over-exaggerate colors. Some of his pictures are plastic or metallic looking.

That makes sense.  I wonder how he does it?  I do a lot of professional photo-shopping for a living, and I've found that the best way to clay-mate or animate a photo realistic scene is simply by using the lighting effects within ps to bring out the colors, and etch a certain few, rather than actually over-saturate the photo.  It almost looks the same as his though, so perhaps that's what TossPot does?  Either way, its an interesting feature to play with if you have the time (The way lighting effects affect color in PS) 

[blujdude87]

As for the pigeon problem: needs moar falcons.

I tend to like the pigeons.  The last time I was DT they were all grouping at the top of the dome, they don't bug me nearly as much hanging around the base.  Its quite amusing actually...to see them all move down a few steps.  The only downside is the streaks their poop makes.  Otherwise a group of pigeons is nothing to worry about, it helps add to the whole "City" image.

[Tosspot]

It's just HDR - getting the details in the lightest of the lights and the darkest of the darks, which I use frequently, combined with maybe some split toning adjustments in lightroom and twiddling with the grayscale sliders and what not.

[blujdude87]

It's just HDR - getting the details in the lightest of the lights and the darkest of the darks, which I use frequently, combined with maybe some split toning adjustments in lightroom and twiddling with the grayscale sliders and what not.

That's what I figured, its amazing how much change the grayscale alone can make an in image.  Do you sell your prints, or do them merely for fun?

[Tosspot]

That's what I figured, its amazing how much change the grayscale alone can make an in image.  Do you sell your prints, or do them merely for fun?

All started out as a fun hobby - happily an increasing part of my income now from photography, actually. At least one and maybe two photos I showed here are going to be part of 27 x 40 inch posters in the lobby area when the Mainstreet opens, as it turns out to my good fortune.

[Appraiser]

^^^
Congrats on the posters that great news.

[Tosspot]

Thanks...



And while we're on the subject of HDR, I'll show you know my most edited and processed (in Photoshop) photo ever...



...which I don't even think looks like it's been all that digitized. I was wanting to get the crisp sunrays but have everything else exposed, so to do that one sets the camera to a very narrow aperture, low to midrange ISO since you're shooting into the sun, activate auto bracketing and burst mode at the same time, aim and hold down the button until the camera finishes bracketing it's three exposures (one normal exposure, one over, one under). Then after that I ended up with over 30 saved TIFF files over the course of two days trying to get the thing to look natural, as there was considerable movement between those three bracketed shots even though they were taken rapidly. The drummer, the pedestrians, and the cars were all moving about. The whole photo wore me out.