Creative photography

[Jill Benitez]

I am a realtor trying to take exterior house photos.  The roof eaves and shingles, as well as clapboard sides, are distorted with wavy lines rather than remaining straight.  I have tried increasing resolution, but this doesn't seem to help.  Any ideas, anyone?  Thanks much!

[Mike54]

Hi Jill and welcome to the Q&A Board. Can you give us a little more information? What type of camera, what were the conditions, have you been able to successfully take pictures before? If it's possible it would be helpful if we could see what you mean, if you don't have a way to post the image (website) you can email it to me and I'll get it on the board.
Use mike@farslowfotos.com as the email addy.

[ShutterbugGail]

Yes, please do send Mike a copy of the image so we can take a look. When you take photos of other subjects, are their wavy lines in them too? If not, then I'm wondering if the wavy looking lines are caused by barrel distortion, which can sometimes occur when taking wide angle shots when your lens is at the widest angle.

It would also be helpful if you told us at what focal length you took the photo, and if you used a wide-angle converter lens.

[Deb]

Hi, I'm curious ... by wavy lines do you mean jagged (stairstepped) lines instead of straight ones? If so, I wonder if you are experiencing the artifacts produced by jpg compression and angles.

[JB]

Hi, I'm curious ... by wavy lines do you mean jagged (stairstepped) lines instead of straight ones? If so, I wonder if you are experiencing the artifacts produced by jpg compression and angles.

Yes, I guess I do mean stairstepped lines, though enough of them together tend to look wavy.  Since I take the photos in order to email them to a desktop publisher to make flyers, how can I avoid this?
Thanks!

[Mike54]

I believe the secret is to resize the image(s) in a graphics program rather than resizing by grabbing a corner and dragging to a smaller size.
Here's an example of your image resized down using PaintShopPro 9:

not perfect but here's an example of your image where I simply dragged the edges to resize (not quite so much as the previous sample) it seems more ragged.:

I'm assuming that the image immediately above shows the "wavy lines" you're speaking of?

[Deb]

Yes, I guess I do mean stairstepped lines, though enough of them together tend to look wavy.  Since I take the photos in order to email them to a desktop publisher to make flyers, how can I avoid this?
Thanks!

Several things can be going on here. If jpg compression is the culprit though, shoot at a high quality setting. That is, shoot with the least amount of compression allowable on your camera or no compression at all (TIFF).

I've recently read about another culprit. The CCD itself where the horizontal and vertical rows of sensors and the repeating pattern of your subject (siding, shingles, fabric, etc.) can result in a moire-type pattern. This would look wavy. The solution here is to change the position of the camera or distance to the subject.

[ShutterbugGail]

Yes, it sure does look like you have a case of the "jaggies." We have some basic information about it here:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/what-are-jaggies/


Also, which image editing program are you using to change the resolution? You need one which resamples an image.

Resampling: http://www.digicamhelp.com/what-is-resampling/

The types of photos you're taking are most prone to "jaggies." As has been pointed out, you may be better off reducing, rather than increasing, resolution.

[Peppergal]

I'm not a realtor, but I play one online...  Just kidding.  I design websites for several realtors, and I know exactly what Jill is talking about.



This is the way some of the realtor's images are when I access them from the MLS database to put them on their websites.  I have no clue how to fix them, if I even can.  Usually I limit my photo editing services to just lightening or darkening, because some of my realtors send me 14 or 15 images for one listing.

Anyway, I've seen this quite a bit, and I thought it was just from using a junky camera, because not all the realtor pictures are like this; not by a long shot.

[Mike54]

Hi Peppergal,

If the image you're accessing has already been resized to what you show in your post then I doubt there is much you can do. If on the other hand you're the one resizing the image I think there's a good chance that the work flow can be adjusted for better results.

[Peppergal]

The problem is, some people may not look at that and say "Oy what a terrible picture" but they'd say "What an ugly house!"

I've found the goofiest people visit real estate sites.  I once intercepted a feedback form email.  The field was for email address, and the person entered:  Pennsylvania.

LOL

Anyway, I tried cloning the good part of the roof over the goofy part, and then realized I wasn't doing it any justice either.    I wanted to stamp "Nice house, bad image" on it but that wouldn't be appropriate either.  LOL

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi Peppergal,

Nice to see you stopping by from Outfront!

I was in real estate several years, as well as in my own form of marketing and graphic design. To be honest, imho, I'd prefer no picture to one which makes the property look lousy.

As I look at the picture, and though I can be wrong, it looks like the problem may have been caused during resizing. If a person simply resizes by dragging the corner of an image, they should hold down the shift-key as they move the corners so the image is constrained, and everything will reduce in size proportionately.

If you deal with a lot of real estate professionals, you may wish to invite them to take a peek at this eight-part article on Digital cameras and photography for Real Estate Agents.

http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-cameras-and-photography-for-real-estate-agents/index.htm

There are two free image resizing utilites in the list here:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/free-digital-camera-software/index.htm

[Peppergal]

Hi Gail, and thanks for the welcome!! I've been meaning to stop by this board a lot sooner than this but life got in my way...I haven't even been on OF that much lately...  I absolutely love your site and have referred several of my friends here when they acquired a new digicam.

I will certainly forward that link to my realtors - I have several realtor clients who may benefit by this.

thanks again.  

[ShutterbugGail]

Glad you stopped by and you're welcome back any time. Hope you're still taking photos!