Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Ely Cathedral

Ely Cathedral from the southeast
Voting period ends on 20 Aug 2020  at 10:53:02 (UTC)
 * Reason:Criteria met. The result of extensive discussion on talk as to the best view and careful implementation
 * Articles in which this image appears:Ely Cathedral
 * FP category for this image:Places
 * Creator:Verbcatcher


 * Support as nominator – SovalValtos (talk) 10:53, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Comment. This looks overprocessed and unsharp at full resolution to me, with visible haloing around the dark edges of the building, and wiggly edges that look like they were taken through a heat haze on a hot day. It's a fine choice for the article, as this is not visible at lower image sizes, but I question whether it meets the FP standards. —David Eppstein (talk) 20:58, 11 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Comment – I agree, it isn't sharp at full size. I did a quick check and the photo seems to be captured from 1.2 miles away, so that probably explains it. The first uploaded version here has almost the same vertical pixel count as the camera sensor, so given the building's height and the lens used, it puts the camera at 1.2 mile. Most of our FPs here have much shorter focal lengths. Bammesk (talk) 01:50, 12 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Comment. There has been considerable discussion on Ely Cathedral talk page explaining intentions about the  best angle and lighting. The 1.2 mile camera spot is likely the best so that foreground clutter is not included, all significant features are included and the impression of the building being "the ship of the Fens" is given. The position determines the focal length needed unless a heavy crop is preferred. Bammesk did you find the original upload to be out of focus as well as the derived versions? Verbcatcher has  said the actual original was in RAW so a re-process might improve. The wiggly edges that David Eppstein has spotted are possibly due to the building's old time construction methods and wear or warping since rather than heat haze as it was taken at 0716 hrs. The camera used was decent quality (Canon EOS 6D Mark II) but exactly what lens I am unsure though likely fixed 300mm of unknown make and focusing method. Nearly all the Architecture FPs here had the advantage of freedom of an unobstructed view. Ely Cathedral is difficult to get a clear view, though leaves off trees may help. The low eye position is important for the composition though a little higher might help.SovalValtos (talk) 11:38, 12 August 2020 (UTC)
 * SovalValtos, about your question, the first upload (original) is better (sharper). I don't think the focus was missed so the images aren't out of focus, just not as sharp as our other FPs. I have now read the talk page discussion and checked camera's location on google earth, I see why the camera is where it is and I appreciate the effort. The composition is a great addition to the article. Bammesk (talk) 01:10, 13 August 2020 (UTC) . . . . As a sidenote: I think Commons:CropTool can produce a crop version as sharp as the original. It has a "lossless" option which if used should retain the sharpness of the original.


 * Comment It is not required for FP here (I think it should be!), but it would have a better chance if it passes at Commons FP; in other words jump over the technical and photographic hurdle before going for the encyclopaedic one. There are fewer voters here. Charlesjsharp (talk) 14:45, 12 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Oppose – Taken from quite a distant vantage point, making for a poor and rather indistinct composition. – Sca (talk) 15:24, 12 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Comment As the article notes that the cathedral dominates the local landscape, a photo of it from a distance has good EV. However, the harsh light here renders the image a bit unattractive (and not very English-looking!). Nick-D (talk) 04:45, 13 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Comments by the photographer The photo was taken with a Canon EF 300 mm f/4L IS USM lens, using manual focussing confirmed by magnified live-view mode. I interpreted the slight wavyness on some of the architectural edges to heat shimmer, in spite of the early hour (08:16 BST). A version taken later in the day has a less harsh light but more heat shimmer (File:Ely Cathedral from Quanea Drove I.jpg). As has been explained, the distant viewpoint was chosen to show the important architectural features and the cathedral's setting. The architecture could be shown with a closer aerial photograph, but a low distant viewpoint gives a better sense of place and of the cathedral's size and its dominance of the landscape. Verbcatcher (talk) 20:31, 13 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Comment Thank you for all the helpful input. Unlikely to be promoted due to the processing concerns which would require a different version derived from the original to be considered instead. I was amused by the comment by Australia based editor User:Nick-D that it is 'not very English-looking!'. Milk chocolate box lighting was always likely to be more popular so the next attempt may have to be taken minutes later to reduce the cocoa solids % austerity of this early morning actual English light. My target at least is for a view with a sea (rough or smooth) of mist in the foreground. Best wishes in particular to the creator Verbcatcher.SovalValtos (talk) 14:25, 19 August 2020 (UTC)

--Armbrust The Homunculus 21:55, 20 August 2020 (UTC)