Hi Simon,
I love making photographs in old factories, though I have not done it for quite some time. Whenever you do get the chance though, it is always that interesting mix of old, tired machinery and a strong sense of abandonment.
As with most photographic situations, the challenge for the photographer is to discover what is interesting and to turn that into a story.
Overall I find the composition you have here worthy enough, but I think it is in the postproduction that you have failed to realise the potential of this image.
One of the first things I think you need to do with this photograph is to open up the detail with the machinery. The easiest way to do this is to select the old equipment using one of Photoshop’s selection tools (your choice) and then create a Curves Adjustment Layer. (The advantage of using an adjustment layer is that you can play with the attached mask to add or remove parts of the curve effect.) Use the curves adjustment to brighten the machinery.
Next, I would select the upper parts of the picture and use the same technique to darken these areas. It does not matter if you have two curves adjustment layers open at once, just so long as you remember to check which layer you were working on from time to time.
In the top example below you will see the image after I have brightened the machinery and darkened walls and ceiling. Of course, with an image like this you can just keep on playing. In the two examples beneath it I have converted one to black-and-white using Nic Software Silver Efex Pro while in the other example I have had a little fun using a HDR effect.
Treat these as examples only… get busy and see how many variations you can make on this image for yourself. The more you experiment, the more you will discover what you like!
Cheers for now, Anthony.
Image Doctor's edited version 1
Image Doctor's edited version 2
Image Doctor's edited version 3
