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This was really a straight shot. I was set up with a tripod and and used a zoom lens at 24 mm on a 5D Mark II. So there is a slight extra elongation to it. What most attracted me was how the spiral on the floor contrasted with the building. Then quite unexpectedly this girl gets into my frame to take her shot, at first it upset me but as I was using that nice LCD as a ground glass, I saw that she actually completed the image. Thankfully she took her time to make her shot and gave me time to adjust enough to include her in the proper way.
My post processing is just in PS using dodge and burn manually and selective enhance of the sky to dramatize the clouds a bit.
Several people have thought I stretched the girl with PS, but it’s just the effect of the 24mm, her posture with the arms, and the fact that she really was skinny and tall.
Thank you all for your generous comments.There is something odd about the reflection that keeps bothering me. The top and bottom seem so disconnected, almost like 2 separate photographs. I keep looking up and down and I can’t find the center.
I also find the burnt out area around the lamp distracting, some very careful burning in or just darker without affect the reflection too much. Also the cropping bothers me too! The most interesting parts for me is the bench, brick sidewalk and where the water meets the road. Is there room in the shot for a horizontal crop?There is a real fine line in what is called artistic now a days, especially when it involves photography and digital processing. There are also a hundred techniques with PS and other software that can create a plethora of “artistic” effects with little skill necessary and sometimes with a mind of their own, in other words accidentally. I’m for any technique that will enhance the image’s intent but in this case I get totally lost on your excessive manipulation and loose track of the image intended. For instance, all I see here is that dark tree and the blue sky behind it, the rest of it is hardly noticed. This looks to me that we started with a boring photograph that hoped to become interesting through extreme digital post-processing. It’s very dramatic but only at pixel level.
I think if we are going to be photographers we should concentrate on making a photograph, the action of seeing, the moment of exposure, and the making of the print. and then use whatever technique but only to strengthen the original vision.Thank you @redman, I appreciate your comments and support. This building is out of this for sure world, and I’m lucky that girl got in the I think she added tha finishing touch.
Good Forum, I like the concept.
Thank you, I will try that route next time.
And BTW it’s not upside down, the branches are growing down the wall. I think the moving camera may give that effect.This is what it needed in my opinion. Even darker on those waves around her and a tad more dark on the knees. The vignette effect helps a lot could take a bit more. Her hands are very expressive of the mood and stay prominent. I think this one moves much closer to your stated intent.
Thanks for including the color ones, that yellow is hard to take and this definitely works better in B&W.
The second shot is cutesy and It would not hold my interest for long, maybe in B&W it would. I think the first shot is the strongest by far.I agree that the backdrop helps to support the tension in the girls expression and the waves in the pattern are also complimentary of the mood. The background is indeed busy but what bothers the most is the similar tonality which makes the image look “bland” overall.
I think stretching the tonal range would help a lot to bring this great portrait alive. I would darken the background, increase contrast, use dodging and burning to enhance the girl’s expression. She needs to come out of the image more. Also darken the knees a bit.
A question for, is there a color version of it? It would be interesting to see if color would help my issues with it.I don’t understand guys ! I put in a full description and explanation when I posted it. If you click on the picture it shows the description. Just like with my other pictures, or I’m I missing something ?
This is the type of picture that grabs your attention, but a few things about it distracts from it. The bluish tone tends to wash out the colors for me. Playing with the white balance or tone control could help if you can get closer to a neutral tone. The softness of it is another troublesome thing for me, I want to see the sharp texture of those foreground rocks and the trees as well.
Frankly I think this image can be really stunning in B&W. You may want to try converting it with a filter option, experiment with various colors but I think a green filter will give the best results.Your instinct to go with B&W was right on. The color image is just too busy, too many colors and I loose interest right away. Between the blue sky and red spokes I don’t see the wheel.
The coloring in on the B&W is ok, but really not necessary in this case. It actually takes away from the picture. Full B&W and punching up the values a little more would make a very strong image for me.That’s interesting you noticed the elongation. I’ve been asked that question many times. The answer is No, the image is straight up, the only post processing in PS was the BW conversion and some dodging and burning for the sky and the floor.
This girl really was skinny and super tall, and I think it helps the image to give that tall feeling to the building.
I was on a tripod all ready to expose when the girl appears, at first it pissed me off but then I saw on the LCD that it helped the picture immensely. So I was pretty lucky she stepped in the way, and btw she never noticed me.Thanks guys for the constructive suggestions.
I agree with the space around the stairs, unfortunately I was in pretty tight when I made the exposure and not much I can do now. That was the reason for the grey border around it, to give a sensation of more space, but I see it doesn’t work.
The suggestions to lighten the cloud and the especially the bottom of the steps is good and something I had not considered. I think it will help and I will try it.
Also agree with the piece of wood on the lower right hand corner, that does need to go.
The print of this image is 22″ X 28″ so the the size of the girl is not too much of an issue, however the girl was intended to be a secondary element to be seen later in the experience and not the main focus point. Like a surprise element.
Any ideas on how to increase the sense of space around the picture, knowing that it can’t be re-taken and that’s all the space there is ??The original image was in color, but the blooms on the tree are vivid pink and it was the only thing I saw. It distracted from the girl, the cicely on the ground, and the building.
Please explain how to post images into the Shark Tank. I have photos in my album but I don’t see how to make them appear in the Tank ? Thanks
I don’t really understand why you have that chrome thing in the center of the foreground. It you are looking for a vanishing point shot, this does not really work for me. There is not enough interest in the object to keep my attention. All the action seems to be at the party way in the background. I think it would have been more interesting without that object in the foreground. You can get rid of it with a skillful use of the Clone tool.
It definitely needs more detail in the dark areas, water, sand, and the pier. This is easily done with Photoshop but since you don’t have it yet, maybe you can get Picassa, that would help a lot and it’s free. Try using the Fill Light control tool in Picassa, but don’t let the sky get too light. I would also enhance the vibrancy of the yellow color in the horizon.
On the foreground I find the 3 chairs very distracting. I would prefer just the one chair with the person in it. That would be enough for me to help perspective and the feeling of awe.
The mountain and sky are too washed out for me. Mt Rainier is a colossal rock, it needs to be punched up a little to bring it to live.
I know the location is breathtaking, but the photograph does not quiet yet do it justice. Almost there!
