First C&C (go easy!)

robbie1876 · 30-07-2007 1:34pm #1

1. I'll never be a bus driver

2. Simple pleasures

3. Carlingford Harbour at dusk

mmalaka · 30-07-2007 1:37pm

I like the last one

The sky is beautiful and the reflection is nice

elven · 30-07-2007 1:48pm

Love the second, very whimsical. Excellently spotted.

There's something funny about the tones in the first shot, as if you've used a curve with more than two points on it or tried to bring down highlights - it's very, very grey. Makes it look quit eflat, but I'm sure there's a lovely contrasty image in there somewhere - the composition and subject are spot on...

shepthedog · 30-07-2007 3:00pm

I really like the second one, great spot..
In third one I would have tried to avoid the branches in the lower half as they distract from the really lovely sky.

Morlar · 30-07-2007 3:07pm

I think the third is a little bit too dark, the 2nd one I think is very good but could probably be improved by removing some of the foreground clutter - it seems a bit busy for my liking.

The first one though is excellent and would be my favourite out of the three - I think it does look a bit grey but its a great picture and for some reason the overall darkness and lack of bright whites and dark blacks adds to it in my opinion.

robbie1876 · 30-07-2007 3:43pm

Thanks for the comments, all of which are spot on. I see what you mean about the grey in the first shot, will definitely play with the contrast a bit. I'm a photoshop noob (as well as a photo noob) and honestly haven't a clue what different points in a curve are (haven't got that far in my library book yet...) but I may have inadvartently messed with something while changing to B&W.

Agree also about the foreground clutter in the 2nd and the branches in the 3rd. I guess that's why I posted these three, there was something irking me about them that I couldn't see for myself.... Hurrah for C&C!

elven · 30-07-2007 3:57pm

That's cool that you actuallyfound it helpful

If you want the quickest, simplest way to get a half decent bw conversion, try adding a gradient map layer (just make sure it goes from black to white not green or blue or something, it helps if your default background/foreground are set to default b & w before you add the layer) then use levels or curves for contrast afterwards. Or if you have CS3 the new bw layer is excellent, just don't go overboard with the colour sliders or you'll get nasty banding and stuff happening.

have a wee look in the digital darkroom above for links to tutorials for conversions as well as all the other stuff...

positron · 30-07-2007 4:35pm

Another vote for the second one!

The first - is that between M1 and Naul?

Didn't think anyone would stop along those narrow roads to take a shot - unless you live there of course!

robbie1876 · 30-07-2007 4:46pm

positron wrote:

The first - is that between M1 and Naul? Didn't think anyone would stop along those narrow roads to take a shot - unless you live there of course!

Yep, that's exactly where it is. The road is pretty dangerous alright, but everyone was slowing down to look at the bus

Thanks elven for the tutorial, I'm just about to try it now...

Calina · 30-07-2007 7:13pm

I'm late to this party, sorry.

OP, you might want to have a read of this: I found it informative from the colour correction point of view.

The point about the shades of grey has been made a few times. It's particularly problematic when you print the shot. I tend to sort out contrast before I do the conversion, by the way.

Second one I like. However, I'd get my scissors out and crop it top and bottom. It is slightly cluttered to the front. I like the arrangement on it, but I think there's too much extraneous space.

Third one: I like but (sorry about all these buts and howevers) I think it's taken from too high a position. I realise you don't always get free choice in where to stand. I'd also - and this may just be my screen - be inclined to use either the curves or levels tool to intensify the colour of the sky a little.

That's just my take.

On the plus side, you have three very different shots there, which are all compositionally very interesting. The angle on the first one is particularly attractive.

I'd be considering converting the second one to black and white also btw - I think it could work very nicely.