Opinions please - B & W conversion/editing

Tiriel

Hi all,

I'm reworking some shots at the moment, but this one in particular I did tonight and to me it's a different image now. I'd just like your opinions - honest c&c please!

Older


New

.Longshanks.

Much prefer the older. The second is too bright for me

Lagnagoushee

+1 for the older. What way did you process them?

Whammy!

Its not just a question of one being brighter or darker. It's about the mood that the viewer perceives whether they realise it or not.

The processing of the first photo adds a sense of despair to it.
It's not just because the photo has less light (darker). But because of the way the light emphasises certain points of interest.

The main light cast on the subject seems to be directed towards his head and hands, nearly like a spot light is being used.
This lighting adds a few things for me. First off it feels like he is being interrogated/questioned in some way, but secondly because the light is directed at his head while his face is hidden it make me wonder what his face is hiding, emotionally and physically.

The rest of the room is lit just enough to provide detail to the surroundings but to not distract from the subject in his moment.
The wall behind his really adds to the sinister nature with the grime seeping down it. It's a subtle detail that adds to the photo when spotted, rather than demand the viewer to look at it.

The second photo hides nothing. He is lit evenly from the front and behind. My attention is no longer focused towards his hidden face. The background is lit up to the point that my eye looks everywhere at once rather than being directed on a journey. The end result is all the detain is absorbed quickly and the only point of interest is the fact that the man is sitting with his head down. He no longer feels like he's hiding something, rather he just looks like he's trying to get some sleep.


The first photo engages me to think more, to wonder, and to look at the photo for longer.

The second photo gives me all the information at once and I no longer question why he's there. He's just resting/sleeping. I don't need to think about it therefore the photo doesn't engage me.

I think a revision of the first photo could be done in order to emphasises a sense of despair. But it could easily be overdone.

Tiriel

Thanks guys, that's what I was thinking alright. I was concentrating on not having the darks too dark and the bright areas burnt out for printing and somehow it has just drastically changed the photo.

I used curves and some masks for editing, have the original RAW file and will revisit it again to see what I can do. Appreciate your feedback!

IHPhoto

I love the first one, it really moody and tells a story.
I don't like the 2nd one.

luisspellcast

This is one of those moments when I'm absolutely sure I see things differently than everybody else-- I don't feel the need to adjust my opinion, I just feel like the whole world agrees on something and I just disagree ( I swear I don't do it on purpose )

It's rare that I see a shot in black and white, but when it calls for it I make sure my blacks are black and my whites are white

... second shot all the way for me, although I like the lighting on the subject in the old version

5unflower

Very interesting, I would definitely agree that it's a difference in mood between the two pics, but for me it's actually the second one that conveys a much stronger sense of despair, hopelessness, loneliness, he appears to be somewhat "exposed"...for me the "harsher" black and white levels suggest a much harsher mood if that makes sense? In other words the second one is the one that tells a story for me, whereas the first one is maybe a bit moody, but no more.

Salmon Leap

Overall the second one is my pick too.

Tiriel

:eek:

I think I'll rework it tonight into a medium between the two and see how that looks, keeping the light on the subject and darkening it down a bit. Thank you all for your feedback!

secman

Cork_girl wrote: »

:eek:

I think I'll rework it tonight into a medium between the two and see how that looks, keeping the light on the subject and darkening it down a bit. Thank you all for your feedback!

That sounds about right, for me, looking at both, somewhere in between would probably do it.

Silva360

Personally, I would work on the seating bench (dodge and burn) and leave everything else alone.....

As they are, the older one does it.

amdgilmore

I really don't think the first one needs to be changed, but if you really must change it watch out for the detail. Look at the wall on the left and the bench on the right in the second shot. The grime of the wall is practically gone, as is the grain of the wood on the bench. The shot loses some of its character as a result.

magicbastarder

there's nice tonality in the first shot. there's none in the second.

Tiriel

This was easier said than done! I started from scratch again, think half the damage I did in the 2nd shot about was in Camera RAW.

This is I thought was half way between the two but now I think it actually still needs to be darkened.



Would appreciate any feedback. Having a total mental block!!
Thanks!

luisspellcast

. o O ( tempted to ask you the raw file )

... and have people have a go at it-- you might get some good ideas--? some brief history of steps ( without too much personal skills' secret revealing... )

*i like the new edit--

Silva360

You seem determined to bring out detail in the clothes which takes away from the mood of the photo, IMO. I must admit, I'm still preferring the original....

The detail in the jeans is probably lost and that's not such a big deal. By trying to lighten them, you will not doubt have horrible noise/pixelation in any print you make.

LUZ

nice shot! i prefer the older photo, in the reworked ones it looks like youre trying to bring back the shadows too much , i prefer the trousers darker instead of grey. one thing i cant stop looking at is the grafitti on the right hand side that looks like 2 round bumcheeks, if it was my photo i would clone that out.

.Longshanks.

I've had another look at all the versions posted. The 1st is still my favourite. It nailed it for me.

CabanSail

I like the mood of the first and the detail of the subject in the second

I hope you don't mind but I combined the two and came up with this as a very rough reworking.

Tiriel

Don't mind at all! Thanks all for the feedback, it's been great - I knew I had taken away what made the shot.

Adrian.Sadlier

To my uneducated eye I would be inclined to darken the light on his back and the wall behind him.