City Skyline Original Version

[swmdrayfan]

This is the original version after some levels and color adjustments.
For those of you who viewed 'City Skyline--Orton Effect' and wanted to see this instead.

[Dylan8i]

i keep comming back to this (well and the orton effect) and for some reason there is something i don't like about it.... either to much stuff (trees) in front of the buildings or maybe lacking a foreground element such as boat or people on the bridge.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I think there is a little too much light at the top of the picture.

[swmdrayfan]

I think there is a little too much light at the top of the picture.

I see what you're saying, Tyson. It might have worked better had I just selected the sky, inverted, and lightened everything else.

[swmdrayfan]

i keep comming back to this (well and the orton effect) and for some reason there is something i don't like about it.... either to much stuff (trees) in front of the buildings or maybe lacking a foreground element such as boat or people on the bridge.

Thanks for the input Dylan. I figured the fountain was foreground element enough, but you never know....a few duckies in there might have worked too. As for the trees, well, I have about 8 different shots from several different viewpoints so I'll go looking for a couple that might not have a lot of trees in them.

[gahspidy]

John, i think it works well like this too, original. It is a good composition, although the water fountain throws it off for me a bit. Some geese or ducks in the water instead would have made it. However, this scene being what it is, I think you captured this quite nicely. A slight boost in saturation will help too.
Thanks for sharing the original with us

[swmdrayfan]

Thanks Gary. This part of the city is new within the last 4-5 years, and is one of the prime areas in the city's renovation over the last decade. The area is officially known as Festival Plaza, and I like to go down and shoot there now and then. There are a few ducks around, so I'll try to get some in the next series of shots when I go again. We just had what was called the 'Symphony of Homes Tour', which was sponsored by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and various businesses and organizations. The tour focused on renovated downtown condos, and we had a chance to see places we've not seen before. I was able to get many shots from vantage points heretofore unavailable. I'll be posting those from time to time.

[Greg McCary]

With the two lights on either side of the bridge this might have made a nice late evening picture? Also a longer exposure on the fountian might have helped too.

[swmdrayfan]

Thanks Gary. A night shoot is something I've been thinking about myself.

[GB1]

I also feel that there's something a bit unusual about the pic. The outline of the buildings etc seems creative, but the colors seem to be tilting to the blues, not to mention that the actual pic seems to be ever so slightly tilted to the right (about 1 degree or so). The contrast or something also seems to be muted. It appears to be a tranqual scene, interrupted by the water spout. I agree with Gary that some ducks would have added a nice touch. In all the scene has potential and I can see why you took it, but it doesn't all come together to define any particular mood or effect. Guess it falls into the 5/10 category.
GB

[swmdrayfan]

I also feel that there's something a bit unusual about the pic. The outline of the buildings etc seems creative, but the colors seem to be tilting to the blues, not to mention that the actual pic seems to be ever so slightly tilted to the right (about 1 degree or so). The contrast or something also seems to be muted. It appears to be a tranqual scene, interrupted by the water spout. I agree with Gary that some ducks would have added a nice touch. In all the scene has potential and I can see why you took it, but it doesn't all come together to define any particular mood or effect. Guess it falls into the 5/10 category.
GB

GB you're right on all counts. In my haste to put up the original, I had forgotten that I'd skewed the pic to get the buildings straight.........my bad on that one. It appears that those who've commented prefer the scene without the fountain, so on my next trip into town for some shooting, I'll be sure to get other areas which do not include the fountain.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

[KyRain]

John, this is good, I don't think it needs ducks or anything, there's alot going on w
that cool blue building in the background, the rectangular brick building below it that has the lift on the roof, the bridge, the fountain, etc. I think it's a great shot and great comp. NJ

[swmdrayfan]

Thanks. I'm glad you like it. As you can see, there has been considerable discussion about it. What surprises me though, is that another pair of shots called "Skyline: Kalamazoo, Mi" has generated hardly a look. I think that's due to the weekend though. I noticed there weren't many people on this weekend.

[Don Schaeffer]

I think this is an attractive skyline and would make an interesting shot. It needs some kind of a kick from post processing but the Orton Effect (for me) does the opposite of what it needs. Perhaps a little color balance change to give it more red and a bit more shadow. There's not enough drama.

[swmdrayfan]

Thanks for looking and commenting Don. There appear to be elements of this that people are having trouble with. It's become my mission to strike the right balance between style and substance.