CityScape 1

[gahspidy]

Here is a picture, in the Chinatown section of Manhattan, that i had for some time. I liked the old, gritty feel of the scene.
What do you think?
thanks

[Seb]

Gary,

I can't say that I am found of this one. Your post processing is neat, I like the color rendition and the texture of the image is quite unique. On the other hand I am not feeling the composition. I think that I would either like to have more (or perhaps less) room on both sides of the main building and the tilt is significant.

Seb

[Loupey]

I feel the grittiness of it. I like the general feel and tone of the image. I'm trying to put my arms around it as I am not used to an image which has so many elements in it. At first, I thought the adjacent buildings on both sides were distracting. But if you crop in, the sign on the right makes contact with the edge so I wouldn't do it. In general, I like what my eyes see - the more I look, the more I find.

As for the sign, maybe a hacksaw would be in order?

[readingr]

Gary,

My only objection is that the sign is really distracting. I can't remember if its you or Tuna who has exceptional skills in cloning. You may want to give that a go or just make the sign blend in a bit.

Other than that the composition and tonal qualities are oustanding. It does demonstrate the grittiness of city life.

Roger

[Overbeyond]

What a photogenic old building this is.
I agree with Roger about the sign but I also feel that some of the top of the building is sorely missing. I might also go for a tighter crop an the left.
I suspect one could spend a lot of time with the camera on this building. It almost talks to you. But what you have shown us here is really fine i it's own right.
I also am thinking of straight B/W.
Tom

[LeeIs]

I like it Gary. All is working really well here for me. The tones are great, I specially like the two dark red streaks on the door. that gives this duo tone a colour efffect. It's bit too contrasty but I also like that about it. The stairs are a bit overblown but it leeds my eye to a perfectly exposed door. The trash cans are all in the right places. Love the texture of this old building.

The only thing that bothers me is the top left where the roof of the building comes in to the frame (dark line from the the upper edge of the door frame to the dark spot on the top left). That to me adds a tilt that isn't apparent in the shot as a whole and just messes up the balance. A tiny crop of the upper side of this would fix that easily.

[payn817]

Would like b&w better too. As for the crop issue, I would like to see more above the door, and removal of the street. The sides aren't an issue IMO.

I like the textures, and the look of the scene though.

[gahspidy]

Seb, Loupey, Roger , Tom, Liban, payn817. . .thanks for the feedback on this. I have to say that I was very comfortable with the composition of this, and the inclusion of the sign and the two sides were appealing to me. After speaking with Seb, and getting all your input on this I decided to replay the scene and try a little of everyones input. i eliminated the sign with a crop, included a bit more above the door ( thats all there was there) btw, the ledge above the window on the upper left side is actually a ledge below another floor and the ledges are crooked and gives the appearance of a crooked frameup.
I also eliminated the street curb. The color post processing effect i like alot for this shot and would not want to convert to am all out b&w.
How do you feel about the revised editions. I personally rather keep the sign in the shot with the hint of the alley next to the building in the second crop
Improved or just different?
Thanks all

[gahspidy]

As I look upon all three comps now, i have to say that I'm feeling stronger about the original, except i would eliminate the street as payn817 suggested.

[Loupey]

Of the three I like the original the best. Cropping out the sign is too tight, cropping out the curb looks good, centering the door horizontally looks appropriate. How about cropping the left side to keep the margin around the building the same as on the right side with the sign?

[drg]

Gary,

You have got the whole urban decay thing working here. Having looked at the three variations I'll just say the white gate or facade on the left in the original is somewhat distracting. Yet the central building as presented needs the space of both sides whether it works out symmetrically or not.

The street the more I look at lends a sense (to me anyway) to the viewer of having just turned one's head and there is the scene. The tilt does force one's eye across the image. Occaisionally it works. It does seem like the top of the building tilts one way and the sidewalk the other?

Now to really cause trouble, I like more of the alley on the right and the top of the steps is too bright (or it could be this LCD notebook) though those are probably choices best left to the presenter. What is in the photo does work. I could spend time looking at this one.

[Overbeyond]

As I look upon all three comps now, i have to say that I'm feeling stronger about the original, except i would eliminate the street as payn817 suggested.

In retrospect I also feel the original is the best. But I would replace the street simply because we really did not get anything extra noticable on the top. I have come to terms also with the street sign.
Tom

[Seb]

As I look upon all three comps now, i have to say that I'm feeling stronger about the original, except i would eliminate the street as payn817 suggested.

Thruthfully, I can't say which version (if any) I prefer. I keep feeling that the scene is framed too tightly and that it needs significant breathing space on each sides and at the top. To me, this is one of those case where "zooming in" simply don't works.

regards

Seb

[Tuna]

Third one for me. Right to left unbalanced yet balanced by our trip down the alley/road, past the graffiti. Top to bottom balanced by the removal of the foreground street. All allowing us better to appreciate the detail. And the sign stays...

Tuna

[gahspidy]

thanks all, this has really given me some evaluation i could never have received anywhere else. drg, and Loupey, I am also feeling to leave some space on both sides, but I will be giving more room to the alley on the right.Tuna, from your description and analysis it sounds like your going with the second one (middle). When you say the third, the third is either the original or the top one without the sign, and i know your not talking about that one since you agree the sign should stay.
I think ultimately it will be a compromise between the second and the original.
Thanks all for the time.

[Tuna]

The one on the bottom in your second post with the two cropped versions - showing more of the alley/road at the right and, yes WITH sign post. Oh, AND with the slightly more burned-in stairs. Sorry for the confusion.

I also should mention that the half-panel scenes in both windows are a big addition to the success of the image. Very period-piece-ish despite the obvious modernity throughout.

Tuna

[GB1]

All very good shots, but painfully busy Stuff all over the place. But you did a good job in capturing exactly what was there. I feel like I've visited this place now...........

GB

[gahspidy]

thanks for clearing it up, Tuna. Yes, i like whats going in in those windows . . .
GB, thanks for the comments. Actually, while it is certainly busy "looking", I feel it is part of it's strength in this particuliar scene. . ..
thanks again

[readingr]

Gary,

Sorry for the delay in responding - I have to blame it on work and timezones. Still not getting much time for photography at the moment.

From the 3 I will have to chose the original - The reasons being that the pavement (sidewalk) puts the sign into context and the door to the left adds to the dilapidation of the area and not just the building which, enforces the grityness of the area.

The top one with the cropped sign is too tight and looses the grit appeal

The middle one seems to loose the context of the street because its cropped to tight on the left, looks more like not enough thought was put into the photo, I guess a snapshot if that makes sense. The space on the left given by the door really adds to the hardship context of the street; in fact I would add more of the door as in the one without sign. Don't know if this makes sense to you but it does to me. If you need a better explanation let me know and I'll try and re-phrase the diatribe.

By the way like someone else said now that I have come back to this again the sign isn't so bad.

Roger