Color & BW...

[OldClicker]

Which do you like better and what could be improved in either? I prefer the BW, but am not happy with the 'sparkly' background. - TF

[jetrim]

I like them both, but I'm also partial to the B&W - actually, sepia would probably look stunning. If you don't like the sparkling leaves, why not darken the background just a touch to tone down the effect? Don't go too far or you'll lose the soldier in the BG.

[OldClicker]

Thanks jetrim - good idea.

What would have made the BG look better? Maybe completely different type? More/less DOF?

TF

[gahspidy]

Its a fine photo and either way looks good. I prefer the b&w for this scene and subject though. the sepia looks good as well, but i was never a big fan of sepia. I rather a warm toned b&w perhaps.
Your background is good in that it offers a simple undistracting backdrop to set off your subject strong.
This is very nice.

[OldClicker]

Thank you. - TF

[realart]

I much prefer the color. There are some wonderful things. The brass in the hat, the red at the shoulder, that beautiful pale lilac in the bar crossing horizontally about 3/4 of the way down, the soft pale greens, etc. I know such a subject may well be seen as "better" in b&w or sepia, but the bits of bold colors and the many subtler hues are lost. The b&w and the sepia are actually pretty banal to me. Like something I could see in an antique shop in a cheap brass frame (allthough the subject itself saves the shot.) But in color I really feel it is something wonderful. So there! :thumbsup:

[PrevailingConditions]

I like the B&W more. The color seems a little too bright, but it's not an issue with the B&W. I can also see what you were going after with the sepia, but I think I would have tried something a little more subtle - kind of like Gary was mentioning.

Thanks,

PC

[realart]

I like the B&W more. The color seems a little too bright, but it's not an issue with the B&W. I can also see what you were going after with the sepia, but I think I would have tried something a little more subtle - kind of like Gary was mentioning.

Thanks,

PC

Actually I agree the color shot is a bit too bright. I guess I was focussing more on the color vs B&W/sepia. But the color shot can easily be toned down. Even so I would still prefer it. I just feel the B&W sepia releagtes this to a thousand and more other period shots while the color gives a wonderful perspective. (but that's me!)

[Grandpaw]

I prefer the sepia version. The color shot gives me the feeling that you were at a reenactment and took the shot were as the sepia gives me the feeling that you were there when it was originally taking place. I'm not much for the B&W version. The sepia is the winner for me, Jeff

[realart]

I am curious as to oldclicker's intent. What did he want to achieve? Was he seeking a shot of a re-enactment or trying to produce an artifiial historical shot (here, "artificial" is not a derogatory term).

Honestly I see nothing wrong with a shot of a re-enactment. Actually I would probably rather see a shot of a re-enactment as a re-enactment rather than as an artificially aged image. There are just too many real sepia images from the times.

Yet, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I have seen some amazing shots of modern subjects in sepia that take on an eerily "right" feel. Not sure if I saw it here or on one of the boards I no longer frequent but it was a scene with a bunch of motorcyles parked in front of an old building and a few scruffy biker guys along with a few scattered solid citiizens. The final result was in sepia and it was amazing. The bikes became horses, the bikers became cowboys and the tourists became citizens of that old town. My brain would actually shift between the modern and old world. To me that is a wonderfully effective use of artificial aging.

I am honestly not trying to be argumentative. Just expressing my own feelings etc. Unfortuantely, in this message board world of increasing brevity, I have no problem extending a conversation as if it were taking place verbally person to person. So sometimes I may seem to be pushing. But I am just trying to extend the conversation, or sometimes create one.

Hope that be ok.

[OldClicker]

I am curious as to oldclicker's intent. What did he want to achieve? Was he seeking a shot of a re-enactment or trying to produce an artifiial historical shot (here, "artificial" is not a derogatory term).

Honestly I see nothing wrong with a shot of a re-enactment. Actually I would probably rather see a shot of a re-enactment as a re-enactment rather than as an artificially aged image. There are just too many real sepia images from the times.

Yet, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I have seen some amazing shots of modern subjects in sepia that take on an eerily "right" feel. Not sure if I saw it here or on one of the boards I no longer frequent but it was a scene with a bunch of motorcyles parked in front of an old building and a few scruffy biker guys along with a few scattered solid citiizens. The final result was in sepia and it was amazing. The bikes became horses, the bikers became cowboys and the tourists became citizens of that old town. My brain would actually shift between the modern and old world. To me that is a wonderfully effective use of artificial aging.

I am honestly not trying to be argumentative. Just expressing my own feelings etc. Unfortuantely, in this message board world of increasing brevity, I have no problem extending a conversation as if it were taking place verbally person to person. So sometimes I may seem to be pushing. But I am just trying to extend the conversation, or sometimes create one.

Hope that be ok.

I think any subtle 'intent' may be beyond my current level of photography. I was just trying to present what I thought was a strong enough image to illicit good critique on my technique. I’m still learning the craft – any glimpse of the art is quite accidental.

btw - I LOVE the conversations. They provide a thought process that really helps me see and learn.

TF