Latvia

[Didache]

Hi all

I am just home from a short 5 day break in Latvia - my first time in one of the Baltic states.

Here are two which were taken in the Old Town of Riga (the capital). The both struck me as somewhat whimsical.

As always, any comments are appreciated.

Cheers
Mike

[Overbeyond]

That first one is an interesting and fun shot Mike. My initial, immediate impression was that you had layered the main exhibition picture on until I had a look around.
The second one is great too. The crowd are interested in everything except the poor old musician, which of course makes (is) the shot.
There's also a good shot there taken from the same position but without the crowd. Looking forward to more especially some bleak stuff?

[Frog]

I always love your eye for making the mundane things that most wouldn't see into a photographic story, Mike.
The first one makes me want to explore. See all the other photos on those boards and wonder where the cyclist is heading and what's in that building.
I love the story in the second one too, in which the tuba player is getting no attention.
I imagine the crowd is gathered around a competing and better musician or group.
I would prefer that the tuba man was the point of focus instead of the backs of the crowd.

[Didache]

Thanks guys.

Tom - I had only done a few shots at the outdoor photo exhibition, hoping to go back and spend some time on shots like these. Unfortunately, they had taken it down! Still, I got this one. It was in the main cathedral square.

frog - the group was a walking tour of the old city. The poor old tuba player wasn't sure whether to keep playing (and annoy the guide) or to shut up until they were finished. The focus is actually on the tuba player, although pretty well the whole image is in focus.

Cheers
Mike

[shootme]

Great capture I love the 1st one, though the buildings are a bit distracting. The second shot is a bit sad I think, at least that's the feeling I get, might look great in B&W? S

[stephljones]

The first picture is so interesting on many levels. First, I couldn't figure out exactly what it was! was it photo shopped? was it an exhibit? I like that it look a longer glance to see everything in the picture... really, really neat!

the second...that is great too...kind of alone in a crowd. and, it is a beautiful street, and very nice lighting!

I kind of see a theme with these two shots....the cyclist is too busy to stop and admire the art exhibit....the tourists are busy on their walking tour, and can't stop to appreciate the tuba player...

both interesting!

[draymorton]

Very compelling images. You have a knack for finding something poetic in the most seemingly commonplace of locations and scenarios - a knack I sure wish I had. No critiques here, just admiration. (Boring, I know, but I can't think of anything else to say.)

[jetrim]

I like both of these as well (though I'd love to see a shot w/ the tuba player nearly filling the frame) and I agree with Steph's theme assessment....Your next themed project "Too busy" LOL

[Didache]

Thank you everyone - you are all very kind

I do agree that the buildings on the left of the cyclist shot are a tad distracting. It is the one thing that bothers me a little about it. I rather like the tuba one though.

shootme - thanks for the suggestion. I think it works pretty well as a mono. Not better, just effective in a different way.


jetrim .. I just may take you up on that!!

Cheers
Mike

[Franglais]

OK found more pictures of Latvia. I like the first one fine.

In the second one the subject is the tuba player and the problem is to make sure the viewer realises it. In colour you're helped by one thing - the right hand side is mostly warm tones and the left hand side is mostly blue wall and he stands out against it. As usual in the colour version there are some people with distracting coloured clothing so normally I would try switching to black-and-white as you have done. However this has lost the effect of the blue wall and the tuba man is rather inconspicuous. I would try using the chanel mixer in the black-and-white conversion to lighten the blue wall and darken the red one and perhaps even burn in the crowd and hold back the tuba man a bit to be sure he stands out.

[draymorton]

What a great critique, Charles.

I might try to tone down the brightest colors in the crowd a little, as well, via whatever means. I'm not sure what could be done to bring out the tuba player any more without it looking hokey. There are some other things I might try, as well, but not having the image to manipulate makes it difficult to know whether or not they would actually work.

[Didache]

Feel free to download the image and play with it. I do not, nor ever have, had a problem with that.

Mike

[stephljones]

well...I played around with it a little bit...I thought a combination of the black/white and the color might work....

I still love your original picture!!! and, it was very fun to experiment on!

[draymorton]

Thanks Mike.

steph - though I generally despise selective color (it's become kind of a bad punchline to me), I love what you did there.

[Franglais]

Mine is similar to the previous modification. The most important thing on the photo - as usual - is the guy's face. Now you've said he was waiting for the guide to stop talking so he could play again, we all want to see what sort of person he is.