The Ruins pt.3

[Seb]

Here is a photograph from a series I have shot last summer (some of you might remember the other shots from the same location). For some reasons, this one didn't cut it for me at that time but I went back to the series recently and I have decided to give it a try.

please criticise and most importantly, happy new year!

Seb

[Overbeyond]

Hello Seb
I like the mass of concrete and the rusty surround both creating a great frame. What lets it down is what we see when we look through it. Nothing to be curious about or to do justice to the great frame. Perhaps had a few hungry humans been present at the tables might have added some interest. Colours are great.
Tom

[cparker]

I love the frame. I have to agree that the picture within just isn't capturing. There's also a pole (birdhouse?) or something above the right table that is very distracting for me. I really do love the frame though. It's almost demanding.

[gahspidy]

Seb, yes I remember at least one of these shots from your past posts. I agree with the framing looking very interesting. I really like the old rusted metal beams against the slabs of crete. I also agree that the bg just is not interesting enough to be the prize through that great frame. A suggestion. . . .As you know I have been doing some b&w shots with the main interest points saturated somewhat with color. I see that idea working well with this image. I would try converting the image to b&w and then adding back the color to just the rusted beams, and only add 60% of its original saturation. . ans see how that goes. I know its not something your crazy about, but I think it could give this image that has much potential, the boost in the arm that it needs.

[Seb]

Here is a photograph from a series I have shot last summer (some of you might remember the other shots from the same location). For some reasons, this one didn't cut it for me at that time but I went back to the series recently and I have decided to give it a try.

please criticise and most importantly, happy new year!

Seb

Hello guys,

Thank you for commenting. I guess that having a couple sit to a table or at least one person would make this shot work. I will try it again next spring.

Gary: I will try your idea and post the result here when I am done.

regards

Seb

[Seb]

Seb, yes I remember at least one of these shots from your past posts. I agree with the framing looking very interesting. I really like the old rusted metal beams against the slabs of crete. I also agree that the bg just is not interesting enough to be the prize through that great frame. A suggestion. . . .As you know I have been doing some b&w shots with the main interest points saturated somewhat with color. I see that idea working well with this image. I would try converting the image to b&w and then adding back the color to just the rusted beams, and only add 60% of its original saturation. . ans see how that goes. I know its not something your crazy about, but I think it could give this image that has much potential, the boost in the arm that it needs.

Gary, this one is for you. I haven't quite followed your suggestion. Actually I applied a new layer with 100% opacity over the picture and turned it into a b&w by turning down saturation. Then I erased the layer arround the beams with the erase tool to give them back their full color.
Actually, I am not absolutely sure how to partially give back color to an object as you suggested. I guess that I might add another b&w layer with say 30% opacity to partly cover colors??? Or perhaps there is a better way to do this???

Seb

[gahspidy]

Seb, I like the result and you did a fine job. The way I reapply only part saturation is to convert the top duplicate layer to b&w and keep it 100% opacity and then use the eraser brush set at about 60% opacity to erase top layer partially exposing some color where wanted. Many different ways of doing same thing but you have done a good job .

[Seb]

Seb, I like the result and you did a fine job. The way I reapply only part saturation is to convert the top duplicate layer to b&w and keep it 100% opacity and then use the eraser brush set at about 60% opacity to erase top layer partially exposing some color where wanted. Many different ways of doing same thing but you have done a good job .

Thanks!

BTW, I failed to mention that I really like your idea. I had a rather clear view of what it would look like when you suggested it but strangely, I had to do it to realize how appropriate it is in this situation. Actually, since the grass/table part of the picture is the most colourful area, the eye was naturally drawn to it but it needs more content. With your colour/b&w solution, the grass/table part of the picture loose a lot of its visual impact which leads the eye to wander arround much more easily.

I still think that I would prefer a full colour picture with people sit at one table (or something else that could complete the scene) and I will reshot next spring but I really enjoy the end result here. You have a great sense of how to make the best out of a picture. This is something that I will need to develop.

Seb