Webb's

[Greg McCary]

Number 2 in my collection of Barber Shops

[gahspidy]

Greg, i like this series that your into and the first shot worked for me at this angle. This shot I do not feel works too well at this angle and I think a more dead on approach would be best, perhaps even including the door. Also, i think the color should be subdued a little more to help blend in, so to speak. For what it's worth, the more i look at this, the more i like it. My first impression though was that I did not like the angle. Have you tired this from other perspectives? It is alwaysa good idea to shoot a scene from many vantage points and angles so that you can see later on what worked best.

[Greg McCary]

Gary Just like you when I first processed this I thought it was same old same old with the angle, but the longer it sat on my computer the more I llked it. I did try a couple of different angles but find shooting windows and the reflecting distractons a challange. One reason the pole is not subdue is that it is on 24/7. I could easily turn it off I guess, you can see the switch just to the right. But feel I might need to ask the owner first. there are many more distractions during the week, blinking strobes, signs and flags. I thought about taking the owner a copy of the picture and see if he would mind me coming back for a reshoot and turning the pole off. This is an easy reshoot other than catching it at the perfect time. Maybe a shot of the pole and just the front door? Stay tuned I will go back...

Greg

[gahspidy]

I like the inclusion of the wooded area at the side. This image is growing on me, but I think a reshoot from different perpectives would allow you to get a better feel of what presents itself best. If you only include the pole and the door, I hope that there is writing on the door of Webers Barber Shop.
The issue with the pole is not so much that it is bright, but rather that i think the color saturation should be reduced, as any color on a b&w image will stand out.

[Greg McCary]

I think that I understand what you are trying to say. I have played with this in PS on and off for weeks. The first conversion was really bad, the pole was so colorful it looked cut and pasted into place and had a very bad fake look to it. I tried to reduce the saturation a bit. So other than the angle am I getting closer? I know I like it better and thanks for the tip. Another lesson learned... When I go back for the reshoot I am going to see if the owner minds me moving the orniment on the awning. You have to see this place when it's open. Flying flags and blinking strobes the owner has got to be a hoot. This place isn't much bigger than my Durango...
Greg

[Ronnoco]

The problem is that this kind of black and white shot has to tell a story and it really doesn't and that is a major problem. Norman Rockwell, the american artist would have probably done a view from the inside with an old barber chair with a kid in it, or perhaps an outside shot showing its location or contrasting it with the "image of progress" (something in the background) that had passed by the old fashioned barber shops.

Also from a technique point of view, you still need to control reflections that do not contribute to your shot.

Ronnoco

[Greg McCary]

Thanks Ron for your critique. I do find reflections difficult to deal with. I removed a few distractions from this one. Your second suggestion of being an outside shot would have to be the one I used because the subject of the series is the pole itself....
Greg

[Ronnoco]

Thanks Ron for your critique. I do find reflections difficult to deal with. I removed a few distractions from this one. Your second suggestion of being an outside shot would have to be the one I used because the subject of the series is the pole itself....
Greg

The problem however is that the pole itself doesn't tell a story. Everyone recognizes it as a barber pole and related to a barber shop, even if you had nothing else in the shot. The real story is more about progress and change in the context of barber shops represented by the pole and that is what you need to get across to the viewer. A barber pole, a name and a window, does NOT accomplish this. You need more and a different approach.

Ronnoco