Windows from the Manhattan Bridge

[gahspidy]

Part of an ongoing series about windows
what do you think of this one?
thanks

[mtbbrian]

Yeah! A new series from Gary!
Tell me what makes you want to do a series of photographs on windows Gary?
What are you trying to say with this series?
Brian

[Overbeyond]

This looks like a first cousin to one of my favourite shots of yours. The colour and tones on the blind and it's fold in the top window is out of the top drawer (I could spend time just admiring this part alone) and the variation of colours in the bottom window livens things up perfectly. The lighting on the other side of the pipe is totally unobtrusive and maintains the balance..
This ticks all the boxes for me Gary but I still have a little crib; I would prefer not to have the grafitti face on the top right. What's on the bottom is perfectly adequate.
Jeez Gary why do you do this to us; you just keep raising the bloody bar!
Oh but that top window .. the spill on the sill the white bits of the frame that have lost their coatings ...

[gahspidy]

Brian . . . Actually, there have been a couple from this series in the past.
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...&ppuser=234866 and
another on my website called "life, learning, and love"
There is something about these windows, especially at night that makes us wonder as to what the colors and objects in the windows are and who are the occupants behind the intrigue and mystery. The strange objects and colors that glow from within them stir up the curiosity.

Tom . . .I'm truly glad you find this one works. . .I was worried about the obvious angle of this but had no problem with it myself. I find it really interesting that you made reference to the marking on the upper wall . . I debated whether to leave it be or let it go. i like the idea of the blank wall except fo the bottom graffiti.
thanks for the comments

[Old Timer]

I want to come sit at your feet as you do the PP on one of your photographs. The mood and tone of this images is excellent, setup by your wonderful ability to bring out the best in an image. I'm intrigue about what goes on behind those windows. Looking forward to more of this series.

[Greg McCary]

Nice shot Gary. I look forward to the series. As for this one, I agree with OT. Your processing of an image really works well. The angle, pipe, graffiti, fogged windows, charcoal tones and processing all make for a wonderful image. I would imagine where you live you will have a endless supply of subjects. I am also glad to see you hitting the streets again. Keep'em coming.

[MB1]

Nice, I like everything about this one. The format, the range of tones, the color and the crop are all winners. Plus the content is pretty good-love the drainpipe and graffiti in addition to the windows.

2 Thumbs Up.

[Frog]

Everything I could think to say and more has been said above. Nice stuff!

[PrevailingConditions]

Gary,

This is a lovely shot (as usual!). Since nobody else has mentioned it I'm guessing this is just me, but this almost looks like a miniature set to me. I'd be curious to find out how you PP this as well.

PC

[CLKunst]

How did I miss this one? Beautiful image Gary. Gosh you shoot clean! It does look like a miniature set. You've drawn a really bold comparison visually between the warmth of the interior and starkness of the world. There is just enough information here to keep me wondering about what I can't see. Could you post the exif info? I'd love to see your settings. Also, it looks like you gave everything a de-saturation treatment to everything but the windows, is that so?

[gahspidy]

Larry, Greg, MB1, Frog, PC, and Cindy,
Thanks all for the great comments on this. And when MB1 tells me I don't need a crop and even gives a thumbs up, well I gotto know I did ok here! lol
I am really delighted this works well for everyone so far because my big concern was the angle at which I had to hit this from.
This was taken from the Manhattan bridge and there are railings and barriers up all over so the tripod that I brought with me was useless. I needed to squeeze the camera in between a gap in the seperation in the railings. Had to remove the lens hood just to fit in between.
The exif info for this was
1250 iso, f3.5 @ 1/4 shutter speed. Shot with my Tamron 28-75 2.8 at 75mm. The shutter was too slow for handholding really especially at it zoomed in like that. I nestled the lens on the railing for stability, but the problem was trains passing over the bridge every few minutes and the vibration was too much. As it was, alot of the shots from the shoot were unusable because of lack of adequate sharpness.
As for my pp. . . basically I desaturate the entire image (convert to b&w) and then restore color to certain areas of the windows. then apply a warm "filter" to the entire image. Alot of dodging and burning especially in the window areas and shades. Also applied a bit of blur as in "Orton Effect" to the window areas avoiding the panes and ledges to get a warm fuzzy glow. A bit of other stuff here and there but that is the jist of it.
Thanks again for the invaluable feedback here. . .

[agtaylor]

Wow, as Frog said its all been covered I think but job well done. I would be interested in seeing the original that you had to work with since the pp is obviously very well done and something I struggle with. No offense but so far this series makes me glad I dont live in nyc. Look forward to more. :thumbsup:

[Tuna]

Wow...I like this one too.

Tuna

[gahspidy]

Thanks for the comments, Tuna.

agtaylor, I am not very happy about grimy city life either so I don't blame you for not being enticed to come here from these lovely tourist photos I am taking. lol.

Well, I'm not too crazy about showing untouched originals (kind of like walking out of the house in the morning without brushing one's teeth or combing hair) but if it can help for comparison or be of interest to anyone, here it is.
btw, thanks for the time to comment

[readingr]

Gary,

Its all been said - excellent view point.

Just read your details on the taking of the ophoto and I just sent off for a new Manfrotto 190PR tripod so the ability to angle the upright would have worked well for you here

Must find more time for photography :mad2:

Roger

[Old Timer]

Thanks for the post of the original. Makes me appreciate your PP even more. The little touches do make a difference!

[gahspidy]

Gary,

Its all been said - excellent view point.

Just read your details on the taking of the ophoto and I just sent off for a new Manfrotto 190PR tripod so the ability to angle the upright would have worked well for you here

Must find more time for photography :mad2:

Roger

Thanks Larry, I appreciate that.

Roger, funny you should mention that tripod. Is that not the one that has a center column that acts like a Boom in which you can extend the camera off to the side and so forth? I had been thinking that something like that might have worked, but I doubt in this particuliar case it would have. The gap between the railing was so small that my focus ring kept twisting anytime I moved slightly. I had to hold the ring with the tip of my finger, get the subject framed just as I wanted, then try to turn the ring with my finger again to ensure focus . . . .and then as I was about to snap another train would thunder by and I would wait another two or three minutes for the vibration to subside. In this particuliar scenario any tripod was just not going to work. That tripod still does seem attractive . . .perhaps a second one is in the calling

[readingr]

Thanks Larry, I appreciate that.

Roger, funny you should mention that tripod. Is that not the one that has a center column that acts like a Boom in which you can extend the camera off to the side and so forth? I had been thinking that something like that might have worked, but I doubt in this particuliar case it would have. The gap between the railing was so small that my focus ring kept twisting anytime I moved slightly. I had to hold the ring with the tip of my finger, get the subject framed just as I wanted, then try to turn the ring with my finger again to ensure focus . . . .and then as I was about to snap another train would thunder by and I would wait another two or three minutes for the vibration to subside. In this particuliar scenario any tripod was just not going to work. That tripod still does seem attractive . . .perhaps a second one is in the calling

Yep thats the one - I'll report back once I get a chance to use it.

Roger

[agtaylor]

Haha I can definitely understand your reasoning behind not being too keen on posting untouched originals. Thanks for putting it up though. I've been trying to work on my pp and it was interesting to compare the two of them, much appreciated.