It may just be me. The boy on the left seems disconnected and has a feeling of being "shunned" or left out by the group to the right. Was that intentional, or is it just my hair-brained interpretation?

Originally Posted by RyanS It may just be me. The boy on the left seems disconnected and has a feeling of being "shunned" or left out by the group to the right. Was that intentional, or is it just my hair-brained interpretation?

I assumed that was the whole point of the pic.

Originally Posted by RyanS It may just be me. The boy on the left seems disconnected and has a feeling of being "shunned" or left out by the group to the right. Was that intentional, or is it just my hair-brained interpretation?

That's what makes the photo interesting to me. Otherwise,
it's just a group of people. With the outsider peering in,
it makes for a great capture. A few seconds earlier or
later, it's just a group of people.

It's so often about timing.

Good try, Mole, but there's not enough separation between the kid's face on the left and the scatter of middle-gray values in the bricks. If it weren't for the bricks, the shadow would help, but in this case it hinders. You might be able to improve things with Viveza, but that wall behind is a real problem. Because of the wall, the shot comes off as too busy.

Originally Posted by RSL Good try, Mole, but there's not enough separation between the kid's face on the left and the scatter of middle-gray values in the bricks. If it weren't for the bricks, the shadow would help, but in this case it hinders. You might be able to improve things with Viveza, but that wall behind is a real problem. Because of the wall, the shot comes off as too busy.

I am not sure what you mean ? Does this version improve it ?


Does this help it ? version 3

I do prefer the higher-contrast version, but it brings out more of a problem
with the bricks. The white spots show up more. I'd go with the high-contrast
version, but do a little Photoshop magic to darken up all those white areas.

I know purists don't do Photoshop magic, but I don't see a problem with it.

Tony's right. I usually don't like to increase contrast to the point where I begin to lose the relationships between mid-tones, but it helps to raise contrast in this case. I guess what I'd do if it were mine is go back into the color version and start working the various brick colors with Viveza to homogenize them and reduce the contrast between them so the wall doesn't look so busy. Failing that, I'd agree: go with the high contrast version.

Originally Posted by TonyCooper I do prefer the higher-contrast version, but it brings out more of a problem with the bricks. The white spots show up more. I'd go with the high-contrast version, but do a little Photoshop magic to darken up all those white areas. I know purists don't do Photoshop magic, but I don't see a problem with it.

Originally Posted by RSL Tony's right. I usually don't like to increase contrast to the point where I begin to lose the relationships between mid-tones, but it helps to raise contrast in this case. I guess what I'd do if it were mine is go back into the color version and start working the various brick colors with Viveza to homogenize them and reduce the contrast between them so the wall doesn't look so busy. Failing that, I'd agree: go with the high contrast version.

Thank you both ! for your input. It is a challenge, but here is one more I would appreciate your thoughts on . Is it an improvement ?

Originally Posted by lensmole Thank you both ! for your input. It is a challenge, but here is one more I would appreciate your thoughts on . Is it an improvement ?

I don't see a change. How are you attempting to change it?

I don't have Viveza (or know what it does), but I would work
on those white spots in Photoshop. Perhaps you don't use an
editing program or you don't feel it's right to do this type of
editing. Dunno.

Hey thanks Tony ! In the last one you should notice the clothing on some of the boys on the right is darker than the other versions I achieved this by reducing the yellow channel in an attempt to achieve bit more separation from the bricks and that was the main problem that Russ pointed out. The light part of the bricks is what is distracting but very hard to deal with.

I think I got it!

That does it. Good job. Much better.

+1

Originally Posted by TonyCooper That does it. Good job. Much better.

Originally Posted by RSL +1

Thank you guys very much appreciated! I did not realize just just how distracting the background was at first,it was a valuable learning process , one I won't forget.