Seattle in Monochrome

thapamd

Sometimes, an images just screams to be done in B&W. This is one such image for me. Please don't ask to see the color version, as I don't like one competing for attention with the other. Take my word for it, the B&W is better.

Sony A-900 and Sony 70-400 f/4-5.6 G SSM lens.

squirl033

this is impressive! i'm not normally a fan of urban photos, or b&w either, for that matter, but this shot works wonderfully. my only niggle - and it's as much my own preference as anything else - is that the Needle is a bit too centered... regardles, well done! Kerry Park?

thapamd

squirl033 wrote:

this is impressive! i'm not normally a fan of urban photos, or b&w either, for that matter, but this shot works wonderfully. my only niggle - and it's as much my own preference as anything else - is that the Needle is a bit too centered... regardles, well done! Kerry Park?

Thanks for the kind word and critique! Yes, it is Kerry Park. As far as centering of the needle, it debated it and decided that this time the 2/3 1/3 rule needed to be broken. I have multiple images of this scene, wiht some shots showing the needle more off center. None of them appealed to me as this one I posted does.

Tharhawk

Love the shot and black and whites can be amazing. Thanks for this one.

Dogdots

Works very well in BW. I don't have a problem with how the needle is in the photo. Its off center enough for me.

One thing....I would remove the little bright spot just in from the left about 1/4 way. Only because its shaped differently then the other clouds and makes it look like a speck to me. Same with tthe dark spot above the tallest building to the right of the needle. Don't know if that is a bunny or not.

It is a keeper for sure -- would look really good printed BIG

thapamd

Dogdots wrote:

Works very well in BW. I don't have a problem with how the needle is in the photo. Its off center enough for me.

One thing....I would remove the little bright spot just in from the left about 1/4 way. Only because its shaped differently then the other clouds and makes it look like a speck to me. Same with tthe dark spot above the tallest building to the right of the needle. Don't know if that is a bunny or not.

It is a keeper for sure -- would look really good printed BIG

Thanks, Mary! I think you are correct. The dark spot isn't a dust bunny, but I can see how it may look like one. On the final print, I'll be sure to clone out those little dots

thapamd

Tharhawk wrote:

Love the shot and black and whites can be amazing. Thanks for this one.

Thanks, Tharhawk! It's nice to near from a fellow Washingtonian.

Reverb

This is a nice photo. My only suggestion might be to increase the B&W contrast just a bit to make the darkest tones just a bit blacker. On my screen at least it seems a bit grey but I do like it overall.

wendell

Well done Mahesh.
I have no doubt the conversion is the best version. I like the composition.
The dynamic sky really adds to the image. Could it handle just a smidgen more contrast?
Great job.
wendell

scottV

that is awesome.

thapamd

Reverb wrote:

This is a nice photo. My only suggestion might be to increase the B&W contrast just a bit to make the darkest tones just a bit blacker. On my screen at least it seems a bit grey but I do like it overall.

Thanks, Reverb! I'll bring up the contrast a bit and see how it grabs me.

thapamd

wendell wrote:

Well done Mahesh.
I have no doubt the conversion is the best version. I like the composition.
The dynamic sky really adds to the image. Could it handle just a smidgen more contrast?
Great job.
wendell

Thanks, Wendell! As I mentioned to Reverb, I'll have to see how the increased contrast works for me when I get back home.

argyle

That's an incredible image, Mahesh...really like the conversion and processing. I need to visit that park one of these days (if only I can get myself out of the southwest)

thapamd

argyle wrote:

That's an incredible image, Mahesh...really like the conversion and processing. I need to visit that park one of these days (if only I can get myself out of the southwest)

Thanks! I don't feel too sorry for you, living in the southwest. If there were any other place I'd consider living for photographic beauty, it would be Alaska and the Southwest.

schmoo

Mahesh

I do not know how you executed this so perfectly but you made an incredibly tricky b/w situation just shine. There's so much potential for a monochrome cityscape (particularly with clouds in the sky) just disappear into cluttered mush, but you pulled this off without a hitch. Just, WOW!

thapamd

schmoo wrote:

Mahesh

I do not know how you executed this so perfectly but you made an incredibly tricky b/w situation just shine. There's so much potential for a monochrome cityscape (particularly with clouds in the sky) just disappear into cluttered mush, but you pulled this off without a hitch. Just, WOW!

Thanks, Schmoo! I agree, cityscapes are difficult in monochrome, but sometimes they can work. I'm glad you thought this one did.

dseidman

I don't even need to see the color version to know that this is better. It really grabs my attention. Nice work!

Jack'll do

Very very well done. with Schmoo's comments clap

PHOTOempt

i have done almost nothing in monochrome, so the comments re level of difficulty are lost on me, except to increase my appreciation further. sarah

Chris H

Brilliant tonality, the needle really stands out and is set off against the sky. Top job!

thapamd

Dan, Jack, Sarah, and Chris,

Thank you so much for your warm comments. I appreciate them.

Rhuarc

Love it! As soon as I saw it my mind jumped to Kerry Park! It is really neat to see some fellow Washingtonians/Seattleites posting up their work! It gives me a different perspective on shots that I have taken myself. Shows me there are many different ways to take a shot from the same location.

Great work!!

PVNPhotography

The clouds make this landscape shot very dramatic in my opinion.

swintonphoto

Wonderful composition. One of my photography professors hated any reference to the "rule of 1/3" - He was completely against the idea that a successful image needed to follow it. So, I think this one hits a home run. Lovely.