#43 - It comes in pairs...

Candid Arts

Are either of these two worthy?

I didn't take them for the challenge, but after going through the site, realized they fit. So here they are. I think #2 has a bit more emotion and more of a story to tell, however there are just components of #1 that I really like.

What does everyone think?

#1 - Embroussaillé (Overgrown):


#2 - Oublier (Forgotten):


Thank you.

rainbow

Don't know what everyone thinks, but I think these are both superb images.

It is close, but I like the first better for the challenge as the compositional elements of fore, mid, and background and the lines leading to the dramatic view on the right speak to me. Also, the windows and "door" are stronger in the 1st. BUT either would be an excellent entry.

WhatSheSaw

Both knock my socks off. I slightly favor #1. The lines really pull my eye through the picture.

rteest42

WhatSheSaw wrote:

Both knock my socks off. I slightly favor #1. The lines really pull my eye through the picture.

Probably have to choose number one for challenge fullfillment, but I am partial to chairs...

meandirene

I would choose #1 as my favorite. Good work on the HDRs. For C&C...in my opinion, the reds in the twine are a bit over saturated to the point of distraction from your main topic. I also think that fixing some of the lens distortion could make the image more pleasing to the eye.

AndMan

Both are great but #1 has the edge.

BinaryFx

meandirene wrote:

I would choose #1 as my favorite. Good work on the HDRs. For C&C...in my opinion, the reds in the twine are a bit over saturated to the point of distraction from your main topic. I also think that fixing some of the lens distortion could make the image more pleasing to the eye.

Great location and shots Candid Arts!

I agree with meandirene on all of the above, however, I would go further and say that the HDR effect is too strong and that it could be blended at lower opacity over a regular version of the image (say 50% opacity) - to my eye the image is looking more like a CG painting than a photo.


Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

Candid Arts

BinaryFx wrote:

Great location and shots Candid Arts!

I agree with meandirene on all of the above, however, I would go further and say that the HDR effect is too strong and that it could be blended at lower opacity over a regular version of the image (say 50% opacity) - to my eye the image is looking more like a CG painting than a photo.


Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

Thank you to everyone who put in their input. I did put in this version of #1, as it's past 8am, can't do much about it.

However, Binary...Since this is only my second time doing HDR, I have no idea what your talking about or how to implement it. I've got another thread with the four best shots from the day (two more than shown here). There is my discussion on the C&C of the shots from the day. It can be found here.

Thank you everyone very much. I really appreciate the input.

BinaryFx

Candid Arts wrote:

However, Binary...Since this is only my second time doing HDR, I have no idea what your talking about or how to implement it.

Congratulations on making the finals Candid!!!

OK, to answer the above...when you make a HDR, you have a number of bracketed exposures, which you merge into a HDR file and then "tone map" them. The tone mapping stage is where things can sometimes look artificial, depending on the settings etc.

At an earlier point, one can use their HDR software or a separate program such as Photoshop CS3 or later, Enfuse or other software to merge/blend/fuse the bracketed files into an extended range image without the extreme "tone mapping" (one still has extended range). There are other tone mapping methods which are not extreme, it all depends on the software being used.

This way you have a base image that looks like a traditional photo however it has extended range from the exposure blending/fusing. Then when you produce your tone-mapped HDR file, you have a separate extreme photo. It is then a simple matter to layer the extreme tone mapped image at a reduced layer opacity over the regular base image, toning down the HDR effect while still taking some advantage of the HDR process.

Clear as mud?


Regards,

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

Candid Arts

Thanks everyone for the comment in the #43 challenge gallery! It seems as though people aren't seeing the Window or Door aspect.

Here is my explanation: I was intrigued by the fact that windows and doors are there to protect the inside of our buildings against the outside elements. To shelter us against mother nature. However, by the abandonment of this building, lack of care and upkeep, those once protecting windows and doors now aren't serving their purpose. So these once windows and doors are now acting as just another obstacle for earth to grow over. The big opening is in fact quite the door, there is an old tractor inside that used that door once to store itself. And now here we are.

So there you go. Doors and Windows.

Binary: I think I might possible think I thought I know what you mean. So I merge the images in Photomatix and do the tone mapping. Save and re-export back into LR. From there I put a properly exposed version of the HDR in PS3, and lay the HDR over that photo making the opacity less so you can see the properly exposed image below it, yet still retain the HDR image overtop? Is that it? At all? Even close?