Shy

dlplumer

Richard

Good shot, Dan, but there are a couple of things you could do to improve it. First, lose the selective color. In this case, the woman does a fine job of calling attention to herself without it. Second, crop from the left side and maybe from the bottom to simplify the frame, which will make the guy in the upper left more immediately noticeable.

dlplumer

Thanks Richard for the feedback.:D I like the SC.

lizzard_nyc

lol--shy he says.

I too want to see more of the guy off in the corner--the lurker/stalker looking guy--that makes the shot for me. I like how he's standing off alone, while the rest of the place is crowded.

I agree with Richard about the selective coloring--but I can see why you were tempted to process it this way.

dlplumer

Sounds like you guys would prefer a crop like this:

ChiShutter

I consider that crop to be a great improvement.

And I'll add another vote for ditching the selective color. Hate it (in every instance, ever).

lizzard_nyc

ChiShutter wrote:

I consider that crop to be a great improvement.

And I'll add another vote for ditching the selective color. Hate it (in every instance, ever).

I like the square crop--nicely done. It focuses my attention on the two main subjects. Is it me, or does she look even more voluptuous in the new crop?

Much improved, in my opinion.

Patti

The new crop is great and I like your tongue in cheek title. Like Liz, I understand your temptation to do the SC but I agree that B&W is the way to go with this one.

dlplumer

ChiShutter wrote:

I consider that crop to be a great improvement.

And I'll add another vote for ditching the selective color. Hate it (in every instance, ever).

Then don't use it in your photos.

bfjr

Nice leathers

Oh and I don't like the second crop at all. I would like to see as much of the subject
as possible, as I feel her outfit as well as her figure add to the overall image.

As far as SC goes, your choice no biggy to me, in fact in this image I don't even
notice it :wow

michswiss

I think it is extremely likely that Dan was aware going in that SC isn't a favourite approach in this forum. That aside, my observation is that SC can lead to not driving the B&W elements to their potential. In this case, I think the contrast and black points could be stronger. So much grey.

Otherwise, I love the second crop.

dave6253

Renaissance Fair? I like the cropped version, AND the SC.:D

AndMan

Very nice shot Dan.
I've got to agree with Benjamin in not liking the crop, I find the juxtaposition of the woman with the people on the lhs of the image far more interesting than the interaction of the lurker. Indeed in the crop he actually appears to be looking past her rather than at her.

As for the SC imho it actually makes this a very nice shot. I know that SC is frowned on in street photography but when you take away the statement of the red-hair you are simply left with a dark haired woman in a costume, a nice capture but the SC raises it from a nice capture to a very nice photograph.

bdcolen

dlplumer wrote:

Sounds like you guys would prefer a crop like this:

Actually, the far more interesting crop, and appropriate given what we saw in the whole frame, would be to eliminate the guy on the right. The other folks in the original shot seemed to be totally ignoring her, which is much more intriguing. On the other hand, what do we have here, and what would we have without the selective color? A woman with big breasts and a bunch of people not staring at her.

And what is the point of the selective color, by the way? I understand that you love it, but...

dlplumer

My Thoughts
1. Firstly, I appreciate the feedback from everyone.

2. I did NOT know that the PJ forum had an inherent bias against SC, but I do know that this bias exists across dgrin as a whole. I find it similar to the overall bias against HDR, that many have.

3. Everyone has an opinion when it comes to art, but some think their opinion is the truth. Opinions vary on the photo that I submitted, and all photos. There is no 'right way' when it comes to art. (I know you all know this already):D

4. There is an intolerance toward SC on the part of many at dgrin such that "I hate anything with SC". This demonstrates, in my view, a lack of critical analysis in favor of following the conversational drift of "experts" that know better. There is nothing inherently "wrong" nor "right" about SC or any other artistic form of expression.

5. Under my avatar it says "coachable", and I am. What I resent is when some are sure that there perceptions are 'the truth'.

6. I have honestly looked at other perspectives, based upon your feedback, and indeed posted the suggested crop. I often (almost always) make changes to my landscape and wildlife work based upon the excellent feedback that is provided in those forums. I AM "very coachable", but in this case I simply prefer my original composition, SC and all.:D



7. BD, your crop opinion, which of course you are entitled to have, would totally defeat what the artist was trying to portray.

8. Michswiss, you provided an astute reason for avoiding SC, and I will go back and look at the b&w conversion to see if I would prefer some more contrast. Thank you:D

9. AndMan, you and I share the exact same opinion on this photo, and obviously WE are both correct

bdcolen

dlplumer wrote:

5. Under my avatar it says "coachable", and I am. What I resent is when some are sure that there perceptions are 'the truth'.


7. BD, your crop opinion, which of course you are entitled to have, would totally defeat what the artist was trying to portray.

l

I certainly understand #7. My point, however, is that based on what I am observing in the fully image, what you are trying to portray is something that is quite different from the actual "truth" of the event. What I see with my aging eyes are 12 - twelve - people paying less than no attention to the young woman displaying her breasts, and 1 - one - many apparently staring at her. But then that's just my opinion.

As to #5 - You say you are "teachable." That being the case you might want to consider why there is, as you perceive it, a prejudice against spot color not just in this forum, but across the breadth of Dgrin (I don't know that I'd agree with on on the latter, by the way.) I doubt it has anything to do with people perceiving "truth," but rather many people - certainly not all - believing that spot color is a gimmick that tends to detract from images more than it tends to improve them. It may also be that many people see it as something of a crutch, used to prop up weak images. Given that the image you posted is an intriguing one, I'd put it in the former category, rather than in the latter - what I see when I look at the image is that weird henna patch, rather than the story I assume you want me to see. But, again, that's my opinion. Period.

dlplumer

bfjr wrote:

Nice leathers

Oh and I don't like the second crop at all. I would like to see as much of the subject
as possible, as I feel her outfit as well as her figure add to the overall image.

As far as SC goes, your choice no biggy to me, in fact in this image I don't even
notice it :wow

Thanks Ben.