Want Your Opinion: Mono, Duotone #01 or Duotone #02

elfving73

Hello friends!


I gonna order a 20x30 cm print of this image [The City Hall Of Stockholm / Sweden] and hang it on the wall. But I can't make up my mind what version I prefer. I tend to "feel a little more" about the Duotone #...... or... no, lemme see... Nope! I just don't know! But I think I'll go with one of the Duotones! Do you like the crop? Is it well "balanced"?
What would you do differently? Comments and critics are welcome. :thumb :duel(Braincell Battle - Duotone#01 Vs Duotone #02)

Regards / Matty

[Mono]


[Duotone #01]


[Duotone #02]

Dee

Well, that's a tough one
Given that I'm not partial to black and white at all, I have to say Duotone #1 hurts my eyes... and Duotone #2 just looks to brown, so I'd have to say I prefer the Mono version.

What interesting design in the brick pattern on the walk, BTW

MuskyDude

#1 for me Matty, beautiful. And get bigger walls!




AJ

WaterfallRich

Excellent image! Man, that is a tough choice. Maybe one of each?? Personally, I like the mono best, then #3, then #2.

BTW - how's Monica doing?? Sorry, I couldn't resist

ChrisJ

I agree. Mono works the best for me...

elfving73

Haha! Thank you, MuskyDude!
Hey! I wrote 20X30 CM, not 20X30 Meters! *Haha* Just pullin' your legs! So far, I've got plenty of empty walls. :

MuskyDude wrote:

#1 for me Matty, beautiful. And get bigger walls!




AJ

DavidTO

3 is definitely too much.

In the end, I go with 1.

System

Fantastic Image... I agree with everyone else #1

elfving73

Thanx Rich!
Hmm.... maybe that would be an cool idea. What if I put them side by side, with a few cm between - mono, duo1, duo2 in a big frame. Could be nice. What do ya recon?

Monica is doin' just fine. She's a proud mother nowadays. Infact, we were invited for her sons baptism 2 weeks ago. Very nice! I wish I could have roamed free with my camera, but with two sons to keep track of, that's not gonna happen. I only got a few opportunities to swing it - and that of course with the cam in my right hand, and my son Elliot in the other.

WaterfallRich wrote:

Excellent image! Man, that is a tough choice. Maybe one of each?? Personally, I like the mono best, then #3, then #2.

BTW - how's Monica doing?? Sorry, I couldn't resist

elfving73

Thanx Chris!
I realize now, that askin' for others opinion really dosn't make it easier for me to choose! *Hahaha*

95Mcaj wrote:

I agree. Mono works the best for me...

elfving73

Thank you, David!
What a fool I am - asking for others opinion just makes it even harder to choose!!! *Haha* But it is still interesting to hear what other think!

Matty

DavidTO wrote:

3 is definitely too much.

In the end, I go with 1.

elfving73

Thank you, BrothersMedia!
I'm getting curious - in the end, will the U.F.F.M [United Front For Mono] influence me? *Haha* Well, we'll see! I was leaning towards one of the Duotones......

Matty

BrothersMedia wrote:

Fantastic Image... I agree with everyone else #1

Higgmeister

elfving73 wrote:

I'm getting curious - in the end, will the U.F.F.M [United Front For Mono] influence me? *Haha* Well, we'll see! I was leaning towards one of the Duotones......

Matty

Mono we stand, united we fall.

Another consideration. If you print the duotone, it's printed on color paper which can color shift in time. If you print the mono on true B&W paper, no color shift:D.

Decisions...Decisions.

Any easier yet?
Chris

BTW, a super shot. Glad you are going to put some up on your walls.

Phil U.

Duo #2 is over the top for me. I do really like Duo #1. But then again Mono is a great choice also. (hehehe, I know we're not helping you...)

elfving73

You! Yooou! Yoooou! *Hahaha*
There goes my good night sleep! *Dwell-dwell-dwell*

*Stretching out my arms in a stranglehold gesture!* Shame on you for giving me more anguish! This is what you deserver: ==> :whip

*Haha* But.... color shift in time, huh! Until the color is faded, I have saved up for a new copy! After all, the RAW-file stays unchanged!

Now I'm gonna TRY to get some sleep! See ya around!

Matty

Higgmeister wrote:

Mono we stand, united we fall.

Another consideration. If you print the duotone, it's printed on color paper which can color shift in time. If you print the mono on true B&W paper, no color shift:D.

Decisions...Decisions.

Any easier yet?
Chris

BTW, a super shot. Glad you are going to put some up on your walls.

USAIR

Matty

elfving73 wrote:

I realize now, that askin' for others opinion really dosn't make it easier for me to choose! *Hahaha*

I quit trying to figure out why people like certain photos a long time ago

For me #3 is the best
I opened 3 browsers each on a different photo and switched between the three
Still like #3 ...might be too much but I don't think so

Nice shots anyway you look at it

Thanks
Fred

elfving73

Haha! When I'm done with Higgmeister...
... you are next in line for some :flush *Haha* Thanx for your SUPPORT, Phil!

Matty

Phil U. wrote:

Duo #2 is over the top for me. I do really like Duo #1. But then again Mono is a great choice also. (hehehe, I know we're not helping you...)

elfving73

Thanx Fred! I still can't make up my mind!
But I noticed something today when looking at them again. The duotones are much more "busy" or how to explain it. If I look at the duotones for a few sec, then look at the mono, I can sense an instant relaxation in my eyes. I dunno if that should be counted in when deciding?

Matty

USAIR wrote:

I quit trying to figure out why people like certain photos a long time ago

For me #3 is the best
I opened 3 browsers each on a different photo and switched between the three
Still like #3 ...might be too much but I don't think so

Nice shots anyway you look at it

Thanks
Fred

Dee

Told you they hurt my eyes...

elfving73 wrote:

But I noticed something today when looking at them again. The duotones are much more "busy" or how to explain it. If I look at the duotones for a few sec, then look at the mono, I can sense an instant relaxation in my eyes. I dunno if that should be counted in when deciding?

Matty

Why not try taking down the contrast (lowering contrast) on the duotones, especially #2 and see if that helps.

That's the main reason I preferred the monotone... it didn't hurt my eyes

: : :

pathfinder

I prefer the B& W mono - I would suggest 20 by 30 inches - not centimeters!!

gtc

duotone#1
i prefer the duotone #1-it appears punchier and with better contrast ,on the screen anyway-the thing is that you really can't tell how your toning will look on the screen-the test is after printing-its only then that you can really see what you have-also this opinion shopping process won't help too much-if its a good image(subject,composition and execution) then the subtle differences in post processing aren't going to make much of a difference to the pictures success.

give people a choice and you will have different opinions-once its printed and on the wall they will not have a choice-they will either like it as is or not-and you won't have people saying that they like it BUT would have preferred it if you had stuck to monotone...the question which you must answer is "which do you prefer?"

elfving73 wrote:

There goes my good night sleep! *Dwell-dwell-dwell*

*Stretching out my arms in a stranglehold gesture!* Shame on you for giving me more anguish! This is what you deserver: ==> :whip

*Haha* But.... color shift in time, huh! Until the color is faded, I have saved up for a new copy! After all, the RAW-file stays unchanged!

Now I'm gonna TRY to get some sleep! See ya around!

Matty

Hikin' Mike

#1 definately (mono).

David_S85

Well...
... I like the first duotone better than the B&W. It's a bit more subdued than dt#2 (which is too much treatment). Not that the B&W is bad, it is in fact very nice. Either way you go, you've got a great image.

ltdesignphotovideo

I truly like your duotones but I think they're a little too heavy. The second shot is close to what I'm getting at but it's still a little heavy. Maybe just "warm up" the mono with a light sepia instead of being so heavy with it. It's too brown. Just give it enough to warm the tone a little bit then go for it. It would give a more inviting feel without it being too over the top with the duotone. Give it a try and see what you think.

G K

Matty It would have to be no.1 for me too - it is much easier on the eyes and the cool contrast is defitnitely attractive to me!

~ gaurav

grimace

#1 for me
Matty,

I'd have to go with #1. It just seams sharper and more natural. Great work!!

-Adam

www.adamstravelphotography.com

pmccurdy

Wow!
That's reallly exquisite. I vote for number two as a close second to number one.

I wish I could hang that on my wall and call it my own!

Patrick