Another one of those "Can't decide" threads

Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
edited October 11, 2011 in Other Cool Shots
The next competition at my club is Mono, Open topic. anything goes, as long as it's "one colour plus black". I can enter 2 images.

I have a couple of choices, such as this one:

6222496612_f5c2b9e141_z.jpg
Duck Feather Mono by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

But then I have these:

6201104640_bc6755a2c8_z.jpg
Annie in 50mm by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

6199856287_16784ba9d9_z.jpg
Ruby 50mm by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

I know the critique of the annie shot is no eye's in view (well, not much) but then being an open copmpetition, it isn't a PORTRAIT competition, so that's not so much of an issue.

I also have this which I like, but again, some critique given before about the background being too intrusive...

6113085314_8ac6c9e31c_z.jpg
tyger 2 by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

Any thoughts greatly appreciated about these, or should I go and look for something else?

Cheers

Comments

  • YaflyyadieYaflyyadie Registered Users Posts: 558 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2011
    To my taste, I'll go with # 1 and 3.
    Both are very good and show a lot of details.
    Now, number 2 is some sort of such a candid natural shot, that the eyes issue is not of importance.
    Good Luck.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Y.
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2011
    Yaflyyadie wrote: »
    To my taste, I'll go with # 1 and 3.
    Both are very good and show a lot of details.
    Now, number 2 is some sort of such a candid natural shot, that the eyes issue is not of importance.
    Good Luck.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Y.


    Thank you for your input. :)

    I personally love the second, but then I am biased. :)
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2011
    A few people have suggested "Ruby" could do with a little more space on the right, so I made some (it wasn't there in the original shot).

    Any good?

    6223115368_23ed111716_o.jpg
    Ruby 50mm right space crop by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr
  • chrisdgchrisdg Registered Users Posts: 366 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2011
    while #1 is visually interesting, it's a bit overprocessed in my opinion (busy, heavy lines in the water compete with the duck for attention). And something about not being able to see the eyes of the sleeping duck causes it to lose its "living" feel for me.

    #3 is simply irresistible. and I prefer the tight square crop to the new version, since it gets us closer to her and emphasizes those adorable facial features. Adding the extra space pushes her back a bit, less personal. If any of the judges have a little girl in their life, this image should really hit home for them. And it would make for a fantastic large, square FotoFlot!

    edit: oh, I just asked my wife for her opinion (without expressing mine) and she said "definitely #3!"
    -Chris D.
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  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2011
    chrisdg wrote: »
    while #1 is visually interesting, it's a bit overprocessed in my opinion (busy, heavy lines in the water compete with the duck for attention). And something about not being able to see the eyes of the sleeping duck causes it to lose its "living" feel for me.

    #3 is simply irresistible. and I prefer the tight square crop to the new version, since it gets us closer to her and emphasizes those adorable facial features. Adding the extra space pushes her back a bit, less personal. If any of the judges have a little girl in their life, this image should really hit home for them. And it would make for a fantastic large, square FotoFlot!

    edit: oh, I just asked my wife for her opinion (without expressing mine) and she said "definitely #3!"

    Thanks. I realise the duck is overprocessed, and I may well tone it down some. I do like it as a texture image, rather than as a duck in particular. But that is definitely my concern, that the members judging won't see past the duck to the B/W textures.

    For the Ruby shot, I deliberately cropped as square...some people of course have differing opinions, hence the rework, but I think I still like the square crop. But there's still time to change my mind in the next week and a half!

    Thanks for your (and your wife's) input.

    :)
  • rainbowrainbow Registered Users Posts: 2,765 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2011
    From an outstanding set, Ruby in square crop stands apart.

    Note in square crop, the upper right corner of background is blotchy (not there in second version).
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2011
    rainbow wrote: »
    From an outstanding set, Ruby in square crop stands apart.

    Note in square crop, the upper right corner of background is blotchy (not there in second version).

    Thanks...I'll take a look at that blotchy area. :)

    Cheers
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited October 9, 2011
    My vote also goes to Ruby with the square crop, blotch fixed of course ;)

    Her eyes a lovely and she draws the viewer in.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
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  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited October 9, 2011
    Snowgirl wrote: »
    My vote also goes to Ruby with the square crop, blotch fixed of course ;)

    Her eyes a lovely and she draws the viewer in.

    I'm on it...blotch be gone!

    :)
  • JuanoJuano Registered Users Posts: 4,891 Major grins
    edited October 10, 2011
    Yaflyyadie wrote: »
    To my taste, I'll go with # 1 and 3.
    Both are very good and show a lot of details.
    Now, number 2 is some sort of such a candid natural shot, that the eyes issue is not of importance.
    Good Luck.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Y.


    I agree.
    Cristóbal


    www.mind-driftphoto.com
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited October 11, 2011
    Juano wrote: »
    I agree.

    Thanks. :)
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited October 11, 2011
    I'd go with your Ruby shot, BTL. Your subject is very strong and would solicit more reaction from the viewers. The expression you captured is also priceless. As for the extra post-processing, my opinion is this:

    1. Go straight to normal b&w. The image is already strong enough and making it a plain b&w would somehow make it more compelling.

    2. Lower the contrast of the image. The highlights are too hot for me. Instead of keeping my focus on the eyes, I'm taking more time looking at the bright spots but I don't see much significance on them.

    3. Lower the highlights to make the skin tone a little even.

    4. Soften the image a little bit. The gritty highly sharpened look does not seem to go along with the soft look of the child.

    5. Add a little noise on the image. It would make the shot look old like the pre-war era.

    If you may, something like this:

    6234301276_295abc43e0_b.jpg

    If you found the edit offensive, kindly inform me so I can take it down. Good luck on the competition, bro'.
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

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  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited October 11, 2011
    Not offensivve in the slightest! A lovely edit...I like!

    I will have a go at this, see if I can match yours.

    Thank you. :)
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