G20 Riots.

marcusrichphoto · January 18, 2012

Hey guys, I'd love to get your impressions on this picture taken at the 2009 G20 riots in London, have I done the picture justice or have I over tweeked (I am sometimes guilty of this)?

Richard · January 18, 2012

It's a great shot, but IMO the processing makes it look unreal.

marcusrichphoto · January 18, 2012

Richard wrote: »

It's a great shot, but IMO the processing makes it look unreal.

Thanks for your comment Richard, what is the key thing you would say makes it look unreal?

I made some contrast adjustments, added some detail and threw some of the crowd out of focus to try and pick out some of the key charactors in the crowd and give it more drama.

Here is the original...

MarkR · January 18, 2012

Your 2nd post is much better. The first one draws too much attention to the PP, not enough to the action, which is where your real story is.

bdcolen · January 18, 2012

MarkR wrote: »

Your 2nd post is much better. The first one draws too much attention to the PP, not enough to the action, which is where your real story is.

What he said.:-) And I would add that the color in this one also seems a bit 'off.' I'd like to see this in a good black and white conversion as I find the color distracting.

marcusrichphoto · January 18, 2012

bdcolen wrote: »

What he said.:-) And I would add that the color in this one also seems a bit 'off.' I'd like to see this in a good black and white conversion as I find the color distracting.

Thanks guys, I'll have a stab at a mono conversion later and post back. Here is a B&W image from the same set...

sara505 · January 18, 2012

Like the BW, but I'm not a fan of HDR or whatever it's called.

Nmahooch · January 18, 2012

I like them all- The processing on the 1st one looks cinematic. It works well. I would have loved to be there to get some pics.

good job.

bfjr · January 18, 2012

Nmahooch wrote: »

I like them all- The processing on the 1st one looks cinematic. It works well. I would have loved to be there to get some pics.

good job.

I would agree with that, and no I don't care for HDR but this one has some draw to me.

To me the B&W needs more contrast.

Juano · January 18, 2012

I like the crop in #1, but I think it is over processed. It somehow works though. Having said that I think a very contrasty and grainy BW would maintain the sense of drama and tension just as effectively.

Great shot.

marcusrichphoto · January 19, 2012

Thanks for all your comments guys. I still quite like the first image, although looking back at it, I'd tone down the saturation a little, especially the reds, I'll have a go at a B&W version too, didn't have time to do it last night.

By the way, the image isn't HDR, I made the adjustments using a Photoshop plug-in called Topaz Adjust.

marcusrichphoto · January 19, 2012

Nmahooch wrote: »

I like them all- The processing on the 1st one looks cinematic. It works well. I would have loved to be there to get some pics.

good job.

Thanks

I went along to the protest in my work lunch hour, I ended up being stuck in the middle of it all for nearly 3 hours, only managing to get out with the help of a press photographer, it was really exciting stuff. I saw which way the crowd were going and could feel it was about to kick off, so I grabbed the best position I could, held my ground against other photographers and started clicking away just as all the action started.

MarkR · January 19, 2012

marcusrichphoto wrote: »

Thanks for all your comments guys. I still quite like the first image, although looking back at it, I'd tone down the saturation a little, especially the reds, I'll have a go at a B&W version too, didn't have time to do it last night.

By the way, the image isn't HDR, I made the adjustments using a Photoshop plug-in called Topaz Adjust.

Adjust does create a very strong HDR-style effect. I prefer to use it on a seperate layer so that I can fade the opacity. BTW, I don't think it's wrong to use creative effects like Topaz on an image like this, but in your first image it is so strong that it overpowers your message.

If you haven't read it yet, I recommend David DuChemin's Vision and Voice, which has some really good insights about when and how to post-process images in order to realize (voice) your vision.

marcusrichphoto · January 19, 2012

MarkR wrote: »

Adjust does create a very strong HDR-style effect. I prefer to use it on a seperate layer so that I can fade the opacity. BTW, I don't think it's wrong to use creative effects like Topaz on an image like this, but in your first image it is so strong that it overpowers your message.

If you haven't read it yet, I recommend David DuChemin's Vision and Voice, which has some really good insights about when and how to post-process images in order to realize (voice) your vision.

Hey Mark.

I do use Topaz the same way, but guess I overdid it a little on this occasion. Topaz is one of my fav plug-ins for CS5, but I must resist using it quite so much. I've been learning to use High Pass filter and other CS5 tools to get similar, but less drastic results.

The books looks intesting, I'll nip off to Amazon and get myself a copy.

Thanks,

M.

Quincy T · January 19, 2012

sara505 wrote: »

Like the BW, but I'm not a fan of HDR or whatever it's called.

Hahaha. Sara, I think I love you now. Don't tell my wife.

Cowboydoug · January 19, 2012

For what it's worth... I like the 1st shot best ... But I think it needed just a hit of blacks in LR...
IMO ... The issue i think people have with images tweaked like this is that they aren't used to seeing the demension this processing affords. Imagine what it was like when people first got a look at color images... This is the way things are going to go with our images... I am already seeing images like this in news papers... So I say... More please... And thank you;)

sara505 · January 19, 2012

Quincy T wrote: »

Hahaha. Sara, I think I love you now. Don't tell my wife.

Ha ha - the story of my life :-)

rainbow · January 20, 2012

Incredible shots! Well seen and taken.

...And my belief is that if the photo speaks for itself, then any "overboard" treatment devalues the image. These images speak for themselves!

Cowboydoug · January 20, 2012

I'm going to chide in 1 more time... It's not an overboard treatment... It is literally a new style of photography... I remember when I bought my 1st digital camera in '99... I didn't like not having my negatives - nothing to hold up to the light.
You have to admit there is added definition & depth.

Have you done any portraits with this technique? I would love to see more... I'll be posting some of my junk here pretty soon

marcusrichphoto · January 21, 2012

So, I've finally got around to doing a B&W version of the first image, here is the result...

marcusrichphoto · January 21, 2012

Cowboydoug wrote: »

I'm going to chide in 1 more time... It's not an overboard treatment... It is literally a new style of photography... I remember when I bought my 1st digital camera in '99... I didn't like not having my negatives - nothing to hold up to the light.
You have to admit there is added definition & depth.

Have you done any portraits with this technique? I would love to see more... I'll be posting some of my junk here pretty soon

Howdy Cowboydoug, thanks for your kind comments.

Here's a portrait done with a similar technique, using the high-pass filter...

Cowboydoug · January 21, 2012

Love the shot... Show us a larger version of your Self portrait

marcusrichphoto · January 21, 2012

Cowboydoug wrote: »

I'm going to chide in 1 more time... It's not an overboard treatment... It is literally a new style of photography... I remember when I bought my 1st digital camera in '99... I didn't like not having my negatives - nothing to hold up to the light.
You have to admit there is added definition & depth.

Have you done any portraits with this technique? I would love to see more... I'll be posting some of my junk here pretty soon

Cowboydoug wrote: »

Love the shot... Show us a larger version of your Self portrait

On the way to a 70's fancy dress party... :cool

Ed911 · January 21, 2012

I like the first one...big fan of HDR...when it's not overdone, and I don't think yours is...in my opinion. HDR has a lot to offer. Other than the post processing, I also like the crop...it's up close and personal. When you pull back, you lose the participation factor...so, number one is my favorite of the color processed ones.

I also like your RAW mono conversion...very nice angle...good capture...I think you were in just the right place to capture the crowd...inspiring. I get the feeling that I'm looking through a window, albeit a monotone window.

Thanks for posting...maybe Dgrin would like to start a forum for HDR.

marcusrichphoto · January 21, 2012

Ed911 wrote: »

I like the first one...big fan of HDR...when it's not overdone, and I don't think yours is...in my opinion. HDR has a lot to offer. Other than the post processing, I like the crop...it's up close and personal. When you pull back, you lose the participation factor...so, number one is my favorite of the color processed ones.

I also like your RAW mono conversion...very nice angle...good capture...I think you were in just the right place to capture the crowd...inspiring. I get the feeling that I'm looking through a window, albeit a monotone window.

Thanks for posting...maybe Dgrin would like to start a forum for HDR.

Hey Ed,

Thanks for your comments.

I definitely believe HDR, or whatever it’s called, has its place amongst all styles of photography, some shots it suits, some it doesn’t. Why should an HDR conversion be viewed any differently to say, a black and white edit, or any other styles of photographic editing. Sure, some people are guilty of over doing it, I certainly did this in some of my early experiments, but if it’s used well, it can really enhance an image.

Red Epic cameras offer a dynamic range of 18 stops, these cameras are way out of most people’s price range, but if your affordable camera had this function, would you refuse to use it, I don’t think so personally.

I’d also like to see an HDR thread/forum, it'd certainly ruffle a few feathers

Cowboydoug · January 21, 2012

marcusrichphoto wrote: »

Howdy Cowboydoug, thanks for your kind comments.

Here's a portrait done with a similar technique, using the high-pass filter...

Forgive my ignorance... How does a high pass filter compare to ... Say... photomatix? I'm guessing high pass is simply a PS filter? I haven't played with it yet but will give it a look-see in a bit.
Just last night I loaded my 1st panorama into photomatix... I'm still working it and it's taking shape... Considering I don't know what I'm doing:)

marcusrichphoto · January 21, 2012

Cowboydoug wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance... How does a high pass filter compare to ... Say... photomatix? I'm guessing high pass is simply a PS filter? I haven't played with it yet but will give it a look-see in a bit.
Just last night I loaded my 1st panorama into photomatix... I'm still working it and it's taking shape... Considering I don't know what I'm doing:)

I meant a similar technique to Topaz Adjust, I haven't used Photomatix for any of these images. High Pass can give an image a more contrasty punch and grittyness, it's also a great sharpening tool, depending on which blending mode you use.

P.s. I look forward to seeing your results.

G20 Riots.

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