Eight women (three versions)

Richard

1

2

3

Dunno.

sarasphotos

I like the first bw only best. Really a great see Richard, love the contrast in the type of interaction between the two groups.

Juano

I think the last one is kind of fun.

David_S85

1st. The selective color doesn't work for me in this situation.

denisegoldberg

I like the first one too.

Awais Yaqub

I prefer the color version

David_S85

I am warming up to the all color version now, but still like the B&W better.

Cavalier

Ok, contrary me really likes #3 best. it seems also to identify the differences between the groups as well. Love it!

Richard

Thanks for the interesting feedback, everyone. I originally posted the color version on SmugMug, but the more I looked at it, the more I found the colors of the civilian women jarring, especially the red pants. So I decided to post a B&W version here, which seemed to work OK. Still, I missed the blue of the nuns, so I tried a selective color version just as an experiment. I've never been a fan of selective color--I've only ever done one that I was fully happy with--and I guess this hasn't really changed my mind. Yeah, it solves my color quandary, but otherwise I don't think it adds to the narrative. Still, it's kind of cool. But also contrived. Dunno--I'll have to look again in a few days.

[Deleted User]

And I miss the fourth version. The seculars in color and the clericals in B&W could give some associations.

Richard

@Jørgen_Bjerring said:
And I miss the fourth version. The seculars in color and the clericals in B&W could give some associations.

Hmm...I hadn't thought of that. I just tried it, but didn't really like the results. I had to darken the habits some to emphasize the point, but then it ended up telling a different story, one that I didn't really have in mind. And the red pants were still there. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Cygnus Studios

I like the first one best myself. The scene just works better for me in black and white.

JAG

2nd is my fav. I like the realistic contrast between the multiple color of the one disorganized group of ladies and the formal blue uniform of the tight knit group. Great catch Richard!

puzzledpaul

Well seen / good catch .. have you considered cropping out the bit of 'street furniture' (or whatever it is) ... on frame left?

pp

Richard

Thanks Steve and Joyce. Looks like there's something for everyone here

@puzzledpaul said:
have you considered cropping out the bit of 'street furniture' (or whatever it is) ... on frame left?

I considered it but thought it put the nuns too close to the edge of the frame. Looking at it again, it seems like it might work. Thanks, Paul.

puzzledpaul

Re the crop possibility, I actually tried it before posting - and - to my eyes anyway, because of the relatively small amount of 'daylight' behind the rightmost woman ... it seemed to work ... and ended up as an almost spot on 4:3 shot (not that 'numbers' really matter).
Whilst the main subject matter is strong, its presence was enough of an 'eye pull' - to me - to comment.

In many shots the prominent dark vertical structure could easily be a right pita - but here, it definitely adds to the pic.

It's also an interesting pic re my usual comment - using a low / different pov - since whilst this wouldn't change the absolute height of the two groups - it would certainly have the potential to change the emphasis / relationship between them.
I've no real idea whether there's a religious / secular element / aspect to what's going on in your neck 'o the woods atm - but I could easily imagine how this shot taken from my usual pov could result in comments.

The shot would make a good discussion piece from the pov level alone imo ... and it'd be relatively easy to change the position of the nuns group to illustrate same .

pp

torags

Number 1 for me

Looks like a slight hill, well seen & composed

Nice work Richard

Richard

Thanks, Rags. Yes, it was a slight incline.

@puzzledpaul said:
Re the crop possibility, I actually tried it before posting - and - to my eyes anyway, because of the relatively small amount of 'daylight' behind the rightmost woman ... it seemed to work ...
The shot would make a good discussion piece from the pov level alone imo ... and it'd be relatively easy to change the position of the nuns group to illustrate same .

RE: crop. You're correct. It also applies to the height of the tallest woman, so it would be consistent with the rest.
I'm not sure I understand what you're suggesting about the position of the nuns--do you mean as an exercise or as an actual edit? The latter doesn't look easy to me, dunno.

puzzledpaul

Re nuns position ... no, I wasn't really suggesting you actually do anything ... it (the pic) just struck me as a good example (imo) of the sort of thing often seen when an image / picture editor decides on a particular emphasis for a story headline.
Typically observed when 2 'major players' in world politics (say) meet up for sarnies and a natter ... who's going to have their shoulder in front of the other, situation ?

Moving the nuns group up / down would be relatively easy because of the (essentially) vertically aligned (and otherwise clean, uncluttered) bg - to end up with a convincing pic would, of course be another matter - but that wasn't my intention.

pp

Richard

Got it. Yes, I agree that subtle changes can tell a different story.

Cornflake

Cool shot! I like the first two but selective color is always artificial to me. I'd consider staying with color but locally reducing the saturation of the reds and the yellow blouse. It's also fine as is, but the jarring colors would bother me after a while.

Richard

Good idea Don. I've gotten lazy about targeted color adjustment, but this might be a good time to use it.

I like it. Thanks for the suggestion.

ziggy53

@Cornflake said:
Cool shot! I like the first two but selective color is always artificial to me. I'd consider staying with color but locally reducing the saturation of the reds and the yellow blouse. It's also fine as is, but the jarring colors would bother me after a while.

@Richard said:
Good idea Don. I've gotten lazy about targeted color adjustment, but this might be a good time to use it.

I like it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Bingo! This version works much better. Now the two groups are more equal in terms of visual attention. Great suggestion by Cornflake/Don and a wonderful implementation by Richard!

Gotta say, this thread discussion by all members involved has been one of the best on this forum. This caliber of people is the reason I stay here, at the Digital Grin.

denisegoldberg

@Richard said:
Good idea Don. I've gotten lazy about targeted color adjustment, but this might be a good time to use it.

This is now my favorite of the set. It is more subtle than the first color version; I prefer this one over the B&W.

torags

This relates to the resolution of current great sensors...

They can be better and beyond reality to the edge artificiality....

Cornflake

I also think it's an improvement.

sarasphotos

I've taken one more look at all of the versions and I still am fondest of the very first bw version for the reason that it cuts to the core of the contrast between the two groups "sacred and secular". For me the contrast between the two groups doesn't necessarily need the color - it's there in the differing body positions and clothing of the two groups. That said, I also agree that the last version with selective desaturation is a good way of working it.

@ziggy53: yes, it's sure nice to see an active discussion take place! I'm always learning here.

Richard

Yes, this discussion has been quite helpful. I hadn't considered desaturation before, but it was a big improvement for the color version. I also like the B&W.

Thanks again to all for your feedback.

Michiel de Brieder

Hi Richard,

Nice shot! As it is I like the desaturated color shot the best! If you still fell like working on this picture I would suggest making a selective color version where only the women in front are B/W the rest of the picture in color, would be very interesting to see how that would pan out.

Thanks for sharing!

Cheers
Michiel

rainbow

My how things have changed in this forum. Selective color? I should call you "Tony"...

B/W all the way for me. Then the attention is drawn entirely to the two groups first and the contrast between them which to me is the gist of the photo.
Once you go to color, my eyes and brain become really busy. The faces on the right command attention. The wall commands attention. So do the flowers. And if the shot were just of the nuns, then the blue might have been nice visually, but with the second group becomes distracting again. You might think the blues connect the two groups, but this happens quicker and better in black and white.

BTW, this would have been a different discussion about the merits of this photo (I really like it!) if you had only posted the B/W version.

Richard

Thanks for commenting, Michiel and rainbow. Both the B&W and the desaturated color one work for me. I rather like the detail of the flowers the nun is holding, which tends to get lost in B&W. But I absolutely refuse to do a version with only the flowers in color I'll try most anything, but I'm really not much of a selective color fan.