The Blacksmith

lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
edited February 16, 2005 in People
was hoping to get a predominent color but it was'nt to be..

15816809-L.jpg

15816801-L.jpg

15816816-L.jpg

Comments

  • dkappdkapp Registered Users Posts: 985 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2005
    I like the B&W version the best. The color versions almost seemed too busy for me. There is a lot going on in those pictures, and it was hard to find the focus for me.

    The B&W really did a great job at helping me focus on the blacksmith & help the other details fade into the background.

    Dave
  • lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2005
    dkapp wrote:
    I like the B&W version the best. The color versions almost seemed too busy for me. There is a lot going on in those pictures, and it was hard to find the focus for me.

    The B&W really did a great job at helping me focus on the blacksmith & help the other details fade into the background.

    Dave
    Thanks for comments dave..I'm leaning towards the black and white as well..
  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2005
    lynnma wrote:
    Thanks for comments dave..I'm leaning towards the black and white as well..
    Well, there ya go! Predominant color is gray. :)
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
  • digital faeriedigital faerie Registered Users Posts: 667 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2005
    I like the B&W one, too. I wonder how far I'd have to drive to get a shot of a blacksmith. :D
  • lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2005
    I like the B&W one, too. I wonder how far I'd have to drive to get a shot of a blacksmith. :D
    probably closer than you think..rolleyes1.gif thanks df.:D
  • AngeloAngelo Super Moderators Posts: 8,937 moderator
    edited February 14, 2005
    In #2, how about a tight crop on the apron, hammer and anvil? Just my $0.02
  • mfairbanksmfairbanks Registered Users Posts: 2 Beginner grinner
    edited February 14, 2005
    Greetings,

    I agree, nice photos of a quickly disapeering art, while I agree with the B & W lovers, how about a compromise, desaturate everything but the glowing metal?
    Just an idea....

    Mike
  • NoNoNoNo Registered Users Posts: 14 Big grins
    edited February 14, 2005
    mfairbanks wrote:
    Greetings,

    I agree, nice photos of a quickly disapeering art, while I agree with the B & W lovers, how about a compromise, desaturate everything but the glowing metal?
    Just an idea....

    Mike
    Precisely what I was thinking. That would look awesome with that picture.
  • lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2005
    NoNo wrote:
    Precisely what I was thinking. That would look awesome with that picture.
    thanks for comments all.. yes maybe thats an idea.. :D
  • lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2005
    lynnma wrote:
    thanks for comments all.. yes maybe thats an idea.. :D
    just experimenting now...

    15890212-L.jpg

    I like this one.. husband says "but Lynn, it's all blurred...." rolleyes1.gif


    15890961-L.jpg
  • John MuellerJohn Mueller Registered Users Posts: 2,555 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2005
    lynnma wrote:
    just experimenting now...

    15890212-L.jpg

    I like this one.. husband says "but Lynn, it's all blurred...." rolleyes1.gif


    15890961-L.jpg
    Keep on experimenting Lynn.I like the blurthumb.gif
  • CosmicCosmic Registered Users Posts: 219 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2005
    I like the B/W best too.

    I like Angelo's suggestion of the tight crop. I think they would look fab!
    Lead me not into Temptation. I can find the way myself....


  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,948 moderator
    edited February 15, 2005
    Lynnma,

    I think these work wonderfully with the selective color.
    Even t he "blurry" ones work for me.

    Nice job!

    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • gregneilgregneil Registered Users Posts: 255 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2005
    Wow, these are awesome. I like the first one quite a bit, I don't think it suffers from the "business" of the second one. The B&W one looks classic. I'm not usually a fan of selective color, but I think it works on these. I especially like the blurry one! I love how sharp the hand is compared to the rest of the body movement. It gives a real sense of energy and skill.
    There's a thin line between genius and stupid.
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited February 15, 2005
    lynnma wrote:
    was hoping to get a predominent color but it was'nt to be..

    15816809-S.jpg

    15816801-S.jpg

    15816816-S.jpg

    I was looking at these images and thinking about the comment about the busy background, and wondered what focal length lens you used. I went to your website but that information was not enabled.

    I wonder if you had used a wide angle, and gotten MUCH closer if you could have utilized the ability of the wide angle to emphasize the foreground and deemphasize the background. Including the tools of a craftsman at work is frequently a good idea. But shot from a closer perspective with a WA might deemphasize the background and simplify the image for your viewer - the clutter factor that Dave mentioned.
    I like the selective color shots you posted later in this thread quite abit also, Lynn. Particulary the blurred B&W with the red glowing steel bar. Very nicely done.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • ruttrutt Registered Users Posts: 6,511 Major grins
    edited February 16, 2005
    What a great subject, Lynn! And these are striking images. But there's always room for improvement, and here are some thoughts.

    If you reshoot, I'd try to figure out a way to get both the smith's face and his work in the same shot. Undoubtedly, what he is doing takes a lot of concentration and that would be very interesting. You could play with DOF here, keeping his eye in focus and letting the glowing hot metal get soft. Or the opposite. A drammatic angle might catch face (especially eyes), hands, and work. Get this to work and the image will be so striking that the background won't matter. (Like Andy's Hanukkah image, remember that?)

    Even if you don't reshoot, the second image with the curled red hot metal is very nice. Why not try cropping upper right to lose the blue thing. Something like this:

    15990479-O.jpg
    If not now, when?
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited February 16, 2005
    Lynn, is this what you entered in the last challenge? Great subj, I agree.

    I really like the "blur" shot, but then everyone would know I would. However tell your DH and anyone else that it is not ALL blurred. The blue focuses the attention on the work being done. And it is blur, too.clap.gif

    Good stuff, gingerthumb.gif
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
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