Interesting Saturday at Lujiazui

[damonff]

I saw some cool people yesterday...

This guy was relaxing on a bench alone...
http://nomadstudios.smugmug.com/photos/3390515-L.jpg

I caught this guy with the swivel feature of the 828 but I SWEAR he saw me and posed...
http://nomadstudios.smugmug.com/photos/3391614-L.jpg

This lady stood out from the pack so I made her stand out...
http://nomadstudios.smugmug.com/photos/3391613-L.jpg

[rutt]

I saw some cool people yesterday...


As usual, I love your street photography. What made you decide to go to b+w / color for the last shot? THis is a very drammatic technique, but it also carries a message in a shot like this. The person in color is somehow alive in a way that the otehr people are not. Did you mean to say this? I can't figure out why from the picture.
Am I on the right track?

[rutt]

Loved the second and third shots (but see my previous post). The first shot is a candidate for my distracting backgrounds photoshop challenge. Perhaps the technique of the third shot (b+w background, color subject) would work in this case?

[damonff]

Hey Rutt, thanks for the kudos.

The third picture has the most beautiful woman with braids in it. I wanted to make sure that she stood out, that she wasn't lost in the crowd but I didn't want to crop the rest of the people as they contribute to the dynamic nature, the walking. What would you suggest?

The guy in the second photo was really cool. I have a few shots of him.

[rutt]

Hey Rutt, thanks for the kudos.

The third picture has the most beautiful woman with braids in it. I wanted to make sure that she stood out, that she wasn't lost in the crowd but I didn't want to crop the rest of the people as they contribute to the dynamic nature, the walking. What would you suggest?


Post the original and let me see.

[Sam]

[QUOTE=damonff]I saw some cool people yesterday...


Great shots! I always look forward to seeing your posts. Your photos are giving us a non political, everyday look at China and it's people.

As for the third photo....my take is simple.....the raw (out of the camera) data can be post processed hundreds of ways. This was your way...

Mona Lisa could have been painted in many different ways.....it wasn't (You probably won't be as well know as da Vinci, but then again, your still alive) :D

Please continue.

[damonff]

Third - original

http://nomadstudios.smugmug.com/photos/3406401-L.jpg

[Seamaiden]

Oddly enough, to my eye, this woman stands out "more" (read: differently.. hard to explain) in the original shot than in the manipulated shot. She really is quite beautiful.

[damonff]

I agree with you and Rutt, Seamaiden. She is beautiful enough to stand out on her own. If I ever get my book on China published, I'll leave the whole thing in color. Thanks for the advice!

[rutt]

Oddly enough, to my eye, this woman stands out "more" (read: differently.. hard to explain) in the original shot than in the manipulated shot. She really is quite beautiful.
I agree with this. I love the original and find the manipulated shot distracting. Perhaps it's the bright colors of the flowers that you moved you to apply the selective B+W? I wonder if there is some good way to blur this (as if it had been done with DOF?)

[ian408]

I like the b+w version of the image. I think what makes her stand out in
that image is that she appears taller than the others in the picture and her
hair is a very western style. She seems to be contemplating something
where the others seem to be enjoying conversation--though that could
just be the moment.

My suggestion would be to punch up the black of the coats and
maybe white in the faces. Instead of bluring the flowers, take
the tone down a bit? The end result would be an image that
appeared to have three layers.

I really love seeing these street photos.

Do you know what the red tag on the jackets mean?

Ian

[damonff]

How's this?

http://nomadsudios.smugmug.com/photos/3415911-L.jpg

[damonff]

Thanks for the idea Ian. I was told that the red tag on the jackets is the name of their Buddhist organization. My Chinese is still too poor to give you a real translation.

[wxwax]

Very nice thread. Damonff, add me to the list of people who enjoy seeing everyday street life in China. I think the guy in #2 has a face full of character. His clothing tells a story too.

[ian408]

How's this?

http://nomadsudios.smugmug.com/photos/3415911-L.jpg
I think the blur takes away from the image.

[damonff]

Ian, I'm going to try your idea of increasing the blacks when I get home from work today.