Few shots - need your opinion

[dimm]

Hi all. Please, look on these pictures. This is single shot with different photoshop processing. I personally, love the first one, but few of my friends told me, that #2 or #3 is better.
Don't hesitate to critique me :thumb
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All that jazz

#1
http://dimm.smugmug.com/photos/30687035-L.jpg


#2
http://dimm.smugmug.com/photos/30795355-L.jpg


#3
http://dimm.smugmug.com/photos/30795351-L.jpg

[JamesJWeg]

It is number 2 for my, 1 has too much white, and 3 is a little too dull, maybe between 2 and 3 would be good.

James.

[gluwater]

I think the sax in the first pic has too much detail to it compared to the rest of the photo. Maybe apply the same effect you used on the rest of the photo but keep the color. My .02

Nick

[JamesJWeg]

I think it is the fact that you lost the outline of the base dude in 1 that killed it for me, might work if you got his outline back.

James.

[Higgmeister]

Hi Dimm,
I'm not a fan of selective color for this very reason. Here, the sax is colored so that must be what your subject is. If that's what you want, you can get rid of the bass player and defocus the drums and player more as they are both distracting to the sax. A good use for selective color is when you want to draw the attention to the subject. Here, I'm assuming the players are the subject which the color sax takes away from. I'd prefer a pure B&W shot to any of these, but #3 is best IMHO. For #1, you'd be best off just shooting a sax in color with a nice background. It doesn't accent the band at all.

Just my .02 and my biases,
Chris

[rutt]

I agree with Higgmeister. Selective color has been done. Its very unsubtle. It's hard to find a use that is original. I've only seen a few in the last year that I thought worked. I've seen more than one muical instrument that was colored with B&W musicians and I didn't think any of them worked.

The shot has potential. Go back to the color version and make it as good as you can without gimmicks. I'll bet you can do better than these.

[ginger_55]

If selective color ever works, it does not work here, IMO.

that is my honest opinion. I kind of like the first shot, and that is w/o reading all the other reviewers. I would like to see the color shot done well, but I absolutely hate that color and hate it on the instrument.

ginger:D

I came back to say that I think selective color is often more of a design thing. The idea of just coloring one thing bothers me, and especially that thing and that color. I am sorry to be so negative, but I am having a strong reaction to that shot.

And, hey, that is something: a reaction rather than apathy.

[pathfinder]

I really prefer the grainy, high contrast image of #1, but I would definitely lose the color of the sax. ALL B&W. The second and third images are much less interesting to me - flat, greyish, without real blacks or whites. The drummers face is hidden by the sax player's elbow, but this is much less noticeable in #1.
Grainy, high contrast B&W - like old 35mm B&W - very nice. The selective color needs to go, it ruins the image.
Not sure I wouldn't crop out everyone but the sax player. The base player looks bored to tears. The sax player looks like he is really into it! Stick to him.

[dimm]

:thumb :thumb :thumb
Thanks to all of you, pals.
Very appretiate your participation. I'll work on this picture.

[wxwax]

I agree wrt selective color. If you're going to do it to this shot, I'd say all of the instruments need to have it - at least that way there's sort of a message.

[dimm]

Ok, pals. Here is my final variant:

http://dimm.smugmug.com/photos/30922971-L.jpg


And I wanted to tell, that I really appriate your responses. As Ginger told - any reaction better than apathy.

[JamesJWeg]

:clap That is better to my eyes.

James.

[ginger_55]

Much better! Is that guy on the rt, is his sleeve side that dark? I mean the line.

I do like that treatment. I would not crop anyone out as I saw suggested. They are not important as "players", but they are important as frames in the composition, imo.

ginger

[Higgmeister]

I too like this version. It has a gritty feeling to it.

As for cropping a person out, it was meant metaphorically with the example I gave. To me, this now speaks of a band and not the sax:thumb, so each member is important. I love to see evolutions of pictures, it's quite fascinating to see where it begins and where it ends up.

So Dimm, is this the feel you were after or has it completely changed? Are you happy with what this picture portrays? It's nice to have others applaud your work, but if the shot no longer has meaning for you, then the shot is lost. Critique is nice, but follow your heart in the end, you'll have greater satisfaction.

Again, just my .02 worth,
Chris

[dimm]

So Dimm, is this the feel you were after or has it completely changed? Are you happy with what this picture portrays? It's nice to have others applaud your work, but if the shot no longer has meaning for you, then the shot is lost. Critique is nice, but follow your heart in the end, you'll have greater satisfaction.

I definitely love B&W version of this shot. As for color on sax, I starts to think now, that this wasn't so great idea, as I thought previously.

WBR,

[Higgmeister]

Hi Dimm,
I guess what I was getting at is what made you take the picture in the first place. Is the picture, as it now stands, representing what you wanted to present. Sometimes we get lost in out changes and lose site of our original intent.

As for selective coloring, I've only seen a few that actually work. The best was a shot in an airport corridor. A group of people were walking away from the camera and a young girl was in the back of the pack. There was a guy, kinda bummish I think, sitting against the wall under some windows. The girl in the back is turning her head around as she is walking, staring at the guy against the wall. The shot was from a distance back so she would have been lost in a color or pure B&W picture. Her dress was colorized red so she stood out and grabbed your attention. She was the subject and she was colorized. For me to remember all this means that this photo made quite an impression, and it's been at least 6-8 months since I've seen this shot.

All too often, colorization is gimmicky, kinda like IR shots just to show the effect. IR shots should be just like a normal photo in that they need a subject that the IR accentuates, not dominates. I shoot IR so I fully understand the trap as I get into it all the time. The effect can WOW someone, but after the WOW, then what. Same with colorization; after the WOW, then what. I'm getting off my soap box now so if you've made it this far, sorry.

Just my .02,
Chris

[dimm]

As for selective coloring, I've only seen a few that actually work. The best was a shot in an airport corridor. A group of people were walking away from the camera and a young girl was in the back of the pack. There was a guy, kinda bummish I think, sitting against the wall under some windows. The girl in the back is turning her head around as she is walking, staring at the guy against the wall. The shot was from a distance back so she would have been lost in a color or pure B&W picture. Her dress was colorized red so she stood out and grabbed your attention. She was the subject and she was colorized. For me to remember all this means that this photo made quite an impression, and it's been at least 6-8 months since I've seen this shot.

Very impressive story! I honour photographers being ready to make a shot even in airport. :thumb

[Sask2005]

I love the first one with the gold saz. How did you do that?

Hi all. Please, look on these pictures. This is single shot with different photoshop processing. I personally, love the first one, but few of my friends told me, that #2 or #3 is better.
Don't hesitate to critique me :thumb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

All that jazz

#1
http://dimm.smugmug.com/photos/30687035-L.jpg


#2
http://dimm.smugmug.com/photos/30795355-L.jpg


#3
http://dimm.smugmug.com/photos/30795351-L.jpg

[WPTrocks]

Every pic in the latest Manhattan Toy Company paper catalog is selective color. People and environment are bw with the toys in selective color. I acftually thought it was cool and highlighted their products quite well.

Here is their site:
http://www.manhattantoy.com/default2.asp

Cheers