B&W off the Cape

[TristanP]

I tried a B&W treatment on this one, since there really wasn't much color in the original anyway. I thought it would add to the mood. Have at it.

http://home.comcast.net/~sarahpanek/stf/cape_bouy.jpg

[Higgmeister]

Here is a go at it. I like the shot as a whole, but:
Lacks a little punch so maybe a bit more contrast. I like your position of the buoy, but there is too much sky and space off to the right. I'd like to see the buoy with a tighter crop, but with the positioning the same.
I like the DOF you've chosen, nice (appropriate) feel to the shot. I think your choice of B&W is correct for this shot. Focus appears sharp from what I can see. Again, overall I like it.

Just my .02,
Chris

[pathfinder]

Tristan I like the composition just as it is. The bouy on the left, ballancing aganst the end of the spit of land in the background. I like the lower contrast also - looks kinda foggy or humid.

[XO-Studios]

I tried a B&W treatment on this one, since there really wasn't much color in the original anyway. I thought it would add to the mood. Have at it.

How about cropping a little of the top, to make it more of a pano, but also to get the (perceived) horizon away from deadcenter vertical.

XO,

[TristanP]

Ok, I went back and reworked it. Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I think it does look better in a "panorama" aspect ratio. Ezprints can do it in 6 x 12, I can cut a 2" or 3" white mat, and stick it in a silver frame. First, the B&W, then the same pic, but with the Channel Mixer layer turned off. Still go with the B&W version?

http://home.comcast.net/~sarahpanek/stf/cape_buoy2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~sarahpanek/stf/cape_buoy2_color.jpg

[Angelo]

Tristan - I keep looking at your original version and I've read eveyone's valuable comments but honestly, I like it as-is! You've capture a realistic setting and mood. :thumb

[wxwax]

I think I'm thinking that the subject of the photo isn't interesting enough to hold down all of the negative space. I've looked at your shot for a couple of days, and finally decided that the reason it doesn't work for me personally is that there's not enough interesting stuff in it. :dunno

[DavidTO]

The only way this shot works for me is with the loose crop. It gives me a feeling of loneliness and isolation in a bleak world. When you tighten the crop it's just a not so interesting shot of a buoy.

[XO-Studios]

The only way this shot works for me is with the loose crop. It gives me a feeling of loneliness and isolation in a bleak world. When you tighten the crop it's just a not so interesting shot of a buoy.
Eating my own words here but I :agree.

Maybe this is indeed a better shot as a 'seinfeld' shot, no specific subject, just communicating a feeling.

XO,

[rutt]

I think I'm thinking that the subject of the photo isn't interesting enough to hold down all of the negative space. I've looked at your shot for a couple of days, and finally decided that the reason it doesn't work for me personally is that there's not enough interesting stuff in it. :dunno

I agree with this 100%. Now given that, why go to B&W? At least the color version has, well, color. I think it's about 2x as interesting because the color is sort of interesting. Maybe some work with curves to make it very saturated and very contrasty? Here's a quick shot at this:

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/31681450-O.jpg

[Ann McRae]

Oh, buoy...okay, thats a bad attempt at humor.

I like the original for the mood of isolation that it conveys. I like the space and big sky. What about bringing up the black a bit?

Or, what about selective color - I really like the red buoy a la rutt, what about that on a desaturated background?

ann

[TristanP]

I thought this thread had died, but to my surprise tonight, I got some more feedback since I last checked. Thanks everyone for your comments. I ended up doing something like Rutt suggested, without seeing his post. It is now framed and will be going up this weekend along with a couple other similar pics from the beach. Since it was emntioned, I guess it was really meant to be a mood piece rather than "hey, look at the buoy" kind of shot; I (or the shot itself) just may not have communicated that effectively. This was also the first picture I've matted and framed mself, so it was a good exercise if nothing else. :thumb