The Blacksmith

[lynnma]

was hoping to get a predominent color but it was'nt to be..

http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15816809-L.jpg

http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15816801-L.jpg

http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15816816-L.jpg

[dkapp]

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

[lynnma]

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..

[fish]

Thanks for comments dave..I'm leaning towards the black and white as well..
Well, there ya go! Predominant color is gray. :)

[digital faerie]

I like the B&W one, too. I wonder how far I'd have to drive to get a shot of a blacksmith. :D

[lynnma]

I like the B&W one, too. I wonder how far I'd have to drive to get a shot of a blacksmith. :Dprobably closer than you think..:rofl thanks df.:D

[Angelo]

In #2, how about a tight crop on the apron, hammer and anvil? Just my $0.02

[mfairbanks]

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

[NoNo]

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.

[lynnma]

Precisely what I was thinking. That would look awesome with that picture.thanks for comments all.. yes maybe thats an idea.. :D

[lynnma]

thanks for comments all.. yes maybe thats an idea.. :Djust experimenting now...

http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15890212-L.jpg

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


http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15890961-L.jpg

[John Mueller]

just experimenting now...

http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15890212-L.jpg

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


http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15890961-L.jpg
Keep on experimenting Lynn.I like the blur:thumb

[Cosmic]

I like the B/W best too.

I like Angelo's suggestion of the tight crop. I think they would look fab!

[ian408]

Lynnma,

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

Nice job!

Ian

[gregneil]

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.

[pathfinder]

was hoping to get a predominent color but it was'nt to be..

http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15816809-S.jpg

http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/15816801-S.jpg

http://Lynn.smugmug.com/photos/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.

[rutt]

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:

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/15990479-O.jpg

[ginger_55]

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

Good stuff, ginger:thumb