Black & White protector of the wastelands

SWEngineer · 01-02-2010, 05:11 PM

Digging in my archives recently, I found a few photos that seemed worth some PPing time. Here's one of them.

I had difficulty getting good separation between the hydrant and the ground in the The B&W conversion.
Doing so caused many of the foreground pebbles to get very bright. Maybe I should burn them in some.
Or does the messy foreground help add to the 'wasteland' feel?

I welcome any and all comments on title, mood, subject, composition, B&W conversion, etc.

What about the fence? Should I try cloning it away? Thanks.

juu · 01-03-2010, 12:58 AM

I have very little experience w/ B&W, so take it with a grain of salt, but for me personally the pump does not stand out in the scene well enough, there just seems so much stuff crowding it (pebbles, the barrel, the fence). Also, can you do anything about the sky to make it more dramatic?

It is a nice picture though and I like it. I wonder what the colour version looked like.

**Ash** · 01-03-2010, 02:35 PM

Mark, the subject's clear and well focused but the remainder of the image doesn't add much to the look. In this regard it lacks impact. The B&W conversion is also quite flat and could have done with more contrast and a bolder rendition of the greens.

The scene doesn't quite give me the impression of 'wasteland' - there are too many other competing elements.
The sky is a little ordinary, but with a stronger B&W job it may have come out more dramatic.
The fence would be a big job to clone out with probably little to gain - the background doesn't quite bring out the best in the scene.
But keep at it - getting a suitable scene to photograph is not easy.

SWEngineer · 01-03-2010, 08:49 PM

Thanks juu and Ash for the feedback.

I tend to be subtle with my edits. Too subtle in this case. Here's a revision following my own advice on the pebbles and both of your regarding contrast. I'm still not sure about the sky. Maybe it needs cropped out to keep from competing with the rest of the image. And Ash is right: cloning away the fence is a fool's errand. Overall I think the result is much better, but maybe still not worthy of the title.

Here's the original, color version for juu:

juu · 01-03-2010, 11:53 PM

I like the 2nd B&W version better than the first.

Damn Brit · 01-04-2010, 01:15 AM

If you do try cropping it Mark, I'd suggest keeping the ratio the same.

You invited comments on title, it doesn't really work for me. I'd be tempted to go for something more humorous like "Water you looking at?".

01-02-2010, 05:11 PM	#1
SWEngineer Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 308	protector of the wastelands Lens: 35mm Camera: istDs ISO:* 400 Shutter Speed: 1/200s Aperture: F6.7 Digging in my archives recently, I found a few photos that seemed worth some PPing time. Here's one of them. I had difficulty getting good separation between the hydrant and the ground in the The B&W conversion. Doing so caused many of the foreground pebbles to get very bright. Maybe I should burn them in some. Or does the messy foreground help add to the 'wasteland' feel? I welcome any and all comments on title, mood, subject, composition, B&W conversion, etc. What about the fence? Should I try cloning it away? Thanks.

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01-03-2010, 12:58 AM	#2
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	I have very little experience w/ B&W, so take it with a grain of salt, but for me personally the pump does not stand out in the scene well enough, there just seems so much stuff crowding it (pebbles, the barrel, the fence). Also, can you do anything about the sky to make it more dramatic? It is a nice picture though and I like it. I wonder what the colour version looked like.

01-03-2010, 02:35 PM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Mark, the subject's clear and well focused but the remainder of the image doesn't add much to the look. In this regard it lacks impact. The B&W conversion is also quite flat and could have done with more contrast and a bolder rendition of the greens. The scene doesn't quite give me the impression of 'wasteland' - there are too many other competing elements. The sky is a little ordinary, but with a stronger B&W job it may have come out more dramatic. The fence would be a big job to clone out with probably little to gain - the background doesn't quite bring out the best in the scene. But keep at it - getting a suitable scene to photograph is not easy.

01-03-2010, 08:49 PM	#4
SWEngineer Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 308 Original Poster	Thanks juu and Ash for the feedback. I tend to be subtle with my edits. Too subtle in this case. Here's a revision following my own advice on the pebbles and both of your regarding contrast. I'm still not sure about the sky. Maybe it needs cropped out to keep from competing with the rest of the image. And Ash is right: cloning away the fence is a fool's errand. Overall I think the result is much better, but maybe still not worthy of the title. Here's the original, color version for juu:

01-03-2010, 11:53 PM	#5
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	I like the 2nd B&W version better than the first.

01-04-2010, 01:15 AM	#6
Damn Brit Guest	If you do try cropping it Mark, I'd suggest keeping the ratio the same. You invited comments on title, it doesn't really work for me. I'd be tempted to go for something more humorous like "Water you looking at?".