critique please

jgredline · 02-03-2009, 08:35 PM

Here are a couple of recent ones. I took these yesterday. ME SUPER with Tokina 28 F/2.8 and T-MAX 400

I tried some editing which I normally do not due. Let me know if I over cooked them.
I was going for a more Artsy look.

Venturi · 02-03-2009, 09:28 PM

There's heavy JPEG artifacting going on in those copies which makes it hard to judge accurately. It's really apparent in the jagged lines of the white grout of the dark tiles in #1 & #3 and the arms of the guy in #3.

Having said that, I much prefer natural film grain to induced varieties and to me it doesn't seem right for TMAX shots with a mottled look. Does that make sense?

And having said that, I rather like the contrasting moods between 1 & 3. Together they make an effective commentary on life is what you make of it.

CSoars · 02-03-2009, 09:32 PM

They do look pretty mottled for T-max, also just a bit odd, like some of the hyper-processed digital shots.

I dig the little details, in shot 3, is that a racoon on a leash? And a hookah/bong?

Sasquatch · 02-04-2009, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by CSoars

I dig the little details, in shot 3, is that a racoon on a leash? And a hookah/bong?

To me it looks more like a cat on a leash, and some type of street water-spicket thing. Could be wrong though...

k100d · 02-04-2009, 08:37 AM

looks kinda overcooked and grainy to me :/

Erik · 02-04-2009, 08:54 AM

I gotta be honest here... Too much sharpening, too harsh contrast. The poster in #2 looks hideous and there are unsharp mask halos around a lot of things, such as the guy's dark clothing against the bright building in the first picture, which otherwise has a nice feel to it. Looks to me more like digital, heavily Photoshopped pictures than actual black and white film. I doubt that's what you wanted to achieve

Could you post original unprocessed scans for comparison?

HouseOfHorla · 02-04-2009, 09:44 AM

2nd one's definately overcooked , but if you were trying to get an old newspaper effect I think they kind of work. All depends on your intent really, but I'd trying knocking the effects back a little.

ftpaddict · 02-04-2009, 09:45 AM

Personally I think all of them have obvious post-processing in them. I think sharpening was the culprit this time, and harsh contrast. Mellow those down and you've got yourself 3 winners.

Gooshin · 02-04-2009, 09:46 AM

if you look at pic #1

you will see the halo outline around the drummer, i used to post process heavily and get that all the time

over time i started to dislike it

so my personal opinion is if you start to see said halos, back off

jgredline · 02-04-2009, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by Venturi

There's heavy JPEG artifacting going on in those copies which makes it hard to judge accurately. It's really apparent in the jagged lines of the white grout of the dark tiles in #1 & #3 and the arms of the guy in #3.

Thanks for pointing that out. I had not noticed.

Quote:

Having said that, I much prefer natural film grain to induced varieties and to me it doesn't seem right for TMAX shots with a mottled look. Does that make sense?

Thanks again. I did infact introduce more grain to the the image. The mistake was that I discovered the Grain filter in CS3. Fake grain does not seem to blend in with real grain was my thought. Hence the critique request.

Quote:

And having said that, I rather like the contrasting moods between 1 & 3. Together they make an effective commentary on life is what you make of it.

Thank you for that. I to like those two images. As for the second, it was more of trying to salvage a badly exposed image.

jgredline · 02-04-2009, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by CSoars

They do look pretty mottled for T-max, also just a bit odd, like some of the hyper-processed digital shots.

I dig the little details, in shot 3, is that a racoon on a leash? And a hookah/bong?

Thank for the comments. That is actually a cat. Even up close it does look like a coon. As for the mottled, I unfortunately also discovered the burn tool. Will need to put that one away.

jgredline · 02-04-2009, 10:33 AM

Originally posted by k100d

looks kinda overcooked and grainy to me :/

Thank you for the comments. I thought so too. This was why I put them up for c.c. Since I am new to this type of PP work, it is hard for me to judge in my own excitement of when I have burned the beans...

jgredline · 02-04-2009, 10:35 AM

Originally posted by Erik

I gotta be honest here... Too much sharpening, too harsh contrast. The poster in #2 looks hideous and there are unsharp mask halos around a lot of things, such as the guy's dark clothing against the bright building in the first picture, which otherwise has a nice feel to it. Looks to me more like digital, heavily Photoshopped pictures than actual black and white film. I doubt that's what you wanted to achieve

Could you post original unprocessed scans for comparison?

Erik, This is exactly the kind of Critique I was after. I can take the C.C. no problem. I will post up the originals in a minute. Thank you!

jgredline · 02-04-2009, 10:36 AM

Originally posted by HouseOfHorla

2nd one's definately overcooked , but if you were trying to get an old newspaper effect I think they kind of work. All depends on your intent really, but I'd trying knocking the effects back a little.

Actually, I was after an old nostalgic look, but obviously failed. That's ok, I will try again. Thank you

jgredline · 02-04-2009, 10:37 AM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

Personally I think all of them have obvious post-processing in them. I think sharpening was the culprit this time, and harsh contrast. Mellow those down and you've got yourself 3 winners.

Thanks a bunch. The one thing I did not do was any sharpening, although adding grain had the same effect. I will post up the originals in a minute.

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02-03-2009, 08:35 PM	#1
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	critique please Here are a couple of recent ones. I took these yesterday. ME SUPER with Tokina 28 F/2.8 and T-MAX 400 I tried some editing which I normally do not due. Let me know if I over cooked them. I was going for a more Artsy look.

02-03-2009, 09:28 PM	#2
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	There's heavy JPEG artifacting going on in those copies which makes it hard to judge accurately. It's really apparent in the jagged lines of the white grout of the dark tiles in #1 & #3 and the arms of the guy in #3. Having said that, I much prefer natural film grain to induced varieties and to me it doesn't seem right for TMAX shots with a mottled look. Does that make sense? And having said that, I rather like the contrasting moods between 1 & 3. Together they make an effective commentary on life is what you make of it. Last edited by Venturi; 02-03-2009 at 09:32 PM. Reason: added comments on the actual photos :)

02-03-2009, 09:32 PM	#3
CSoars Inactive Account Join Date: May 2008 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 322	They do look pretty mottled for T-max, also just a bit odd, like some of the hyper-processed digital shots. I dig the little details, in shot 3, is that a racoon on a leash? And a hookah/bong?

02-04-2009, 08:13 AM	#4
Sasquatch Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 69	Originally posted by CSoars I dig the little details, in shot 3, is that a racoon on a leash? And a hookah/bong? To me it looks more like a cat on a leash, and some type of street water-spicket thing. Could be wrong though...

02-04-2009, 08:37 AM	#5
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	looks kinda overcooked and grainy to me :/

02-04-2009, 08:54 AM	#6
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	I gotta be honest here... Too much sharpening, too harsh contrast. The poster in #2 looks hideous and there are unsharp mask halos around a lot of things, such as the guy's dark clothing against the bright building in the first picture, which otherwise has a nice feel to it. Looks to me more like digital, heavily Photoshopped pictures than actual black and white film. I doubt that's what you wanted to achieve Could you post original unprocessed scans for comparison?

02-04-2009, 09:44 AM	#7
HouseOfHorla Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Teddington, Middx - UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 185	2nd one's definately overcooked , but if you were trying to get an old newspaper effect I think they kind of work. All depends on your intent really, but I'd trying knocking the effects back a little.

02-04-2009, 09:45 AM	#8
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Personally I think all of them have obvious post-processing in them. I think sharpening was the culprit this time, and harsh contrast. Mellow those down and you've got yourself 3 winners.

02-04-2009, 09:46 AM	#9
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	if you look at pic #1 you will see the halo outline around the drummer, i used to post process heavily and get that all the time over time i started to dislike it so my personal opinion is if you start to see said halos, back off

02-04-2009, 10:29 AM	#10
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628 Original Poster	Originally posted by Venturi There's heavy JPEG artifacting going on in those copies which makes it hard to judge accurately. It's really apparent in the jagged lines of the white grout of the dark tiles in #1 & #3 and the arms of the guy in #3. Thanks for pointing that out. I had not noticed. Quote: Having said that, I much prefer natural film grain to induced varieties and to me it doesn't seem right for TMAX shots with a mottled look. Does that make sense? Thanks again. I did infact introduce more grain to the the image. The mistake was that I discovered the Grain filter in CS3. Fake grain does not seem to blend in with real grain was my thought. Hence the critique request. Quote: And having said that, I rather like the contrasting moods between 1 & 3. Together they make an effective commentary on life is what you make of it. Thank you for that. I to like those two images. As for the second, it was more of trying to salvage a badly exposed image.

02-04-2009, 10:31 AM	#11
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628 Original Poster	Originally posted by CSoars They do look pretty mottled for T-max, also just a bit odd, like some of the hyper-processed digital shots. I dig the little details, in shot 3, is that a racoon on a leash? And a hookah/bong? Thank for the comments. That is actually a cat. Even up close it does look like a coon. As for the mottled, I unfortunately also discovered the burn tool. Will need to put that one away.

02-04-2009, 10:33 AM	#12
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628 Original Poster	Originally posted by k100d looks kinda overcooked and grainy to me :/ Thank you for the comments. I thought so too. This was why I put them up for c.c. Since I am new to this type of PP work, it is hard for me to judge in my own excitement of when I have burned the beans...

02-04-2009, 10:35 AM	#13
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628 Original Poster	Originally posted by Erik I gotta be honest here... Too much sharpening, too harsh contrast. The poster in #2 looks hideous and there are unsharp mask halos around a lot of things, such as the guy's dark clothing against the bright building in the first picture, which otherwise has a nice feel to it. Looks to me more like digital, heavily Photoshopped pictures than actual black and white film. I doubt that's what you wanted to achieve Could you post original unprocessed scans for comparison? Erik, This is exactly the kind of Critique I was after. I can take the C.C. no problem. I will post up the originals in a minute. Thank you!

02-04-2009, 10:36 AM	#14
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628 Original Poster	Originally posted by HouseOfHorla 2nd one's definately overcooked , but if you were trying to get an old newspaper effect I think they kind of work. All depends on your intent really, but I'd trying knocking the effects back a little. Actually, I was after an old nostalgic look, but obviously failed. That's ok, I will try again. Thank you

02-04-2009, 10:37 AM	#15
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628 Original Poster	Originally posted by ftpaddict Personally I think all of them have obvious post-processing in them. I think sharpening was the culprit this time, and harsh contrast. Mellow those down and you've got yourself 3 winners. Thanks a bunch. The one thing I did not do was any sharpening, although adding grain had the same effect. I will post up the originals in a minute.