Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Tom Frerichs on December 16, 2012, 09:11:05 pm

Title: Early Morning Steam
Post by: Tom Frerichs on December 16, 2012, 09:11:05 pm

I've heard rumors that car photographs may not be totally acceptable here, but I was wondering if trains fell into the same category.  (grin)

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: Josh-H on December 16, 2012, 10:27:01 pm

I like it. I do find myself wishing those two characters standing on the left behind the sign were a little more obvious as I think would help balance the shot. That said, there is a nice mystery about it. Very cartier-Bresson like.  ;D

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: wolfnowl on December 17, 2012, 01:29:43 am

I like it, but I find the contrast - especially in the steam -  to be way too high.  It looks like someone cut out white steam patterns and pasted them on a black background.

Mike.

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: Tony Jay on December 17, 2012, 02:49:04 am

I love the mood of this image.
The blown highlights of the steam being caught by the early morning steam actually work and add to this mood.
A grand image.

Tony Jay

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: stamper on December 17, 2012, 04:23:30 am

Quote from: Tom Frerichs on December 16, 2012, 09:11:05 pm

I've heard rumors that car photographs may not be totally acceptable here, but I was wondering if trains fell into the same category.  (grin)

No. Only lighthouses are banned. ;) I like the high contrast processing because it gives a sort of grim reality. Well done. :)

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: Rob C on December 17, 2012, 04:42:38 am

Quote from: stamper on December 17, 2012, 04:23:30 am

No. Only lighthouses are banned. ;) I like the high contrast processing because it gives a sort of grim reality. Well done. :)

AND cats!

Rob C

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: Tony Jay on December 17, 2012, 05:12:04 am

Are we talking puddy tats or Bengal tigers?

Tony Jay

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: 32BT on December 17, 2012, 05:22:53 am

There's always the site's artistic dustbin thread: "Without prejudice"…

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: petermfiore on December 17, 2012, 06:24:45 am

Love the feel of this. Great image.



Peter

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: fike on December 17, 2012, 11:10:21 am

I like this image. I like the subject and it's grittiness. I like the noise and how it contributes to the old-fashioned style. I like the contrast, but I do not like the large area of pure white in the smoke.  High contrast doesn't necessarily need to also mean you have large areas of clipped highlights. I would try to mask the smoke areas to see if a small amount of color or detail could be brought into that space.  The contrast in the rest of the image remains a really fabulous enhancement to the mood.  I would also consider a subtle tint to the B&W conversion but that is totally my prejudice.  

Title: Re: Early Morning Steam
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on December 17, 2012, 02:32:31 pm

Quote from: fike on December 17, 2012, 11:10:21 am

I like this image. I like the subject and it's grittiness. I like the noise and how it contributes to the old-fashioned style. I like the contrast, but I do not like the large area of pure white in the smoke.  High contrast doesn't necessarily need to also mean you have large areas of clipped highlights. I would try to mask the smoke areas to see if a small amount of color or detail could be brought into that space.  The contrast in the rest of the image remains a really fabulous enhancement to the mood.  I would also consider a subtle tint to the B&W conversion but that is totally my prejudice.  

I agree with all of that, particularly the lack of appeal of the big white area in the middle.

Jeremy