Fear of the next step

[cmi]

So here is an image I shot in Feb 08. I repeatedly worked on it over the time and here is the outcome. How do you like it? Comments & critique welcome.

Title: Fear of the next step.


Christian

[dalethorn]

So here is an image I shot in Feb 08. I repeatedly worked on it over the time and here is the outcome. How do you like it? Comments & critique welcome.
Title: Fear of the next step.
Christian

I like it.  It's dark and mysterious in some ways, yet colorful and quite unique.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I do wonder if the red light should be toned down just a lttle to make the effect more subtle. But it is a very spooky, mysterious, and intriguing image.

If you do try subduing the red a bit, make sure it doesn't lose the mood.

[walter.sk]

So here is an image I shot in Feb 08. I repeatedly worked on it over the time and here is the outcome. How do you like it? Comments & critique welcome.

Title: Fear of the next step.


Christian

It is spooky looking!  It does present a mood.  I wonder if you brought out just a hint of detail in the dark area beyond the door whether it would enhance the mystery and draw your eye in more than the olmost blank area you have now?

[RSL]

Christian,

The problem with it is that if you print it like that your print's going to look as if a couple of nozzles on your printer were plugged.

[attachment=14565:IMG_8348...en_small.jpg]

[Derry]

the red cast needs to be there as if offers a reading of what adventure lies is through this door,, do agree a softer tone on it may look good,, sort of thinking is this the real gate to #ELL,,

Derry

[jasonrandolph]

I do like the composition.  You make good use of geometric shapes.  I agree with others that the red is overdone.  To my eyes, the red looks like molten lava.  Maybe that was your intention, but it leaves the realm of reality, and such images aren't my "thing".  There is a strong sense of foreboding, but it's not realistic enough for me to "believe."

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I do like the composition.  You make good use of geometric shapes.  I agree with others that the red is overdone.  To my eyes, the red looks like molten lava.  Maybe that was your intention, but it leaves the realm of reality, and such images aren't my "thing".  There is a strong sense of foreboding, but it's not realistic enough for me to "believe."

Here's my quick variant. I desaturated the red chanel by about 35 on the saturation slider. The red is still there, but not quite so neony.


[attachment=14568:IMG_8348...all_copy.jpg]

[JeffKohn]

I do like the composition.  You make good use of geometric shapes.  I agree with others that the red is overdone.  To my eyes, the red looks like molten lava.  Maybe that was your intention, but it leaves the realm of reality, and such images aren't my "thing".  There is a strong sense of foreboding, but it's not realistic enough for me to "believe."

That pretty much sums up my feelings as well, in fact I think I'd like a B&W version quite a bit more than even Eric's slightly desaturated version (but I tend to prefer B&W for moody/foreboding shots such as this).

[wolfnowl]

Not much to add... love the mood, but I also prefer Eric's somewhat desaturated version.

Mike.

[dalethorn]

Here's my quick variant. I desaturated the red chanel by about 35 on the saturation slider. The red is still there, but not quite so neony.

Better, yes.  Also got to thinking about another comment here on the void in that doorway.  It would be interesting to experiment with some sort of object to place there - very small perhaps, and low contrast as to be subtle - something that would hint at what lies beyond (or beneath).  Not important though - looks fine as is.

[RSL]

Here's my quick variant. I desaturated the red chanel by about 35 on the saturation slider. The red is still there, but not quite so neony.


[attachment=14568:IMG_8348...all_copy.jpg]

Good mod, Eric, but it still looks as if the printer screwed up.

[cmi]

Hi everybody!

Thank you very much for commenting.

First of all I realized that this image is not done yet. I wasnt satisfied with some elements so I left them out, but it is boring this way. I will post a final version when Im done with everything.

Eric, and some others who mention that the red appears too strong: Very well possible that I overdid the reds a bit since Im partly red-blind. I struggle a bit to dose it correctly. But on the other hand I DO want it to be stronger here. At the lava in the corners it is of course intended to be strong. And gate to hell, a sense of foreboding, these statements nail it. I wanted to create a door to hell. However, the message is quite weak now. Also this is more retouching than photography, so maybe Im in the wrong forum here with this

And I do agree that versions with lesser or without red can look good. I have some normal versions here, its just not what I want with this image. I also did a BW version, it looks very good in BW. Will post one with the final image.

To walter.sk: Good idea! Since starting with this image I tried putting stuff into the doorway, but nothing really worked so far for my taste...

To Russ: Very possible it will print horrible, didnt spent a throught about that part yet, I always do the CMYK-version later if the image needs it. At the moment also theres no printer here so Im not considering that. Printing seldom. And I always go for a proper look on monitor first, and everything else comes later (got used to it this way.)

Christian

[cmi]

*deleted*

[Ed Blagden]

Hi everybody!

Thank you very much for commenting.

First of all I realized that this image is not done yet. I wasnt satisfied with some elements so I left them out, but it is boring this way. I will post a final version when Im done with everything.

Eric, and some others who mention that the red appears too strong: Very well possible that I overdid the reds a bit since Im partly red-blind. I struggle a bit to dose it correctly. But on the other hand I DO want it to be stronger here. At the lava in the corners it is of course intended to be strong. And gate to hell, a sense of foreboding, these statements nail it. I wanted to create a door to hell. However, the message is quite weak now. Also this is more retouching than photography, so maybe Im in the wrong forum here with this

And I do agree that versions with lesser or without red can look good. I have some normal versions here, its just not what I want with this image. I also did a BW version, it looks very good in BW. Will post one with the final image.

To walter.sk: Good idea! Since starting with this image I tried putting stuff into the doorway, but nothing really worked so far for my taste...

To Russ: Very possible it will print horrible, didnt spent a throught about that part yet, I always do the CMYK-version later if the image needs it. At the moment also theres no printer here so Im not considering that. Printing seldom. And I always go for a proper look on monitor first, and everything else comes later (got used to it this way.)

Christian

Christian,

I may be in a very small minority here, but you know what, I much prefer your first image over all the others.

That is not to say I like it: I don't, because it fills me with a sense of foreboding, of the flesh-crawling variety.  But to that extent the image does exactly what you intended, and is therefore a success.  The nasty, other-worldly colours plus the dangerous looking lava leading into a black hole of God-knows-what all come together to scare me to death.

Don't tone it down.  Don't change a pixel.  The image works.

Ed

[RSL]

Hi everybody!
To Russ: Very possible it will print horrible, didnt spent a throught about that part yet, I always do the CMYK-version later if the image needs it. At the moment also theres no printer here so Im not considering that. Printing seldom. And I always go for a proper look on monitor first, and everything else comes later (got used to it this way.)
Christian

Christian, Getting it right on the monitor first is the right way to to it, but whether or not that's going to help much depends on whether or not your monitor is properly calibrated and your printer/paper/ink profile is correct.

I don't know if you've ever had an inkjet printer nozzle plug, but I can tell you from a lot of experience with that problem that the first shot looks  exactly like a print made with a plugged cyan nozzle.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Christian, Getting it right on the monitor first is the right way to to it, but whether or not that's going to help much depends on whether or not your monitor is properly calibrated and your printer/paper/ink profile is correct.

I don't know if you've ever had an inkjet printer nozzle plug, but I can tell you from a lot of experience with that problem that the first shot looks  exactly like a print made with a plugged cyan nozzle.

I agree with Russ. 

On my (calibrated) monitor the red is so garish that it does not have the creepy gates-of-hell feeling I think you are after. That's why I tried toning it down some. If it were my photo and I wanted to print it, I would probablly try a half dozen different variants. IMHO, the object is to get the red just to the points where it looks as if it is reflecting fire and brimstone, but not to the point where it can be dismissed as a plugged cyan nozzle. 


I think the picture is well worth trying a number of versions and living with them for a while to see which one gets the right visceral reaction from viewers.

[cmi]

Controverse opinions here, the last 3 posts.

First, to Ed:

Thank you for your heads up! I am not satisfied with this first version. But, it already seems to work like I want when I read what you wrote  A strange red atmosphere, and the lava as the clear sign that something is very very wrong.


And to Eric:

You nail what I think too: 1st version is a try getting a look. It works (at least I think so) to an extent, but is ambiguous so it can also be mistaken for a color cast. Not inevitably, but as I the thread shows, possibly.

Now speaking to all:

Yesterday I did not answer to the toned down versions. I do not like them as I felt it would somehow wash down my idea of what I had in mind with it. Nevertheless I played with that, trying to partially take the reds out, but didnt liked the outcome, a bad compromise. So I decided to show here an older version without reds and lava, an old b/w version, and my most recent image wich I like most, still work in progress. This is of course no longer subtle. The more "supernatural" elements being introduced, the less subtle it gets. Im a bit surprised, I was so sure the first version was final, and now Im still altering it more and more...

Christian

//edit, new version added

[cmi]

I forgot to mention, Jason Randolphs post made me aware of the difference - either you stay on the realm of reality or not. So I througt it was only appropriate to completely leave out the lava and the red tone in one version (2nd image). Stay clean, so to say. Do you think its better than the initial image this way? Also what do you think about the last one? Of course its no longer photography and I can understand if someone dont like it at all for that reason. Just curious what you guys think.

Christian

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I like your latest one. This is certainly a picture worth playing lots of games with.

Another thing about it that I find compelling, in all versions: A totally black doorway with no detail whatever is usually a total no-no. But here it works, and adds to the spookiness of the scene. I think that one little stroke of light near the right side saves it.

Do show us any more variants you come up with!