B/W Conversions - I Don't Get It....

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, Justin. The vignetting is a good idea. I'll poke around with it a bit more.

[tao2]

Hi Manfred,

Guess we'll have tae agree tae disagree .

Your b+w conversion still contains all the distracting elements that the colour version contains - the intrusive bannister in the bottom left corner, the bath/trough, the gas canister, the overhead cables, the too-tight crop on the building on the right.

No offence but personally ah wouldn't have spent time on a conversion - ah would've deleted it...

[Manfred M]

Hi Manfred,

Guess we'll have tae agree tae disagree .

Your b+w conversion still contains all the distracting elements that the colour version contains - the intrusive bannister in the bottom left corner, the bath/trough, the gas canister, the overhead cables, the too-tight crop on the building on the right.

No offence but personally ah wouldn't have spent time on a conversion - ah would've deleted it...

Ah tastes differ, and we can certainly agree to disagree. I'm actually quite pleased with the results and look at some of the parts your dislike as desirable elements from a compositional standpoint.

[MrB]

The ideas in Justin's conversion are great. Perhaps more space for the dog's nose, together with a bit more contrast, e.g. -



Philip

[NorthernFocus]

OK, I tried to apply some of the suggestions and took another whack at it. I agree it's way improved over the first version.

[FootLoose]

Actually, I think it is a pretty compelling image now, Dan.

[Manfred M]

Much better Dan, I particularly like the second one. I like the way that the light falls and the subjects and how you have pretty well neutralized the busy background.

[Marie Hass]

What an interesting image to work with! The very last image is indeed compelling, to say the least. I like it very much, and disagree iwth Boab on deleting it. Sometimes these images teach us a lot - for example, how to make something right, rather than give up.

Although, to Boab's credit, there is a time to call it quits....but not here.

Good job, Dan.

Marie

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the feedback, folks. I can see that in the B/W version my attention is drawn to they eyes and the intensity of the stare in both dog and human. Or it's possible that I've just looked at this image too long....

This was a learning experience to be sure. I will definitely add vignetting to my PP repertoire. Previously I had tried the technique once or twice but didn't like the results. Now I see it is highly dependent on the subject matter. After reworking the B/W image, I went back and applied vignette to the color image and I believe it is also much improved.

[Marie Hass]

A keeper. I would be honored to hang it on my wall.

Marie

[Manfred M]

This was a learning experience to be sure. I will definitely add vignetting to my PP repertoire. Previously I had tried the technique once or twice but didn't like the results. Now I see it is highly dependent on the subject matter. After reworking the B/W image, I went back and applied vignette to the color image and I believe it is also much improved.

I think you hit the nail on the head there Dan. Vignetting is a powerful technique for drawing the viewer's eyes in to the subject. By darkening some of the brighter area, our eyes now fall onto the subject and are no longer distracted by the chairs in the background.

There will always be some debate on how much vignetting to apply, but in this shot I think you've nailed it beautifully.