Tug and Crane in the Fog. C&C appreciated.

[picsfrommt]

I took this a few days ago on vacation. We seldom have fog where I live, so it fascinates me. I wasn't really trying for anything in particular, just out shooting.

Comments and critiques are certainly appreciated. I'd love to hear how I could have shot it differently, or what I could still do in post to improved it. Overall, I do like this photo, but not completely sure why. At least for me, this image works. I suspect part of what I like is how the crane's cable lead's your eye to the tug. So, if the it works for you, let me know why.

For what its worth, I was using a cropped sensor DSLR, zoomed out to 109mm, 1/250 sec., F/16 and ISO100. That was about 1 stop underexposed from the meter's suggestion. In post I bumped up the saturation a bit to match the image in my mind when I clicked the shutter.



Port of Olympia by picsfrommt, on Flickr

[Clive Kirby]

I like this. Neatly framed, your're pulled straight to the crane and barge. Geometric. Lots of detail in the crane boom, which is nicely focused on. The green, white and black of the subject is contrasted against the grey sky and water. Despite the misty conditions there is quite a lot of shadow on the building under the crane and the barge giving a bit of depth to the subject. I might have tried cropping a little tighter on the right and cloning out the darker shadows on the left, but that's just detail. I think it's a great shot, thanks for posting.
Clive

[Donald]

Presented with that scene, I'd have been very happy with that composition and the way it has been finished.

One question - Although the cable coming down from the top of the jib (the right hand cable) is perfectly perpindicular, other verticals, as well as horizontals, suggest an ever-so-slight lean down to the left. Is anyone else seeing that?

[chauncey]

suggest an ever-so-slight lean down to the left

Yeah, it's there, but it is ever so slight...were it gonna be a print, I'd fix it. Else, don't bother.

[Mike Buckley]

I think everything is fine as is. Unless the colors are important branding, this would make a great black-and-white image.

[picsfrommt]

I can't say I noticed the tilt before. Now it's all I notice.

I leveled the shoot and turned it into B/W. Thanks to all. There's only problem with easy digital editing. I was sure I liked the shot. Now I have to figure out whether I like the color or the B/W. Ah, you only live once. I'll like both versions.


IMG_3084 - B/W Version 5 - Version 6 by picsfrommt, on Flickr

[Clive Kirby]

I think I prefer the colour. Looks great against the matt of the mist.

[deetheturk]

Nice image Craig,the colour works better for me!

[Mike Buckley]

Craig,

I would be willing to bet that you created the monochrome version by either desaturating everything or by converting using a green filter. Try converting it using a yellow filter. For me, that gives the stuff at ground level more pop, thus emphasizing the mist because it becomes more prevalent the higher up (further away) it is from the viewer presumed to be standing on the ground.

[Donald]

Craig - I agree with the others who say the colour version works better. And I also agree with Mike who says this could make a superb B & W. And as Mike goes on to write, it's all in how you go about converting to B & W.

There are number of ways you could approach the B & W conversion. Which one you choose will depend on a) your knowledge of and ability to apply the different techniques and approaches and, b) your vision for the final image. I think that with B & W moreso than with a colour image, you need to have an idea in your head as to what the final image is going to look like before you start the post-processing.

If you want to get serious about B & W, then it's a fascinating and exciting journey of discovery.

Just by way of illustration (and I hope you don't mind me doing so - please say if you do), here is one way in which your image could be presented.

[Mike Buckley]

Donald always writes better posts than I do and his post immediately above is proof of that. He even got me thinking about a particular point that he made. I don't want to hijack Craig's thread, so I hope others interested in discussing it will join me in this thread.

[picsfrommt]

Just by way of illustration (and I hope you don't mind me doing so - please say if you do), here is one way in which your image could be presented.[/IMG]

Wow, that presentation is nice. Gives me more to consider and aspire to.