Old house #1 Critique and comment always welcome

[tbob]

Doing my usual "locked in the house by winter" winnow of my images from the past. This time I decided to look deep into the vault (2010 and earlier) and see what I had. Now that I have the Nik suite, and am comfortable using it, I decided to process a few. At the rate I am going this will keep me occupied for several years

I am doing both black and white and colour versions. I think I am becoming a convert to monochrome. Seems to suit the subject. I welcome opinions on this as my wife (and partner in processing) is anti black and white so I am on my own when it comes to deciding when the image is processed properly

[mknittle]

Trevor , I am a big fan of B&W and old buildings can be some of the best subjects.

[Downrigger]

Very, very nice. Great subject. The little aspen(?) right in front of your subject isn't very helpful, but I like its shadow. I think that's NIK's "structure"on the building and I like it. I wonder if it wouldn't work to have less sharpness/detail as the eye moves tot he periphery of the frame, though, there is a lot of it and for me it distracts some from the subject.

[Manfred M]

Trevor; both images work quite nicely, but I prefer the colour version; just because of the lighting. We lose that lovely golden hour look in the monochrome version. I find the loss of the warm tones in the old house doesn't quite do it for me in this image.

I find that very few images work equally well in colour and B&W; although I can think of a very limited number of exceptions in my own image collection. I find I will turn to B&W for three reasons:

1. B&W adds a level of abstraction by removing colours. Sometimes that is all I want and will go monochrome for this reason;

2. B&W can be used to simplify an image. A shot that is too busy because of all of the colours can be made to work by getting rid of the colours and working with tones. This is often the reason I will to to B&W; and

3. That "period" look. If I take a shot of something that comes from the 1960's or earlier, I will go monochrome because that's what I remember these images looking like in my childhood. Going for an off-white background or sepia tone will sometimes work even better that pure B&W.

[Shadowman]

Both very nice. I think the color version really emphasizes the rural setting.

[tbob]

[/QUOTE] Very, very nice. Great subject. The little aspen(?) right in front of your subject isn't very helpful, but I like its shadow. [/QUOTE]

The aspen drives me crazy. When I shot this old house I noted the aspen but did not have anything to remove it and besides I think it's a little unethical to start cutting trees on other people' land. I will break off weeds but trees seem a little past the allowable. And my skill at cloning is not sufficient to remove it in processing.

[/QUOTE] I think that's NIK's "structure"on the building and I like it. I wonder if it wouldn't work to have less sharpness/detail as the eye moves tot he periphery of the frame, though, there is a lot of it and for me it distracts some from the subject.[/QUOTE]

I will check this as an option. Thanks

[ST1]

Both very nice. I think the color version really emphasizes the rural setting.

Plus 1 from me too Trevor

[shreds]

The B&W has a level of being slightly ominous, in this case, which helps the picture no end.

The plank of wood pinned almost horizontally to the right hand side corner is a little distracting at smaller resolutions, whilst in this case I cannot make my mind up about the tree.

(Maybe take a chainsaw and ladder next time you go!)

[tbob]

Trevor; both images work quite nicely, but I prefer the colour version; just because of the lighting. We lose that lovely golden hour look in the monochrome version. I find the loss of the warm tones in the old house doesn't quite do it for me in this image.

I find that very few images work equally well in colour and B&W; although I can think of a very limited number of exceptions in my own image collection. I find I will turn to B&W for three reasons:

1. B&W adds a level of abstraction by removing colours. Sometimes that is all I want and will go monochrome for this reason;

2. B&W can be used to simplify an image. A shot that is too busy because of all of the colours can be made to work by getting rid of the colours and working with tones. This is often the reason I will to to B&W; and

3. That "period" look. If I take a shot of something that comes from the 1960's or earlier, I will go monochrome because that's what I remember these images looking like in my childhood. Going for an off-white background or sepia tone will sometimes work even better that pure B&W.

The black and white is a technique I am still working to learn. I agree with your criteria for use. I just have to work through my own decision making process. Up until now I have been averse to using it much, mainly because the colour and lighting on the old wood has been the main attractant for my eye. But the monochrome treatment does have it's merits. I just have to work through when it is most useful. Trial and error (more of the latter unfortunately) is the only way I seem to learn.

I appreciate the critique as I need opinion other than mine to learn.

[tbob]

The B&W has a level of being slightly ominous, in this case, which helps the picture no end.

The plank of wood pinned almost horizontally to the right hand side corner is a little distracting at smaller resolutions, whilst in this case I cannot make my mind up about the tree.

The plank is a bit weird. I have no idea why they nailed it up there. Usually I can figure these things out but it is just too flimsy to be of much use.

The ominous feel is what i was going for so I am glad it worked for you. The colour version is lacking that and I felt the image needed that aspect emphasized.

(Maybe take a chainsaw and ladder next time you go!)

I fear what will happen if I go down that road!

[Raskolnikov]

B&W without hesitation
So you have the whites, the blacks, the greys and the light in a much more elegant frame.
I´m in love with B&W

[Manfred M]

The black and white is a technique I am still working to learn. I agree with your criteria for use. I just have to work through my own decision making process. Up until now I have been averse to using it much, mainly because the colour and lighting on the old wood has been the main attractant for my eye. But the monochrome treatment does have it's merits. I just have to work through when it is most useful. Trial and error (more of the latter unfortunately) is the only way I seem to learn.

I appreciate the critique as I need opinion other than mine to learn.

I only shot B&W when I first got into serious photography. Limited funds as a student meant B&W only in the film days, so I still have my "eye" for it. After I moved to colour, I tended to shoot that way, just because one is throwing away most of the data that the camera has collected when going to B&W.

Just to add to my list of things where I look to B&W; I also like it for portraiture, including street photography. Again, the simplification aspect of monochrome is why I like it for this type of work.

[Mike Buckley]

Written before reading any of the posts: Nice framing of the house by the tree limb! The monochrome has a rich quality that is lacking for me in the color version. My only objection is the lone vertical tree on the left side; I wouldn't have cut it down without permission but I sure would have wished I could.

[tbob]

I only shot B&W when I first got into serious photography. Limited funds as a student meant B&W only in the film days, so I still have my "eye" for it. After I moved to colour, I tended to shoot that way, just because one is throwing away most of the data that the camera has collected when going to B&W.

Just to add to my list of things where I look to B&W; I also like it for portraiture, including street photography. Again, the simplification aspect of monochrome is why I like it for this type of work.

My dad, who got me started on this hobby, would only shoot black and white. He regarded colour as a cheap and tawdry appeal to crass sensationalism. He would consent to family pictures in colour to please my mum. However he would not "prostitute himself" (his words) by shooting serious stuff in colour.

I teased him that the real reason was because he was an engineer and saw everything in black and white.

[NorthernFocus]

...I teased him that the real reason was because he was an engineer and saw everything in black and white.

Well now we know that your sense of humor didn't just develop later in life

I'm going to provide feedback simply as a viewer as this is not my genre. Both images "work" for me but for totally different reasons. With the B/W you achieved the result that you intended. It has a very mysterious, maybe even sinister feel to it. I'd expect to find human remains buried somewhere on the grounds

On the other hand, the warm tones of the color version remind me of an old hunting camp or similar where hot coffee and warm hearts await.

A good example of how different color and b/w can be.

[tbob]

Written before reading any of the posts: Nice framing of the house by the tree limb! The monochrome has a rich quality that is lacking for me in the color version. My only objection is the lone vertical tree on the left side; I wouldn't have cut it down without permission but I sure would have wished I could.

I too wish the tree was gone. If I sneak back I will have to see if ethics or aesthetics win!

[tbob]

Well now we know that your sense of humor didn't just develop later in life

I'm going to provide feedback simply as a viewer as this is not my genre. Both images "work" for me but for totally different reasons. With the B/W you achieved the result that you intended. It has a very mysterious, maybe even sinister feel to it. I'd expect to find human remains buried somewhere on the grounds

On the other hand, the warm tones of the color version remind me of an old hunting camp or similar where hot coffee and warm hearts await.

A good example of how different color and b/w can be.

I like your interpretations, but I don't know whether that is because they are valid or because they are what I intended with the versions. I will go with the valid because like me you are a artistic, intelligent person with good taste as verified by your opinion.

[NorthernFocus]

... like me you are a artistic, intelligent person with good taste as verified by your opinion.

Well we're in total agreement so far

[Manfred M]

I teased him that the real reason was because he was an engineer and saw everything in black and white.

How things have changed; I was always accused of seeing things through rose coloured glasses...

That must explain my preference for colour....

[Mike Buckley]

It's interesting to me to see that some people see a sinister quality in the monochrome version. I don't see any of that.