Another Re-edit

[blakemcguire]

Edit:


Original (essentially straight from camera):



Another re-edit of an old photo. How do you guys feel it holds up? C+C both welcomed and encouraged.

[Manfred M]

I'd think about crop out everything on the right side of the image (about 40% of the shot) as it really adds nothing to the shot. I prefer your first edit as it gives a less "muddy" look to the image.

[Shadowman]

Is it me or did the reedit lose some sharpness? I like the original.

[Dave Humphries]

Since the second has a slightly wider angle of view (and is tilted), I believe the second one is SOOC and the first is actually 'the edit'. Also looks to have had some processing done as John says.
Am I correct Blake?

I agree with Manfred on there being little of interest on the right hand side that relates to the apparent main subject.

[Geoff F]

But if you did crop what image size would be acceptable? Maybe go square?

A great fun scene.

[blakemcguire]

For clarity, the first image is the edit. The second is the original with no editing at all. I have edited the post for clarity; sorry for the confusion.

In the edit:

- I masked around the men and bench so that I could darken only the background
- Inverted the mask so I could adjust the men independently (did some curves and some sharpening)
- Removed some trash from the ground if it was visually distratcting
- Removed a small highlight from the window near the top left of the bench (had to basically re-paint everything back in by hand with the brush tool then put noise over it)
- Removed another highlight near the top right of the picture (same process)
- Did some basic output stuff: resizing, convert colour profile, apply some sharpening to the resized image

I didn't crop because I have a weird obsession with making everything 3:2 horizontal lately. I don't really know why.

Here's a square crop; what do you think?

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Blake,

I think I'd take the crop a little further.

Really; the subject is the three statues, but it seems you have the entire sculpture now central in the square frame, which means their legs are facing out of frame and quite close to the left side.

If mine; I'd crop to lose the 'bus stop' (which is an unwanted distraction), perhaps placing the edge of frame where the dark pole divides the distant shop front.

But then I never have been one for defined crop ratios, preferring to let the crop fall wherever the composition benefits

Cheers, Dave

[Geoff F]

Looks good to me now, Blake.

I would leave the bus stop sign because it sort of gives a reason for them being there waiting for something; but I would slightly tone down that bright light beside the bus stop sign.