Roof Lines

[Round Tuit]

This is a photo that I took about a year ago and relegated to my large "maybe some day I'll look at it" pile. Well, that day has come and to my surprise, I quite like it now. It is unusual for me to take a photo that does not have a clear subject. However this purely graphic composition of strong lines, shapes, color and textures now appeals to me.

I would welcome your opinions.

#1



André

[Mike Buckley]

The subject is very clear to me: the railings at the top are strongly supported by the lines beneath them. Consider making this a monochrome to make the image more about lines by reducing the impact of the color.

[bje07]

I like this color version, but for me I'll delete the bottom until the right oblique (or small almost horizontal line)
But why not try a monochrome version with strong contrast?

[LePetomane]

I like it. I have one that I will post in a different thread.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Dave Humphries]

I'd rotate it a bit (clockwise) Andre

Dave

[Jim A]

Well, Andre, monochrome - yes; rotation, for a moment I thought it was just me, but agree a bit clockwise. Additionally, I would go for a slightly tighter crop. But, yes, good call to bring out of the archives.

[Round Tuit]

Thank you Mike, Jean, Paul, John, Dave and Jim.

Mike - It had not occurred to me that a graphic element could be the subject of a photo. I had always thought that the subject had to be intrinsically interesting. Thanks for pointing that out. With regard to B & W, I tried it without much success which is not surprising since I generally prefer colour. To me, the visual impact of the blue sky is an important element that gets lost in the conversion.

Jean - The crop that you suggest is a big improvement. Thank you.

Dave - That is a tough call. I had a choice of alignment between the vertical members and the horizontal members of the railing. I picked the vertical ones but could just as easily have used the horizontal ones. Trying to line up the texture in the walls did not work at all.

Jim - I think that a tighter crop will work well.

I will reprocess this photo keeping all of your suggestions in mind and post the result. In the mean time, if anybody would like to do a B & W version, please don't be shy.

André

[Mike Buckley]

It had not occurred to me that a graphic element could be the subject of a photo. I had always thought that the subject had to be intrinsically interesting.

A successful subject for any photo probably does have to be intrinsically interesting, though I've never given that any thought. (It can be interesting without being attractive; it might even be ugly.) For me, the railing has intrinsic interest because it has a graphic characteristic.

[Urbanflyer]

Here are two Flickr groups I belong to that emphasize the graphic elements. I have been surprised to see so little of this type of photography on Cambridge. The first group is more tightly moderated.


https://www.flickr.com/groups/linescurves/pool/

https://www.flickr.com/groups/lessismore/pool/

[Shadowman]

Here are two Flickr groups I belong to that emphasize the graphic elements. I have been surprised to see so little of this type of photography on Cambridge. The first group is more tightly moderated.


https://www.flickr.com/groups/linescurves/pool/

https://www.flickr.com/groups/lessismore/pool/

Hi Judith,

Graphic elements has been displayed on this forum in the past and often in the in the competition threads, it is a style I do practice from time to time having been introduced to it by Joe McNally. One of McNally's exercises was to isolate portions of a lighthouse as it presented a different perspective of your usual examples.

[Urbanflyer]

Thank you Mike, Jean, Paul, John, Dave and Jim.

Mike - It had not occurred to me that a graphic element could be the subject of a photo. I had always thought that the subject had to be intrinsically interesting. Thanks for pointing that out. With regard to B & W, I tried it without much success which is not surprising since I generally prefer colour. To me, the visual impact of the blue sky is an important element that gets lost in the conversion.

Jean - The crop that you suggest is a big improvement. Thank you.

Dave - That is a tough call. I had a choice of alignment between the vertical members and the horizontal members of the railing. I picked the vertical ones but could just as easily have used the horizontal ones. Trying to line up the texture in the walls did not work at all.

Jim - I think that a tighter crop will work well.

I will reprocess this photo keeping all of your suggestions in mind and post the result. In the mean time, if anybody would like to do a B & W version, please don't be shy.

André

Well--I am always learning and b & W conversion is only slowly creeping into my skill set. So your invitation was a challenge to get some feedback. I did not do any of the crops and adjustments others recommended though I agree some are worthwhile. Just focused on the conversion. Agree that the sky is an important element so took it lighter than I might otherwise have done. Would love C & C from those of you who are so much more experienced at this than I.

[Mike Buckley]

That conversion works very nicely for me, Judith. Now get going with conversions of your own images!

[Urbanflyer]

That conversion works very nicely for me, Judith. Now get going with conversions of your own images!

Aye, Aye! Thanks for the feedback!

[tao2]

Hi Judith,

Ah prefer the colour version. Don't think there's enough tonal range for the B+W conversion, especially with all that sky (necessary for the central structure). Ah'd look at trying tae dramatise the colours, combined with using bits of software, tae create a vibrant abstract.

[Urbanflyer]

Hi Judith,

Ah prefer the colour version. Don't think there's enough tonal range for the B+W conversion, especially with all that sky (necessary for the central structure). Ah'd look at trying tae dramatise the colours, combined with using bits of software, tae create a vibrant abstract.

I. too, prefer the color version. doing the conversion was a personal challenge.

[tao2]

I. too, prefer the color version. doing the conversion was a personal challenge.

Hi Judith,

been playing around with your colour version. Ah can post it in the thread, if ye like. Gonna have a go at a b+w version...if that's OK.

[Urbanflyer]

Hi Judith,

been playing around with your colour version. Ah can post it in the thread, if ye like. Gonna have a go at a b+w version...if that's OK.

That photo was not mine originally--It was taken by Andre in Ottawa--see first post in this thread. While others offered ideas to improve the color version, one person suggested a B & W conversion. Andre said he wasn't going to try the B &
W but if others wanted to do so, have at it. That was the genesis of my B & W. It would be interesting to see your take on a conversion.

[Round Tuit]

Thank you all for your continued interest and valuable contributions.

Judith - Your B & W conversion is much better than anything I had tried. I still prefer the colour version but that is a good conversion.

Boab - Please do post your colour and B & W visions for this image. Judging by the originality of your usual post, it will be interesting to see.

I have tried the tighter crop along the line suggested by Jean and Jim. It did not work as well as I had expected. I find that the railing is a bit too prominent and the context not quite as effective. Here it is:

#2 (of my images)


Just to reiterate, all edits and revisions will be most welcomed.

[tao2]

Hi André,

Tae emphasize the abstract over the function and form, ah prefer bold,brash and bright as opposed tae natural - especially if there isn't a large range of tones tae use...so...