Colour version or B&W?

[Jim A]

I took this photo yesterday at the Northcote Chinese and Korean Festival, here in Auckland.

DSC_0730-Edit Cat at Northcote Chinese and K Fest by Jim A, on Flickr

[/url]Cat at Festival HSH B&W by Jim A, on Flickr

[xpatUSA]

Monochrome for me. More contrast but with less intrusive face and less distraction from background colors.

Miaow ...

[Tronhard]

I tend to agree with Ted on this one. The bright colours of the background are a bit of a distraction.

[LePetomane]

B&W for me as well.

[Manfred M]

The B&W is marginally better because the costumes of the performers in the background are less distracting, but the material behind the head of the subject is more distracting. I suspect removing the legs would lead to a far stronger image.

[FootLoose]

I prefer the colour image - it's a festival after all. Try pulling the light down in the background so the cat becomes the main focus of attention.

[Jim A]

Hi Manfred, Whilst I love your "take", it is hard to replicate (though not impossible), the border to our left of the cat. I can do it using short 'bursts' of the cloning tool, but it is mind-numbing. I suspect that you have an easier method, which you are okay to share??

Looking at the image, refreshed, with your edits, I think that I should try to replicate what you have done (difficult), then clone in an addition to the forefront and also crop the headspace, so that the image is more to the centre. Then a subtle vignette - what do you think please?

[Manfred M]

Hi Manfred, Whilst I love your "take", it is hard to replicate (though not impossible), the border to our left of the cat. I can do it using short 'bursts' of the cloning tool, but it is mind-numbing. I suspect that you have an easier method, which you are okay to share??

Looking at the image, refreshed, with your edits, I think that I should try to replicate what you have done (difficult), then clone in an addition to the forefront and also crop the headspace, so that the image is more to the centre. Then a subtle vignette - what do you think please?

This was a super easy edit. I used the rectangular marquee tool and made a selection between the leg of the cat and the other members in the background, right down to the floor. I copied and pasted that area and then resized (stretched) the selection all the way to the left. All I needed to do was a tiny bit of retouching afterwards. The whole thing took less than a minute to do.

[Shadowman]

The monochrome helps offset the distracting background but would prefer a color version.

[John 2]

If you wanted to retain some of the context, you could always subdue the BG. Out of interest I darkened, de focussed and de-saturated it using gradient layers to to produce this:

[William W]

I suggest that you try Monochrome, but not Black and White, Blue Tint is my suggestion - that makes the image sort of retro; nukes the harsh bacground and will keep the chilly flavour.

WW