Trying to decide how to print this

This is one of the Audubon murals in NYC. I want to emphasize the bird, but I’d also prefer not to blow out the face of the building. This is a fairly neutral scan of the neg, and I’m thinking I might want to make a split grade print rather than try to dodge/burn my way. The idea would be to just bring in the face of the building at 00 and then expose for the eye at a higher grade.

Thoughts?

The lack of contrast in the shaded artwork will demand a different grade - and exposure - than the sunlit frontage. You might have to use a combination of grade change and burning the frontage highlights.

However, there's a serious copyright issue with this picture if you're planning to display it publicly or sell prints. Copyright law says of any image that depends heavily on the work of another artist, or that substantially uses the work of another artist; that the originating artist may have a claim for breach of copyright. Your picture would appear to fall into that category.

So don't put yourself in the way of a lawsuit.

Does this go close to what you'd like to print ?

The lack of contrast in the shaded artwork will demand a different grade - and exposure - than the sunlit frontage. You might have to use a combination of grade change and burning the frontage highlights.

 

However, there's a serious copyright issue with this picture if you're planning to display it publicly or sell prints. Copyright law says of any image that depends heavily on the work of another artist, or that substantially uses the work of another artist; that the originating artist may have a claim for breach of copyright. Your picture would appear to fall into that category.

So don't put yourself in the way of a lawsuit.

Thanks, and I appreciate the copyright advisory. This is just a vacation snapshot from walking around Harlem - any print will end up in my house or office. I’m not in any sort of photographic business.

Does this go close to what you'd like to print ?

 

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Yes, that’s nice. I’m trying to plan how to get there in the darkroom. Obviously there’ll be some trial and error involved, but if I can go in with an approach in mind, I’ll have more fun. Split grade is what comes to mind, and I think aligns with rodeo_joe’s suggestions.