Night Noise

It's tilted. It's noisy. Does it work?

The concept certainly works, Amy.  I am not sure that you have the optimal crop and composition.  I would mine this idea for quite a few shots and see what you can get.

 

--Lannie

I"ll have to differ with my friend, Lannie, on this one. I like the unbalanced feeling of the crop and composition, the feeling that you're not quite sure where you are when you wake unexpectedly in the middle of the night. There's something of the feeling of a nightmare about this picture.

I did play with the tilt some and I kept coming back to the original (to straighten it forces a crop I didn't like). Looking at it with somewhat fresher eyes this morning, I think it's the noise that bothers me the most. I'm thinking this one may be in the category of "almost, but not quite". 

I agree with you. I like the composition and the idea of the shot. The tilt/skew works quite well, visually as well as narratively. It feels honest. The mirror and wall feel like they are hovering and confronting, and that's a good thing, yet there's a softness to the night lighting. Like you, I don't much care for the noise. Did you use noise intentionally, hoping it would be expressive, or was it just the result of high ISO shooting? I've been doing some high ISO shooting recently and am finding that the noise works in some instances and not in others, often based on the composition and sense of detail. In my limited experience, I seem to like it better when it creeps up on me as a viewer and more often in close-ups rather than environmental shots. It can take on an expressive textural sense in a close-up where it has a more unfortunate and almost mistake-like quality in other compositions. There are, of course, exceptions to this. I've also been playing around with using a bounced flash in dark interior shots, which allows me to use a lower ISO but still retain the sense of darkened atmosphere.

I think it works marvelously. Misterious and misty, portraying the sense of really late at night. The figures are undefined, addint to the foggy stillness of wome wee hours and some kind of seriour (or not) conversation. It is my personal taste to like grainy images, evoking the good old times of special 35mm film and photographic paper overdeveloped in the dark room. That is why I find this image particularly attractive and well accomplished. A captivating image all around. Congratulations.

DG

I'm seeing it only one size right now (small).  Maybe you changed it, Amy, or maybe there is something wrong with the system.

 

In any case, the small size makes the noise less noticeable (not intrusive at all, in fact), and now I do find myself liking it more than I did.  Sometimes a picture has to grow on you, too, a bit like a song.  The songs and pictures that I like a lot at first typically grow boring in a hurry.  This one is not going to grow boring.

 

--Lannie

I love a photograph that makes people think. I feel you have that here. The person (you?) seems to be hiding from something. The lighting and presentation in muted colors supports that. I agree that the tilt works. If the noise was added you might consider removing some. If it resulted from the high ISO then it might be inevitable to get the rest of what you want.

Unfortunately the noise was not intentionally added (so I'm guessing I can't subtract it, even in PS-I haven't looked to see if there's any PS magic that could accomplish this, but it seems doubtful to me). 

Fred, I have done very little flash photography, so this is something to try. The light from the TV added a bit of light of course, but the effects of bouncing it would be interesting to see. 

Thanks to everyone for your input and taking time to share your thoughts.

Amy

 

 

Hi Amy,

There are so many ways to accomplish this scene  that I refrain from making any suggestions since I feel that you accomplished what you set out to do.

When I enlarged this scene several times, I was reminded of the  old " Fright Films" of the 50's and 60's.

Best Regards, Mike

having spent some time looking at this image it does evoke something for me at least...it seems lonely but comfortable, dark but not completely abandoned or cold...almost like a window into the experience of being right there...the bright light in the mirror reminds me of neon signs...i can't yet appreciate the noise but I know its important, perhaps this is just part of the overall mood...interesting photo for discussion Amy...regards....David

Mike:

Thanks for looking. This was taken with my iPhone. Any post processing suggestions on the noise? It was a situation where I saw the scene, thought it was interesting a grabbed the closest available camera. Other than the high level of noise, I'm pretty ok with it. 

Thanks, as always for your input. Our shooting styles are different but I do very much appreciate the technical education you provide to us. 

 

David: Thanks so much for looking and sharing your impressions. Thanks for reminding me that the noise just might have a role in the overall mood. 

Amy

Hi Amy,

I do acknowledge the wide range of shooting styles that people use.

I also appreciate the creative styles and results that are obtained from a wide range of images posted to PN.

My technical expertise speaks  to what I refer to as the science of photography, which ultimately

explains all that there is to know about how, why imagery can be produced by our efforts to produce lens, a medium for recording and the cameras that follow.

Warmest Regards, Mike.

I like everything about this image. Everyone that looks at this makes up their own story. Well done.

 

-O

Thank you Owen.

Amy