Sleepy Town

This was taken a couple of years ago when I visited Whitby, a little

fishing town on the East Coast of the UK.

I found the photo amongst the files I was browsing through and

thought it might have some potential. I cropped the foreground as

most of it was just more water. Then I created a B & W version and

a colour version. Now heres the interesting bit. I used the colour

version as a background copy for the B & W version, fully intending

so see what it looked like with some selective colour showing

through. However before I could start processing, my fingers hit a

couple of keys simuletaneously on my keyboard and the two images

blended giving the results above. So far I have been unable to figure

out what keys I touched : - )

 

Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated. Thank You.

Impressive reflection! Beautiful. BR

Is incredible how clear and sharp this image is,so many elements here that catch the eyes,I look to this from left to right,up to down and just delight the eyes,ten points from me.

sincerely radu

Hi Alf,

Sharpest at small viewing size. This is the visual perception aspect of imaging.

The best definition capability of the lens was lost due to the F/11 setting.

The timed exposure did provide a nice aesthetic mood  , though.

Best Regards my friend, Mike

 

Wonderful and very clear landscape of a full of peace place!

what does the original look like???

Hi Alf,

  Beautiful scene with wonderful reflection & darken sky.  Take care, Patsy

a visual treat for the sharpness and colors. wish the bend of water on the right was not cropped. compliments -koushik

an interesting effect - but, if I may be honest, not an "Alf Bailey-Photograph" (in which I usually appreciate the skilled use and handling of light) - the sky looks like painted above (reminding a bit of old movies with painted backdrops) and does not suit ot the light on the houses. Yet, I can imagine that in pure b/w this has some potential

Anyway, the effect is still kind of interesting - maybe we should at times hit more randomly on the keyboard :-) -- as a serious hint: many tools have some editing history or at least "undo" in the edit menu - so before closing the file you'd have some chances to investigate what happened.

Hi Alf

Well, you certainly thought right, the image does have potential, even more so when blended with the black & white version, I'm pleased you hit a couple of keys and the result was this very aesthetically palatable image!  Reflections are a personal favorite of mine and this exquisitely composed image (albeit by hitting unknown keys) will be going into my favorites.  I love the clarity and sharpness of every detail, the array of colours in the buildings and reflection against the black & white moodiness of the sky and clouds.  I actually found myself leaning into this image, trying to see further round!  Sheer beauty Alf, thank you for sharing!

Warm regards

Jacqueline

Many Thanks!

The wind continued to blow, so the reflections were not as good as I hoped, but an interesting effect all the same.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RADU

 

The image did seem to appear very sharp, that again was another weird thing that happened during the accidental blend process as I didn't apply any sharpening.

Many Thanks Radu!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE

 

As you might guess this image was taken over 2 years ago, when apertures mean't very little to me other than means of obtaining dof characteristics and long exposures.  The aesthetics are the interesting thing, and the way they came about.

Many Thanks Mike!

 

Alf

 

MAURIZIO

 

Whitby did indeed seem full of peace at this particular time of the evening, it got a bit more rowdy later on though as the pubs spilled out : - )

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JAMIE

Many Thanks and good question..........I can't remember to be honest but I'll try and fnd the original : - )

Cheers!

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

heres the B & W Version

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments, much appreciated!

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

KOUSHIK

 

I know what you mean about the scene to the right, but it got a bit too erm busy looking.

Sincere thanks for your thoughts and posiitve feedback, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

WOLFGANG

 

Not one of my usual scenes, and if i'm honest cityscape type scenes are probably not my strength.

Interesting thoughts you had about the sky.  The B & W version was processed with Nik Silver Efex see above attachment following Jamies comment)  and I thought it looked slightly like HDR when it was done, a bit errm surreal to say the least, but I liked it.

Good point about the "undo" in the editing too, I knew it was there but didn't even think to take a look, I guess I was kind of mesmerised with the effect : - )

Sincere Thanks for your honest appraisal and thoughtful feedback.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JACQUELINE

 

Sincere Thanks for your interest and positive feedback!

The reflections are not perfect due to the wind that refused to completely stop blowing, but it added an interesting effect. I suppose when I look at the original image, the clarity and sharpness that you mention was already there, but it does seem ore emphasised in the blended version.

I think Koushik also hinted that it was a pity he couldn't see more to the right. There was the Harbour entrance and bridge, but it did look a bit too busy when I took the photo and therefore didn't include it.

I am very honoured you consider this a favourite Jacqueline, thank you once again.

 

Warm Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very interesting experiment with unexpected results Have you repeated with your original intentions? It would be interesting to see the results.Have tried to figure what the results would be & my conclusion is the lighter area would become a little more saturated. or else I have strayed down the wrong path, (again)But, one never knows until one tries.Both your images are visually attractive & pleasing,with the B&W a bit more powerful. Very Best Regards-Ross

A beautiful result with very nice lighting and details, Alf!

Love the dark and threatening sky with light breaking through from the right to give a more dramatic look to the scene. Nice reflection in the water with really good detail in the building / town. The clouds really give this scene drama and wonder as they hang over this pleasing little town by the waters edge.  Love the water as the foreground with the town reflected  Great capture!   Best regards,  Sherry

Very interesting and quite the surreal effect.  I do like the somewhat ominous sky (with it's menacing, demonic seagull hanging right center over the tower).  As for duplicating the keystrokes, you know, I've always heard you can give a monkey a typewriter and.... ;-).  Thanks for sharing the image and technique honesty...  Mike

I have no idea about the magic keyboard shortcut, but I love the effect. The shot looks great!

the original looks more real and more rich, but the 'keystrokes' version is quite dramatic. j

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments!

 

I have to admit iit was more of an accident than an experiment, but the original intended experiment I haven't attempted to repeat. Somehow I've gone off the idea now, and even when I attempted it, it was purely as a diversion from watching TV etc.

I think your conclusions though, would be fairly accurate!

Yeah I thnk I prefer the B & W myself : - )

 

Cheers Ross!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RUUD

 

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

SHERRY

 

It does look a bit threatening I thought even a bit HDR ish but not unpleasant.  "Dramatic" is probably a better analogy.  The town of Whitby is very photogenic with great features, inclusing piers, harbours and fishing boats, not to mention ruined abbeys and churches. This is probably a different view than the more iconic scenes.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE M

 

Glad you like the effect Mike I did too........well its a bit different and yes I agree somewhat surreal. Every English fishing village has its own"Demonic Seagull" they wait at the edges of activity and swoop on small unsuspecting children to steal thier ice cream : - )

As for the errm Monkey Business I usually manage that with the camera too!

Many Thanks Mike!

 

Alf

 

PAT

 

Well you are not alone Pat, no one else knows the secret shortcut either, including me : - )

I am glad you like the effect though.

 

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JAMIE

 

I agree with your analogy, the original certainly looks more real, but hey we can get real just by looking out of the window : - )

Cheers Jamie!

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although you have beautifully captured the town's appearance, what truly captivates me is the appearance of the water.  There is a large smooth area in which one sees most of the reflections, and then a small crescent-shaped rippled area in the bottom right.  It's as if the water has a life of its own.

My best always,

michael

''Love and Death'' Woody Allen.

It seems you hit some magic keys! Result is outstanding, detailed and brilliant. I specially liked the definition in sky and clouds, as well as masterful midtone contrast you applied, probably through layer blending. Composition is also awesome. Bravo.

My best regards,

Hamid.

I really like the result Alf. I wonder if you choose a 'blending mode' in Layers??? But I think you would have realized that move. Whatever you did I like it. Fantastic sky, beautiful reflections, what a lovely place. So glad you decided to post this one.

Many thanks for your observations and thoughtful comments, very much appreciated!  Sometimes it really does take a third party to see things in an image that escapes the photographer, and both yourself and Koushik have pointed out that little crescent of wind rippled water that really did nothing but irritate me when I cropped it.  Its not until someone else conveys thier perceptions of something like that, that one realises it has a part to play in the scene.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JAMIE

Great quotation!

How about this one from the great "Scouser" himself John Lennon

 

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination"

 

: - )

 

Alf

 

HAMID

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated.  There was definately some kind of blending that took place, as the two photographs merged perfectly, the mystery for me was how it took on the characteristics of both the colour and the B & W version simuletaneously.

Cheers Hamid!

 

Alf

 

GAIL

 

I would dearly love to be all knowledgeable at this point, and explain in fine detail the process that took place for blending of the 2 images, but the truth is my big clumsy fingers hit several keys at the same time  (god only knows which ones lol) and this is the result.  I think you are probably on the right track though, it must have been a short cut for some kind of blending mode.

It is a fantastic place Gail the whole area is steeped in history. If you look to the top of the image you can see a church, just behind this (out of view) is the ruined Abbey, reputedley the last resting place of "Count Dracula"

Many Thanks for your thoughts and observations Gail.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf