SAN FRANCISCO BAY WITH ALCATRAZ

How about this one? (I set the black point higher and darkened things a bit.)

Your version is probably better. (See previous comment). My only gripe with your version is that you lose any detail in the shrubs, which is not the end of the world since they are not central, but to me a minor quibble.

You could actually save the shrub detail by treating the area separately. I just did a real quick edit.

I like the composition very much...a lot of food for the eye...a front field element (human even better), the road leads the eye into the photo...then a strong and interesting background with the harbour, boats, island...I think the proposed version by Barry is more punchy but I agree you are loosing details, maybe you could add some contrast on your original...if I were to propose only a small improvement on composition is to have let the lady move a bit forward as she's a bit close to the frame border (but this is secondary)... a very nice shot.

And here's a version that keeps the bush area light.

Thank you Barry and Laurent. Barry, your version is officially adopted.

Hey, great picture. Intriguing composition, and ooohh, that contrast!

 

Actually, I do like the image. It's not a view one associates with SF, though it's instantly recognizable. I think my quibble, to the extent I have one, is with the missing top portion of Angel Island. As Laurent said, the woman on the lane really makes the image.

 

And as to the top of the island, if it isn't in your negative, I'd suggest getting Juan to work his PS magic and construct one for you. Of course, he'd probably put snow and a barn in. You get what you pay for.

I don't know about the snow and barn part, but I guarantee there would be a goddam dog walking beside that gal when Juan finished. I don't know if I can find the negative anymore. I threw away most of my negs. My guess is that the island is in the neg, because I am kind of anal about not chopping things off. Another guess is that there is no more foreground, because I had too much material to deal with and still try to retain detail.

Thank you Barry for adding the contrast to yet another one of David's Images...Frankly I am getting tired of being the only one doing it...I was thinking maybe we should all pitch in and get him a calibrator for his monitor...You think he would be be embarassed to post such flat images....

 

David...

 

This street scene reminds me very much of an image that your buddy J.F. has up on his portfolio...only now... thanks to folks like Barry it has the same quality of contrast...well and ...er...subject matter.

 

I am fully aware of your distaste for dogs and other such warm hearted images...

 

Your thirst for old decaying....rusting...falling down and...shall I say, boring subjects...must make you feel younger...

I can accept your style because anything you can do to make your self a better person...well....the world will be better for it...

 

I did not even try to add to the top of the island....I felt if you didn't want it in the picture to begin with....why bother...since you hacked it off I thought I would finish it off for ya...

 

Then I said to myself...self...if David thinks it's ok for Uncle Juan to Photoshop in the top of the island....why not just help the old fart some more and give him something he can be proud of....

 

So having lived in the bay area before...I had an idea what it needs to spruce it up....some fresh Montana air!

I have forgotten the name of that sail boat...I actually took a photo workshop on it...shooting beautiful models....until they made me walk the plank for suggessting something inappropiate to one of the models....hey... I thought she was cool...

 

I agree with Laurent...My quibble too is that the woman is a tad too close to the bottom edge...I thought of moving her...I did...but then I decided to remove her from the dog...and call the new image..."Close Call"

 

OH...about the freaking bushes....I hope someday when we can get together so I'll be able to teach you the techniques for Dodging and Burning....these terms do not refer to automobiles...

 

So Pendejo...thank god you have friends like us to usher you further into your New Year...and thanks for posting this image..it truly inspired me...juan

What a way to start the new year. I can tell you that I am truly grateful that I have no enemies. Between Steinfield, you and Barry I have already gotten enough direction to last me for the rest of the year. And it only took one day!!!!!!!!!!!! And to think some of youse Photonetters will be wandering around directionless and without a clue for the whole year. It's sad.

 

Juan, have you printed up that image yet? Would twenty five percent of the sale price be too much to ask? I love it.

That's got to be one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time! God knows, I need that, suffering through another one of these San Diego winters.

It's nice to know that you sick bastards are having so much fun beating up on this poor old defenseless "goofball." At least, if I should meet up with St. Peter and he wants an accounting, I can tell him I kept you guys entertained.

Oooh, David, I thought you started getting soft and took a pretty picture. I like Juan's version, as well, except it has no boats. Even with the current size of dogs it's very often not clear who walks whom. If we had dog's the size of Juan's, people would be bouncing all over like tennis balls, and they'd need a big rig for "poop and scoop" stuff. So I went back to your version to calm down. I do hope that one of your new year's resolution was to take pretty pictures, as well. Cheers, Micheal

That was not one of my New Year's resolutions, but I tell you what. I'm going to try and take me a couple of pretty pictures this year. Just to see if I can.....and to get you off my back.

 

And, yes, Juan's version is a real send off. I will be working on a payback for that little sob.

Your commentary is most welcome.

now that was fun gentlemens...my compliment to David for the inspiring image, then Juan showed and proved that subbtle and tiny fine tuning in PS might eventually totally change the mood of a shot...PN is fine to look for nice images, but when people collaborate at this level of entertainment we enter a new dimension of modern happening so that perfect fined tuned sunrise or landscape may eventually look in comparison as exciting as a 70 years old lady giving sexual education lessons...my hat off gents...you made me laugh this morning and I thank you all for that...

you made my day. I have no doubts that with your eye for composition you will take great pretty pictures. Smilingly, Micheal

 

To Micheal and Laurent. Laurent I think you hit the head right on the nail with that comparison of Dr. Ruth being perhaps almost as entertaining as Barry and Juan. I'm not sure about Barry, but I'm willing to bet Dr. Ruth is a favorite of Juan's. He's such a kid and has so much to learn.

OOOOO....Dr. Ruthie is a Hotti...Juan

Every men is supposed to compensate age with technique...Juan is proving that with interesting PS skills...:-)

I'm not sure age is one of them, but Juan sure as hell has a lot to compensate for.

Hey David, I think I'm turning into you or you're turning into me, a couple of bearded old coots wandering around the streets of The City with our cameras. Now I'm not sure if you took this picture or I did. If it was me, I'm quite pleased with the result.

Since your work is so awesome and you have a much bigger following, I don't know if it wouldn't be best to say you took it, and then I can bask in the secret knowledge that it is I who is garnering the acclaim.

This is actually a very nice image, with lots of food for the eye as one of the commenters pointed out. I love the lone figure in the foreground. Nice touch.

Thanks. This is a very early D Meyer. I liked a lot of the elements too, but I'm afraid it did have a few problems. I think I could make it look better if I had the negative to scan, but I don't. That muddiness that was mentioned, is because the print was not as sharp as it could be. I think now with what skills I have in PS that I could make this better. Compositionally, though I think it has a few problems and I don't know where the neg is anyway.