BEHIND BARS

Oh yea, this is nice! I like the colors, the textures, and the depth that the view through the scene provides. Good stuff here (from my narrow-minded perspective)! BTW, I really like your new bio pic. The best impression I've gotten yet of the real Dave.

Thanks again for your kindness. I'm glad you like this one. I don't know if I should tell you this or not, but the walls are really white. I changed them primarily with levels, but thought they were more pleasing this way. I'm going to attach the original image and would greatly appreciate it if you would let me know if you like the original better. Please be honest. I say that because I know you don't have a mean bone in your body, and I know you are not a huge fan of manipulation.

 

As for the bio pic, I was just messing around and have had this idea to do a takeoff on one of the phone company's ads.

First of all, I marvel that you could make those changes. I haven't a clue how you did that. And I really like that manipulated version, as I said. I love the colors in the brick.

 

But I have to say that I favor the original version, simply because that's how it was, and for me, that's good enough. There is a simplicity in that one, and I think it reflects on your ability to find and appreciate a lovely scene and to take a well-crafted picture of it as you saw it. Keep in mind that I have a narrow-minded point of view, when in reality there are lots of ways to make good photos.

 

I find myself wondering if you could have taken a step to your left and gotten the whole scene thru the rear door. I somehow would like the full view thru there, even though that may have angled the whole picture.

 

I also have a sense that your manipulated version is a bit over-sharpened, which is something I do too much, usually to compensate for too much coffee and too seldom use of a tripod. Unless its something spontaneous, my pictures are always better when I'm not too lazy to get out the tripod.

 

Both versions are very good, Dave. As you well know, my opinion is biased. And its your picture.

 

Doug

Nice "box in the box" effect - and the frame does a lot.

Thank you very much.

That's why I wanted to use you for the guinea pig. I know you like to keep them like you found them. I have been very much that way most of my photo career. I rarely move things around, even if I know it would be better, and I love to find things rather than make them. As an example, your Jesus tacked to the cafe. That could be done digitally using the building and the Jesus cutout. I would get ten times more satisfaction finding that scene than making it. Having said that, I will admit to having become a bit enamored of all the wizardry PS lets one do. And I'm not even good at it! So, I know I go overboard sometimes and knowing where you come from (as well as others), allows me to try and keep in touch with reality. And I think your acute eye is correct. It probably was a bit too much on sharpening.

 

Thanks for your opinion Doug. It really does register with me.

 

Anybody else that would like to weigh in on this issue, please do. Thanks.

Comments much appreciated.

>Generally I feel very strongly against manipulation. I prefer photos to be as close to what I see as possible. In this case I do like the look of the altered brick quite a lot. It gives the photo an added richness and texture. Well done. Nice job.

Thank you. Your comment is greatly appreciated.

David, I think this is one of your very best posts, there are several things that make this composition stand out for me. I like the bricks with the color because they create a successive layer of earth tones throughout the image that are very appealing. I like that you've placed the door slightly off center but a centered composition would work also. I like that you've taken an interesting building and narrowed the area of focus down to a single subject (some times you include way too much information in a frame). I like the frame you've used, it compliments the colors well. And I also like a photo to represent "what you see is what you get" but I'm not adverse to the manipulation of a photo in PS or even in rearranging items to make a more interesting/pleasing composition, after all Artists have always used many mediums and transitions to create Art for eons. This one is definitely "a keeper", good work David. I can hardly wait for Juan to check in on this one.

Truth be known, this is probably about the 20th picture I took on my first outing with the Devil's tool, aka the Nikon D200. I had put it aside and forgotten about it, but when I downloaded an update to PS, I got Adobe Bridge, and when opening that, it showed thumbnails of a whole bunch of stuff I'd forgotten about. So I was like a kid in a candy store, and worked with several. The brick thing was kind of an accident. I was just trying to darken the whole scene with levels, and I slipped way over to the dark side and the bricks went from white to this reddish and gray colors, and I liked it a lot. But, of course the doorway went south. So I masked off the door part and let loose with levels on the brick, and, voila! WYSIWYG. It is a little over the top, but when (and if)I get my printer, I look forward to seeing what a nice big pic will look like. Thanks for looking Susan. Take care.

I like the colors and compo... the vision through the window and small piece of blue sky synonym of freedom...with this angle it seems that the house is only few inches thick while it must be at least 10-20 feet or so....the stone texture is wonderful...well done, Laurent.

What Susan said, I agree! And you said, "I don't do much pretty, but I know what it is..." I guess this is one of the times you decided to do pretty? Very Nice!

Thanks. Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and, yes, to me this is beauty, but many would not view it so. I'm glad you do too.

David. You have the nack for finding little gems. this one is a little gem. Simple, yet captivating. Pedestrian, yet orginal and unique. Some say stop and smell the roses, but you stop and smell that old rock on the side of the road... and it is beautiful.

Yeah, but sometimes a dog has come along and relieved himself on the rock before I stop and smell it. Just kidding. I really appreciate your kind comments. It means a lot to me, because it is kind of important to me to go where everybody else isn't necessarily going. You seem to percieve that obsession of mine, which makes you a pretty perceptive guy in my book. Take care.

Hi David,

 

There are two things - to me anyway - that make this picture a winner. As others have said the "removal of the paint" was important. Congratulations on recognizing when to use a "tool" to improve an image and when to just leave well enough alone. It turned a very ordinary picture into a picture with feeling. One can only imagine why guys ended up as "residents". The second key is the light. It appears that it was 3-4 PM when you took the picture. (It could have been 9-10 AM too, but my guess is afternoon.) The sidelight brings out all of the details in the "cleaned" bricks and mortar. This is a great picture. It makes me want to walk around the building and see its other sides too.

Your comments are much appreciated. Your second guess would be right, it was morning. I think this is such an interesting aspect of photography, becuase when viewed by different individuals, it conjures up differnt feelings, perceptions and interpretations. I have to admit that I don't remember what this building was. I was driving around with no other purpose than to take images, and I had passed a barn with a tractor in it (http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5238248). I had to go a bit further down the road to turn around, and as I turned around I saw this doorway, and I liked the wood door behind the rebar, and the fact that you could see right through and out the other side. It didn't strike me as a great image, but I was standing there, with camera in hand, so I figured I might as well take it. I forgot about it for several months, and then accidentally noticed it and started playing with it a bit. Actually, I think I over-cooked it a bit in the PS kettle, but it has been truly gratifying to have so many people comment on it. Thanks again for perceptive comment.

Dave, I agree - this photo came out very well. The orginal looks bland compared to this one. The landscape visible through the rear window, and nicely contrasting the dark inside of the building, gives it a nice oomph (had it been just the front wall and door, it wouldn't be as nice). Cheers, Micheal

Do I get credit for a pretty picture yet? Comment from Shawn says so, so I think I should be excused from having to do any more "pretty."

 

Thanks for your comments.

Hah! Wanna sneak out of it cheap, eh? No way, Mr. My admission ticket is still itching for a pretty landscape pictures. Everyone can say what they want, but a pretty old-door-with-rusty-iron-bars photo is a long way from a pretty landscape photo. Also, I was mourning when viewing this photo of yours last night - I couldn't come up with anything funny to say (at least funny to my taste). The funniest thing that has come to I was a question: how did they put the darkness in there when they have the bars and locked doors there? Pretty pathetic, eh? No, the "pretty" in the previous sentence doesn't cound to "pretty" photo, either. Cheers, Micheal

Well, I'm going to be in Montana next month (maybe), so I will promise one pretty pic. But only one!

I hate to say it, Dave, but I like your change better than the original image. Perhaps I have sold my soul to the devil. Really strong photo, I like it a lot.

There's plenty of room for all of us picuture takers when it comes to artistic styles. If I had your eye, I wouldn't need to resort to these vagaries. Hope you got a good price for the soul.

I sold my soul to the devil long ago so it is with great ease that I can choose the original. I like your color manipulation as it marrys nicely with the door and distant horizon colors. Smart addition David.