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Shelters. Southsea Sea Front on a grey November day.
This is another conversion to BW taking into account advice received on the stairs photo.
The scene is one I've shot a few times as I like the shapes of these shelters. This time I included Spit Bank Fort (not sure if this should included? - V3)in the Solent and a person in the far shelter.
All comments on the scene, composition and especially on the BW conversion would be helpful.
V2 is the colour version.
V3 without fort
V4 without fort and man
I took the photo to try and improve on the image I made on film which shows a lot of grain.
The shoreline that can just be seen is the diminishing shore of the Isle of Wight.
Thanks for looking,
Ian
| Brand: | FUJIFILM |
| Lens: | XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS |
| Recording media: | JPEG (digital) |
| Date Taken: | 15 Nov 2012 - 3:41 PM |
| Focal Length: | 55mm |
| Lens Max Aperture: | f/2.8 |
| Aperture: | f/6.4 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1/40sec |
| Exposure Comp: | 0.0 |
| ISO: | 500 |
| Exposure Mode: | Aperture-priority AE |
| Metering Mode: | Multi-segment |
| Flash: | Off, Did not fire |
| White Balance: | Auto |
| Title: | Shapes of Shelters |
| Username: | 
iancrowson |
| Uploaded: | 16 Nov 2012 - 10:42 AM |
| Tags: | Architecture, Black & white, Landscape / travel |
| VS Mode Rating |
99 (41.18% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | Voting Disabled |
 | Critique Wanted |
| Modifications Welcome (Upload a Modification) |
 | Variant - Tests |
Comments
Great photos 
I like the way the ornate shelter nestles beneath the canopy of the larger one.
I prefer the image without the inclusion of Spit Bank Fort, Ian, it's quite small in the image and I feel that the strength lies in the two shelters, which don't need anything else included.
As for the person in the shelter, I really like his inclusion. I'm tending to feel it was a bonus to have him sitting there, and that to remove him would be a shame.
As to the mono conversion, my first impression was that the shelter on the right dominated too much because it was very dark, and so I have done a modification where I simply selected it, and brightened it using Levels, adding contrast at the same time. This doesn't appear to have produced any noise, which lifting the shadows often can. I even think it could be brightened a bit more, if you should so chose.
The colour version is very pleasing, but I think mono is the way to go with this one.
Pamela.
Its a well spotted opportunity in any incarnation Ian.
I would always suggest that you start with getting the original colour version as good as possible before any conversion. It can have a significant impact on the outcome.
I like this colour version if its tweaked with exposure, colour balance and contrast, - it really pops. As it is, its quite dull and flat. The fort should really go, and the man is a bonus. It works also without the man, - but its a different mood, - empty, lonely. So V3 of your set looks best. I do thinks though, tweaking colour first would give you a better V3.
So, I uploaded the modified colour, with a series of mono conversions based on the tweaked colour. I used the b&w converter thats in CS6, and used the built in filters. The last shot is a little playing with diffusion and posterization, - trying to get a little more graphic.
regards
Willie
Hermanus
Thanks for input.
Pamela
Thanks for your critique. Yes the right hand is dark, I glad you said that because I did think that it might be myself. I tried a different more contrasty BW conversion method.
BW conversions are difficult for me, never sure just how they should look. I can see now the fort is really not part of that scene.
Willie,
I'm spoilt for choice with mods. I like the benches dark best. Although the point of the image was about shape and form so graphic is good.
All very helpful, thanks
Ian
With this very good architectural shot, we do indeed get into some rather interesting compositional and technical details. As suggested by Wilie, tweaking colours is essential, before tackling what is in fact the essence of this photo, contrasting black and white structures. The foregrounded structure, for instance, reveals how problematic it is to deal with simple ceiling details. How much detail should be shown? How does detail affect what I take to be the center of attention, that is the ornate roof of the white structure and, of course, the man with the hat. Every mod seems to handle this in a different manner! Thanks Herman, a great shot to reflect on. Paul P.S. Just noticed: what happens to the shoreline? Well, back to the fundamental questions...
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