Unrequitted

[kutten]

Hahaha, heaven is like the opposite of hell right? :bsmilie: But thanks for interpreting the picture! It's amazing how different people see different things in the same picture!



Thanks bro! In the picture I posted, I had cropped away a bit of the floor from the original pic, but I suppose you meant breathing space at the left ba? Because like that cannot save le.. Anyway I lowered the opacity of the urban acid so that the contrast isn't so strong. Is this better?

The white wall is over-exposed like what night86mare has pointed out. I noticed that you used Aperture priority mode for this photo and some of the snow scenes you have taken.
If you are using Aperture priority mode and if the subject (either the wall or the snow) is lighter than the mid tone (18% grey), then use Exposure compensation to add more light to the meter reading (i.e +EV1 or +EV2 in this case for the white wall). By doing this, you won't lose out the foot-step details on the white snow or the line details on the wall.

On the contrary, if we are taking picture on the black wall where now the subject is darker than the mid tone, reduce 1 or 2 EV to reduce light for the meter reading.

PP to adjust the highlight back within the dynamic range helps but it doesn't appear very natural.

 

[lightbrush]

Don't you think the upwards arrow answers the question of 'where the hell are you' in the graffiti?

The bicycle says to the owner : "if my feelings are true, where the hell are you"
The answer: Up in heaven

Too drama for me :bsmilie:

 

[refraXion]

The white wall is over-exposed like what night86mare has pointed out. I noticed that you used Aperture priority mode for this photo and some of the snow scenes you have taken.
If you are using Aperture priority mode and if the subject (either the wall or the snow) is lighter than the mid tone (18% grey), then use Exposure compensation to add more light to the meter reading (i.e +EV1 or +EV2 in this case for the white wall). By doing this, you won't lose out the foot-step details on the white snow or the line details on the wall.

On the contrary, if we are taking picture on the black wall where now the subject is darker than the mid tone, reduce 1 or 2 EV to reduce light for the meter reading.

PP to adjust the highlight back within the dynamic range helps but it doesn't appear very natural.

Thank you for your reply and taking time to explain about exposure compensation.

In this picture however, it was the drastic curves adjustments which Urban Acid applies to the picture that caused the whites on the fence to become significantly brighter, resulting in the loss of details. It looks okay on the original, and that's why while shooting it was a conscious decision not to use any exposure compensation for this scene.

So I would agree with you and night86mare that the fence is overexposed, yes, but in this case my mistake that I have to correct would be the PP rather than the in-camera exposure I suppose..? Haha.

 

[night86mare]

yes, breathing space on the left.

the later post works for me better.

in any case, it's still well-spotted.

 

[night86mare]

So I would agree with you and night86mare that the fence is overexposed, yes, but in this case my mistake that I have to correct would be the PP rather than the in-camera exposure I suppose..? Haha.

to determine the overexposure or not in the original picture, you will have to post the original one.

in this case, i would have exposed for the white wall, modern dslrs will have a lot of shadow detail for the lower iso regions, so shadow recovery will not be a problem - even if it introduces some amount of noise, it can be easily cleaned up.

 

[refraXion]

yes, breathing space on the left.

the later post works for me better.

in any case, it's still well-spotted.

to determine the overexposure or not in the original picture, you will have to post the original one.

in this case, i would have exposed for the white wall, modern dslrs will have a lot of shadow detail for the lower iso regions, so shadow recovery will not be a problem - even if it introduces some amount of noise, it can be easily cleaned up.

Thanks night86mare bro! Will keep that in mind! Here's the original pic at default ACR settings:

 

[Limsgp]

I guess the contrast is overdone in the 1st picture. The graffiti appears like it is photoshopped.

The original picture is more realistic.. Maybe you process the picture as what you originally did but just leave the wall untouched would be better.. then the graffiti will appear "real"..

I would agree with what NM said on exposing for the wall. To bring out as much detail on the wall, such as shadows, dirt etc.. and the wall will appear more "real".

for the picture itself.. it's well spotted indeed.. with the graffiti, the signboard.. the bike.. And, agree with ALH.. adding a model make it really rocks.. ALH, how would you pose the model in this case? presume the model is the one who wrote the graffiti..?

 

[wootsk]

I like the mood and the layout of the photo seems to create a nice frame effect. I was wondering if you can post a B&W converted version to compare?

 

[refraXion]

I guess the contrast is overdone in the 1st picture. The graffiti appears like it is photoshopped.

The original picture is more realistic.. Maybe you process the picture as what you originally did but just leave the wall untouched would be better.. then the graffiti will appear "real"..

I would agree with what NM said on exposing for the wall. To bring out as much detail on the wall, such as shadows, dirt etc.. and the wall will appear more "real".

for the picture itself.. it's well spotted indeed.. with the graffiti, the signboard.. the bike.. And, agree with ALH.. adding a model make it really rocks.. ALH, how would you pose the model in this case? presume the model is the one who wrote the graffiti..?

Thanks for your comments! Seems like the wall's apparent overexposure is really breaking the deal!

Also, my friend has pointed out that the distortion on the bike's front wheel is very distracting...

I like the mood and the layout of the photo seems to create a nice frame effect. I was wondering if you can post a B&W converted version to compare?

Here ya go bro!

 

[wootsk]

Will prefer the B&W treatment. But the original processed one is also good.

 

[Haroon Kassim]

I love your idea but not the composition. So many distraction.

 

[altern8tif]

My two cents' worth:

I prefer the washed out effect in your original post. Coupled with the bicycle and the signage, it actually makes your effect even more pronounced.

Composition-wise, I think it's close to perfect. The only down-side to it is that the top part above the wall is definitely a little distracting. But don't think there's much you can do abt it... Trying to shoot from a slightly more elevated position may eliminate the distraction, but the viewpoint would also be different/less ideal.

Cropping the photo (as per someone's suggestion) wouldn't work. The bicycle and the signpost is more likely to be viewed as a single subject. Cutting off part of the sign feels like something about the photo is incomplete. In fact, the height of the photo is nicely defined by the height of the signpost/bicycle subject.

To be honest, it looks like something I would have expected in a magazine ad. Especially so if there was a model leaning on signpost as well. And a witty slogan in graffiti.

Lovin' It!

 

[loudboxball]

I can't critique for you because I'm not very good at it, but just wanted to say the photo looks really really good.

 

[refraXion]

Will prefer the B&W treatment. But the original processed one is also good.

I love your idea but not the composition. So many distraction.

The reason why I chose to process it that way instead of B&W was because in the B&W version, the blue signboard sort of loses it's prominence. Initially I thought it was important for the blue signboard to retain some form of attention, but as Haroon bro has pointed out, it becomes a distraction...

My two cents' worth:

I prefer the washed out effect in your original post. Coupled with the bicycle and the signage, it actually makes your effect even more pronounced.

Composition-wise, I think it's close to perfect. The only down-side to it is that the top part above the wall is definitely a little distracting. But don't think there's much you can do abt it... Trying to shoot from a slightly more elevated position may eliminate the distraction, but the viewpoint would also be different/less ideal.

Cropping the photo (as per someone's suggestion) wouldn't work. The bicycle and the signpost is more likely to be viewed as a single subject. Cutting off part of the sign feels like something about the photo is incomplete. In fact, the height of the photo is nicely defined by the height of the signpost/bicycle subject.

To be honest, it looks like something I would have expected in a magazine ad. Especially so if there was a model leaning on signpost as well. And a witty slogan in graffiti.

Lovin' It!

Thanks for taking time to critique this picture! I do agree that I didn't really like the idea of cropping the photo, but besides that, you and the other bros have given me lots of useful suggestions on how to improve the picture. Cheers!

I can't critique for you because I'm not very good at it, but just wanted to say the photo looks really really good.

Thank you for your kind remarks!