Hi Everyone,
This is an incarnation of the 'Cloud Gate' sculpture in Chicago. I think it might look somewhat sci-fi-ish - then again I might be delusional...:D
400D 28-135 @ 28mm
ISO 200
AV F5.6 1/1250 sec
I'm thinking of entering this for a Camera Club competition entitled 'Saving Planet Earth', so please feel free to be as rude as you like - rather you guys than a public humiliation...:eek::eek:...all suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks so much!
Best regards,
Nicki
Hi Nicki. I participate a lot in the St. Louis Camera Club's weekly competitions (http://stlcameraclub.com), and have judged a couple times as well, so I think I have an idea of what you're likely up against.
This is a very dramatic image, very moody, even somewhat sinister-looking, which I infer from your title is what you intended. I like the placement, angles and shapes, and the way the reflection is more suggestive than definitive about what it is. I think the overall visual balance is good, but might like to see just a little more detail in the lower left, if there's any there to be had, but don't make it super-sharp -- keep the mystery.
Other camera-club suggestions: If this will be presented as a projected image, add a thin white border (1 or 2 pixels) to separate it from the black screen background. (In PS, select all, then Edit > Stroke, click Inside, and set the color & width) If this will be a print, a white matte/mount will have sufficient separation, but may tend to make the image harder to see (too much matte vs. image contrast). I would (almost always do, for competition) use a white-core black matte; the white core will provide the separation for the image, and the black matte won't compete with the dark & dramatic image.
It's a stunning image, Nicki...I'd follow Chris' suggestion and let a little more light into the really dark areas but keep the mystery going...less is more in this case!
at first glance i was thinking a slight crop off the left and bottom, but after second glance maybe just a little off the left. would it be wrong if i said i wish there were more mid tones? i think it would add more details in the reflection.
Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for all your kind words and suggestions and Chris, I really appreciate that you took the time to recommend some mount ideas - actually I had in mind the black mount with white inlay. I don't do projected images - the quality is never as good as it should be IMO!!
I agree that there needs to be a little more lightness of touch in the BLC. I have lightened it a little, but may need to go back to the original when I have more time and start again. I have also selectively lightened a couple of other areas.
Perhaps you could tell me if it has improved the picture - or perhaps it doesn't look any different...I really appreciate all the help you guys are giving me - I find it so hard to self critique an image like this as it really is so subjective..
Thanks so much!
Best regards,
Nicki
Nicki,
I think this is definitely moving in the right direction. As you said, when you have time go back to the original and see if there's a bit more detail to pull up in the BLC. If there's just a little more there (and it doesn't even need to be any recognizable object) it will help tweak the overall balance. You might also consider a small crop off the left and bottom to reduce the BLC black area, and then fade out the edge of the building at lower right to keep if away from the edge. I think I'd remove that faint bit of building at the middle right edge; it's a nit, but little bits of things right on the edge of the frame are usually distracting. And competition judges (not only camera clubs) love to find small flaws -- it makes the job of paring down the crowd to a few winners easier.:D
i was amazed at how much detail was in the jpg. there's got to be tons in the RAW!! i dodged only the inside of the sphere. i burned to top left where you can faintly see the outline of a building but didnt like it so i put it back.
you are right, this is very subjective, but i like seeing the detail in the sphere more........the buildings at an angle in the upper right are perfect for me.
Harold got it! That's what I was trying to say - open up those other dark areas to show a little more without giving it too much light. Nice work, harold!
Hi Chris and Harold,
Once again I am astonished by the generosity of BPN members - thank you both so much for taking the time to give me such detailed critiques. I am definitely going to revisit the raw file - I have some time before the competition - I shall think hard about those tiny details that I know could make or break the picture. My only worry about cropping is that I would lose some of the 'beast' itself, but I will have a play and see how it looks.
You guys are helping me so much - you are the best!! :D:D
Best regards,
Nicki
Harold, actually I didn't crop it at all - unless I was asleep when I reprocessed this - which is entirely possible!!!!!!!!!
BTW I thought I might call this picture 'Sin City' - what do you think??
Regards,
Nicki
nicki, las vegas is sin city. i only know chicago as the windy city. is that thing actually called cloud gate? trying to think of a suitable title myself and drawing a major blank!!
Thanks Gus!
Harold, yes it really is called 'Cloud Gate'! Actually, I thought of 'Sin City' because it reminded me of the movie of that name - very dark (as I recall, red was the only colour used apart from b/w) and extemely unsettling. If you have seen this you will no doubt recall Jessica Alba's lap-dancing scene - my sons certainly did...:eek::eek::D
Best regards,
Nicki
The Beast of Chicago...
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