Graffiti Underground

[denise ippolito]

This last weekend I had back to back workshops at Eastern State Penitentiary and on the Sunday workshop I went with a large group of friends to scout the Graffiti Underground so I could add it to my spring ESP Workshop. We all loved it and had a blast. Here is my money shot . I added Topaz Simplify and converted it to B&W. I revealed the can color via a layer mask.

[Brendan Dozier]

Image says a lot, Denise, tough, concrete environment and the only color is a soda can. Like your treatment and how you framed the dollar sign right next to can. They package the kids culture then sell it right back to them.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Denise, love the way you composed this one and bringing the can color back was a great idea. The filtering suits the image perfectly!

[denise ippolito]

Image says a lot, Denise, tough, concrete environment and the only color is a soda can. Like your treatment and how you framed the dollar sign right next to can. They package the kids culture then sell it right back to them.

Thanks Brendan and Andrew, It's a paint can not a soda can.

[John Storjohann]

Hi Denise;

It's a shame that the spray nozzle wasn't still on the spray can...strong compositional element, with the $ sign and the spray competing for the focal point...I like the curved line of the broken wall as well. I wonder if either blurring the $ sign a bit..or painting back the color at less than full strength...would make an already strong image better...just thinking out loud. Can you share a little more about the Graffiti Underground?

[denise ippolito]

John, We didn't see very many empty paint cans or nozzles which seemed a bit odd for the amount of graffiti. I like the image the way it is presented but this image can take on so many different looks. You have made some very good suggestions and they would definitely be great options to explore. I also think that the composition could go in a lot of different ways too, lots to explore there and a lot of possible images. We barely scratched the surface. I'm looking forward to getting back there and creating some more images. It is an abandoned railroad bridge that is dilapidated and filled with graffiti art. There is literally a picture at every turn.

[Arthur Morris]

Love many of the design elements and your bringing back the color. Moving a bit to your left to separate the spray paint can from the $ sign might have been a good option.

[denise ippolito]

Artie,
I respectfully have to disagree. My thoughts were that the $ sign and the spray can together were the main focal point. Having them touch was not an accident, I spent quite a bit of time designing the image in-camera at the scene to get the spray can exactly where I wanted it (without touching or moving it). Of course others may not see my vision and can interpret the image and the elements any way they like but for me having them unite was my intention. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, they are appreciated.

[Brendan Dozier]

Oops, looked like an energy drink! Well, they add color to a stark concrete environment with their art. I guess I'm getting old & out of touch, do they actually make spray paint for specifically for graffiti artists? I had seen some program which showed how market researchers will go undercover to study what is hip and trending with different groups of kids, then they will package it and sell it back to them.

[Indranil Sircar]

Just an awesome composition, Denise. I like how you chose to reverse the color scheme... OOTB thinking Excellent processing.

[Joe Senzatimore]

STUNNING!!!!!!

[denise ippolito]

Oops, looked like an energy drink! Well, they add color to a stark concrete environment with their art. I guess I'm getting old & out of touch, do they actually make spray paint for specifically for graffiti artists? I had seen some program which showed how market researchers will go undercover to study what is hip and trending with different groups of kids, then they will package it and sell it back to them.

Brendan, They probably do. And yes it does look like an energy drink.

[denise ippolito]

Indranil and Joe, Thank you both for your kind words. I appreciate them very much.

[Arthur Morris]

Artie, I respectfully have to disagree. My thoughts were that the $ sign and the spray can together were the main focal point. Having them touch was not an accident, I spent quite a bit of time designing the image in-camera at the scene to get the spray can exactly where I wanted it (without touching or moving it). Of course others may not see my vision and can interpret the image and the elements any way they like but for me having them unite was my intention. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, they are appreciated.

As always, the guy who pushes the button is the boss, and I always respect the boss (even when I think that the boss is wrong) .

[denise ippolito]

As always, the guy who pushes the button is the boss, and I always respect the boss (even when I think that the boss is wrong) .

Artie, Not sure that there is a wrong or right here- just personal opinion.

[Arthur Morris]

Artie, Not sure that there is a wrong or right here- just personal opinion.

We do agree on that .

[Hazel Grant]

Reading these comments, I can more and more appreciate the vision of so many of you and the fact that you are not shy about contributing your ideas. So many good suggestions, but when it all comes down to it, it's Denise's vision that is primary. Denise, you put a lot of thought into the comp and it shows. I like some of the others' ideas, too. Am I being wishy washy? no, just seeing a lot of options. Yours is the primary and you accomplished that so well. I like the technique of the color vs the black and white.

[denise ippolito]

Artie, yes we do agree on that.

Hazel, Thank you for the kind comment. You bring up some good points. It is always good to hear other points of views and ideas, however you should stay true to your own vision if you believe in it after evaluating everyone's thoughts.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Denise, I think it's a very cool composition and treatment. Did you mean to leave the slightly red streak on the middle right hand side?

[denise ippolito]

Thanks Cheryl, no I didn't mean to do that. Thanks for the extra set of eyes.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Denise, playing catch-up here and chiming in very late but I really like this a lot. The statement it makes and story it tells is very compelling to me. Of course the technical details are spot on and I like the simplify use on this image. I don't know what to think about the fact that there is a spray paint called "Hardcore", and it is definitely real. It is called Montana Hardcore Spray Paint and is manufactured in Spain "with the artist in mind". Wow...

[denise ippolito]

Hi Denise, playing catch-up here and chiming in very late but I really like this a lot. The statement it makes and story it tells is very compelling to me. Of course the technical details are spot on and I like the simplify use on this image. I don't know what to think about the fact that there is a spray paint called "Hardcore", and it is definitely real. It is called Montana Hardcore Spray Paint and is manufactured in Spain "with the artist in mind". Wow...

Kerry, Thanks, I was inspired by your first posting of graffiti. Your right the name "Hardcore" really is hardcore. It is very interesting marketing and I am sure that it is effective.

[Hazel Grant]

"Denise, I think it's a very cool composition and treatment. Did you mean to leave the slightly red streak on the middle right hand side?"--Cheryl

See? Extra eyes are good and don't necessarily mar the vision. That's what BPN is about.

[denise ippolito]

"Denise, I think it's a very cool composition and treatment. Did you mean to leave the slightly red streak on the middle right hand side?"--Cheryl

See? Extra eyes are good and don't necessarily mar the vision. That's what BPN is about.

Absolutely.