Lost in Le Marais

[pixelatedscraps]

I posted this on another W/NW forum but was wondering what comments, if any, other users had regarding this image. I'm not a big fan of PS or post-processing, but what do you think of this image?

 

[back alley]

i like it!

 

[Neare]

very nice, the box above them with its dreary looks sets a scene quite well

 

[mfogiel]

If you are referring to the contrast, then I find it a bit too strong: at least on screen the figures are not appearing as a silhouette yet, but the (mother and child?) detail is already hardly discernible. If you are referring to the shot in general, I find it interesting, but badly cropped - to me the white signs on the right are redundant and I would crop them out in order to concentrate the attention on the main subject on the drabby background.

 

[robklurfield]

I love the composition. I agree with mfogiel about the contrast. I'd be inclined to clip the shadows a little less if you can, especially her coat. I love the tonality of the wall. I'm also, like you, not a big fan (or for that matter, much of talent myself) of post-processing. I think that the peeling tableaux behind her certainly sums up rather well what Le Marais was historically. Overall, I like the image as it is. I'd simply play around with the levels a little bit and make a comparison between a couple of versions to see if one pulls out more or less of what you were visualizing when you made the shot. Perhaps after doing that, you'll like this version best.

 

[pixelatedscraps]

Thanks for the comments so far, I'm not sure what you mean by clipping the shadows as I don't know my way around PS at all.

I'll try it out now - got me a copy of Elements 9 and a few hours spare this evening so I'll sit down and have a play with cropping and shadow and contrast.

I'm not particularly a fan of PS, and for that I get criticism from some of my friends: I'm not sure what it is, but maybe I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to my photography. At the end of the day, I'm not too fussed if I miss the shot: it's all part of the fun, right? 🙂

 

[robklurfield]

what I meant by "clipping," which might not be the right word, is that I'd like to see more shadow detail in her coat. I like the detail -- wrinkles and such -- on the child's jacket. it creates a certain tenderness that is at odds with the decaying tableaux behind them. personally, I have little or no skill at PSE myself. I like the shot as it is.

 

[robert blu]

Good image. I agree with mfogiel about the contrast an d as well about the white signs on the right side. just put one hand on the monitor covering them and you see the difference (the eye is always attracted by the white hell areas). But the image is good also as it is if you do not like cropping. Personally I think you do not need too much knowledge of PS, just a little work whit curves to adjust contrast to your taste is enough. Thank you for posting this photo, ciao
robert

 

[pixelatedscraps]

Thanks for the comments. It was a lucky day in Le Marais, and Paris is such a beautiful city to photograph: even in winter or rain, it's just sublime.