M9 shot - critique me

I don't own a digital camera nor a Leica, but this feels like a nice chrome, and thus I love it. It's got a nice 'album cover' feel to me. Love this!
 
I like the colour, I prefer it in colour to the B&W versions. I would probably like it more without the person in it, but that's just me.
 
As mentioned above there is no single color temperature appropriate for this image.

Even though it's a JPEG, there are a variety of PP techniques that selectively apply color temperatures to different regions in the frame. With raw the job would be easier and the results might be better. But working on the jpeg is not futile. I use different methods for specific circumstances. My experience is with raw mostly for interiors where three different color temperature sources are common.

Converting to monochrome is the easy way out. In this case I think color adds to the mood.
 
Yes RAW would have given me more dynamic range, but I am a film guy of old. The idea was to pop out the photos like the ol' days. I do not like doing PP unless really necessary. Much rather have the camera in my hand. I do appreciate all the comments. Asking for a critique is a little scary to the ego but many of your comments have been really helpful to me. this is where RFF really shines. I would encourage others to do this because, really, isn't this what it is all about? Making great photos.
 
I don't think you can shoot digital and distance yourself from post processing. To me it's a very important part of how each image I connect with will look in it's final form and because of this I will only ever shoot raw. The instant I start shooting jpegs I feel like a 'snapper' and not a photographer.

Just my opinion though!
 
For me post-processing is like being in the darkroom, but having many more options at hand (of course I need to be judicious in terms of which options I select). Not doing 'anything' to a digital photo is (to me) like not allowing burning, dodging, cropping, or even using SpotTone to eliminate dust spots in a darkroom print. But, everyone works differently, so do what you feel is right to you.

Sort of like 'the negative is the score and the print is the performance', but that's just me.
 
Just another thought about your photo -- In the black and white version, I find those double doors to be hypnotic -- white, smack-dab in the middle of the frame, and I'm left to wonder what's behind those doors. And is the fellow in the hat guarding them? Is he even aware of those beckoning doors?
 
kshapero said:
Yes RAW would have given me more dynamic range, but I am a film guy of old. The idea was to pop out the photos like the ol' days. I do not like doing PP unless really necessary. Much rather have the camera in my hand. I do appreciate all the comments. Asking for a critique is a little scary to the ego but many of your comments have been really helpful to me. this is where RFF really shines. I would encourage others to do this because, really, isn't this what it is all about? Making great photos.
Click to expand...


I believe that in order to bring out the full potential of an image, it is necessary to spend at least some time working on an image after you have taken it-- through the history of photography this has often been the case. Current technology has made powerful tools relatively effortless, Adobe Lightroom can be used to really improve the sensor's raw data in moments, for example.

Of course, its up to you. If you derive no pleasure from the darkroom/digital darkroom process and results, then do not bother with such things :)
 
Just asked my wife about this shot (she is also in the creative field), and she prefers the harsher black and white photo (no bias here -- honest!). She sees that version as holding 'potential', 'possibility', 'a portal to the future'. It's all about expectation....for him, maybe? Perhaps he's about to make a decision about going through those doors, but to what?

She sees a lot of stories and emotion with this shot.
 
Now I am thinking of shooting in RAW only for awhile to see how I like PP. I remember the days when I could not wait to get in the darkroom. Could this really be the digital version? Is Lightroom the way to go?

Again thanks for all the good comments.

Another one.

8629621242_e4740c0c46_c.jpg
 
Nice image Akiva. :)

Post processing is not the bugbear that it's often made out to be IMO. Provided you have software you're familiar and comfortable with and adequate processing power it's very quick and you should be able to a achieve the look you're seeking in minutes.
 
I agree with the first shot being better b&w, but it looks a bit underexposed, so I'd lighten it or play with the contrast as well. The only other criticism I have is the light source at the top being a little distracting, it would be cooler IMO if it was only reflected on the wet ground, although I like the lines that the top the building make in conjunction with all the rest of them. I like what sepiareverb did with it, might be cool to convert that to bw.
 
Not sure shooting raw would improve these unless it would help the highlights while keeping the colors. I doubt that, and I wouldn't put much time into it myself...
 
Ranchu said:
Not sure shooting raw would improve these unless it would help the highlights while keeping the colors. I doubt that, and I wouldn't put much time into it myself...
Click to expand...

Even JPGs often benefit from some cleaning up in post. To just shoot and post jpgs straight from the camera would be equivalent to shooting tri x and having the local drug store develop and print it. Of course you can do that...

On second thought, I think that is part of the difference between
"Taking pictures"
and
"Making pictures"

To each their own.
 
Shoot raw and tweak white balance in Lightroom no...? I'd tweak the whole image the same way I would in the darkroom if I had the skills... Contrast, dodge, burn, sharpness, saturation, etc. etc...
Personally, I never shoot JPG... anyway...

***

I learned to print in a darkroom before learning lightroom by myself and now at school... Works the "same" way, very easy to use...
 
shanenoir said:
Even JPGs often benefit from some cleaning up in post. To just shoot and post jpgs straight from the camera would be equivalent to shooting tri x and having the local drug store develop and print it. Of course you can do that...

On second thought, I think that is part of the difference between
"Taking pictures"
and
"Making pictures"

To each their own.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure any of that relates to what I said. He will likely lose the colors if he runs it through a raw converter. The difference between his camera and another is those colors. For the most part I consider operating a raw converter a bunch of diddling around. To each their own, ah?
 
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