South West France - C+C Welcome

ScarySquirrel · 25 Jun 2007 at 21:30

Hi all. Just got back from a week in south west France. I was staying with my parents just outside a small village called Lapenche, which is about 1 hour from Toulouse.

Despite finding out that my D400 appears to under expose a lot with the kit lens, I had a good time.

Anyway, to the pics:

1// Some Corn

2// A cricket

3// Corn field

4// Old French House

5// One of my parent's cats, Serge.

ScarySquirrel · 25 Jun 2007 at 21:30

6// Shop Sign on a closed down shop

7// Blue Shutters

ps. These are quick 5 minute each edits so I didn't expect them to be great. I never really know what to do other than adjust contrast, crop and add the border

As usual C+C is welcome

Zheka · 25 Jun 2007 at 21:40

First 5 are very good. Love the cat

Howski · 25 Jun 2007 at 21:51

I really like #4, the muted colours work well.
-How.

Messiah Khan · 25 Jun 2007 at 21:55

4 is my favourite by far. Any chance of a slightly bigger version so I can see it a bit better. I think its got potential to make a great B&W conversion as well.

ScarySquirrel · 25 Jun 2007 at 22:14

messiah khan said:
4 is my favourite by far. Any chance of a slightly bigger version so I can see it a bit better. I think its got potential to make a great B&W conversion as well.

Funny you should say that, I did try a B+W one and liked the result but I decided to leave it in colour because I did like the washed out look of it.

Here is the original (resized a bit due to filesize but still much bigger) - http://aycu20.webshots.com/image/20099/2006033586464693283_rs.jpg

Here is my mono attempt:

Messiah Khan · 25 Jun 2007 at 22:38

Am I allowed to have a play with it?

Edit; Well im going to bed in a sec soon, so i'll post my version anyway, hopt thats ok, if not i'll take it down asap.

Do you think I want a bit overboard with the processing? I tried to go for a ye olde paining type look.

ScarySquirrel · 25 Jun 2007 at 23:14

No it is fine, help yourself. Helps me learn

I like what you have done with that, almost looks like a painting

Out of interest what did you do to get that effect?

benneh · 25 Jun 2007 at 23:37

messiah khan said:
Am I allowed to have a play with it?

Edit; Well im going to bed in a sec soon, so i'll post my version anyway, hopt thats ok, if not i'll take it down asap.

Do you think I want a bit overboard with the processing? I tried to go for a ye olde paining type look.

I really like that (that might be the first time I've actually said that here lol), how didst thou create such an image?.

TheAlex · 25 Jun 2007 at 23:43

ScarySquirrel said:
Here is my mono attempt:

I definitely prefer that to the original colour version, but messiah khan's 'play' looks great.

I think 2 is almost top-notch - it just needs it's head a bit sharper, 3 is nice but there's nothing to draw my eyes into the picture, 5 is great - it makes me want to know what the cat is looking at. I don't think 7 works...perhaps because the partly visible shutters at the top are distracting, perhaps a bit more of the pavement would have been better?

Howski · 26 Jun 2007 at 01:26

Wow it really does come alive in B&W. The texture of the wall is great!
-How.

ScarySquirrel · 26 Jun 2007 at 08:13

TheAlex said:
I definitely prefer that to the original colour version, but messiah khan's 'play' looks great.

I think 2 is almost top-notch - it just needs it's head a bit sharper, 3 is nice but there's nothing to draw my eyes into the picture, 5 is great - it makes me want to know what the cat is looking at. I don't think 7 works...perhaps because the partly visible shutters at the top are distracting, perhaps a bit more of the pavement would have been better?

Yeah I really not too keen on no. 7 now I have looked at it again this morning. The original had more pavement so maybe if I spend more time cropping I can get something a little better.

Looking at them all again today, I definately prefer the B&W version of that picture although I am interested to know how Khan got his edit how he did.

Thanks for all the comments.

Greg · 26 Jun 2007 at 11:21

I'd be interest to know how Khan did his effect too!

Nice photos, really like the composition of them!

Number 4 and the blue shutters are my favs!

Greg · 26 Jun 2007 at 11:34

Here's my attempt at the french doors:

All I did was tweek the Levels, and play with Curves, straighened it up and used a sharpen mask; took me all of 30 seconds!

Greg

Messiah Khan · 26 Jun 2007 at 12:53

ScarySquirrel said:
No it is fine, help yourself. Helps me learn

I like what you have done with that, almost looks like a painting
Out of interest what did you do to get that effect?

Mostly done in Lightroom, with the finishing done in CS3. I desaturated it a bit, and upped the black levels. Played with the contrast, particulary the highlights. Applied a small amount of vignetting. Applied a duo tone colouring to it, with the shadows as a redish colour and the highlights as a yellower colour. Gavve it a very tiny crop. Then moved it into CS3 and used dodge and burn to bring out the light where I wanted it. Finally finished it off with a high pass sharpening.