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KEVIN TEMPLE
{K:8657} 7/13/2008
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my kind of street shot ,
love it
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 7/6/2008
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As always, an interesting discussion with Nick. Pixelation is an issue and I can't say why either but I was positively horrified you'd use a bright/contrast control over light levels. I detest it and virtually never use it as I suspect in may be (in part) responsible for that problem. It's been so long since I used it I can't even tell you exactly why it makes me cringe every time Marlyce uses it. It's SO harsh and extreme and DOES force a detail loss I can't imagine ever needing it. Also, I find an advantage in adjust per color (even in B&W) as it handles with a tad more specification.
As far as this shot...I've long heard, as Avi mentioned, that "the odd" adds more than "the even" to impact by creating a cognitive dissonance and an inherent unease which captivates the viewer. And yes, you COULD ask one guy to step aside (No ugly dudes, Sir)...tell the others to freeze, you're from the government and you're there to help...coward! LoL!
I love the texture capture in the overall lighter, gray tonal range in the BG wall and the lighter sky...the glow on the strong (almost completely blown out risers...though with some detail) add a great, strong, diagonal that is balanced by the one white jacket among the men.
Overall...despite my nagging, long-winded critique...I like this one. Very much!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Wolf Zorrito
{K:78768} 7/4/2008
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A sneaky view but b/w is wonderful ! Staircase and rail are guiding well.
Bravo amigo
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 6/23/2008
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If you resize the images manually then indeed it can't be UF's algorithm, AJ! But then... what can that be? Resizing is indeed much less trivial than generally assumed but PS9 does a real great job in this discipline. Could perhaps the big difference of image dimensions (from 3000 down to 730 pixels of width) contribute to this?
The file size in kb gets reduced much stronger than linearly. Actually, with zero compression it would be reduced proportionally to the area of the image, which means a "quadratic" dependence of the file size from its dimensions. I.e. a file of 50x50 pixels is 4 times smaller than the same file in 100x100 pixels when there is no compression. Now, this one is a good candidate for achieving an even smaller file size when compression comes to play, since the big reletively uniform areas of the sky or the wall are best suited for that. Even with a low compression rate the file size can be reduced very strongly without noticeable loss of quality. So indeed that pixelation is something unexpected. Perhaps also a special artefact of the sudden change of the above mentioned "quasi-uniformity" of other regions of the image?
Cheers!
Nick
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/20/2008
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Thanks Nick, but I cannot hold UF responsible for the pixelation! I resize images myself very precisely for UF, and it is going from a width of 3000 to 730 (before adding borders) that the pixelation occurs. I use PSP9 and I have not noticed this effect previously. But I'll certainly be looking out for it from now on... One thing I do notice is that even with minimum compression, the resulting .jpg file for B&W images is very much less than the UF allowed 400kb - 230kb in this case.
AJ
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 6/20/2008
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Hi AJ,
and thanks a lot for the additional info! Indeed, adjusting contrast by the "direct" filter of PS is just the quick and dirty way to do that. (Actually it was added to the features of PS just because it was available to many other digital imaging products, expecting thus to attract many possible customers who are not really as much into photography.) A good adjustment of contrast is a good mapping of the (unreachable) dynamics of reality onto the limited dynamics of an image, which can be controlled much better with the levels/responce tools. The latter also allow the conclusion about the sensitivity of the film of CCD when shooting different subjects, giving us thus a much better insight of what is happening.
The pixelation is indeed the result of the downscaling algorithm of UF. (I had that many times too.) That algorithm is a good compromise between response time and quality. But best thing is to downscale images down to a maximum of 850 pixels dimension of the longer side, be it width of height, before uploading them.
Cheers!
Nick
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/19/2008
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Many thanks for taking the time to look at this image and provide a serious critique, Nick.
I did increase the contrast using "brightness/contrast" but was reluctant to go further to avoid losing detail. But following your suggestion I tried again using "levels" and did appear to get greater contrast without sacrificing detail. Must play around more with "levels"...
I'm a bit puzzled by the pixelation. It appears to have been introduced during the resize for UF. Not sure why as this is hardly cropped from the original full-size image. Something else to investigate!
AJ
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 6/18/2008
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It's a well done composition regarding its strong geometry and subject, AJ! The four guys appear as the only darker parts of an otherwise light hued B&W. Especially the fine differentiation between the different grey levels of the wall, the stairs, the railing, and the sky, are very nice to see.
Then the four guys appear in a good contrast to the rest of the scene. Speaking about that, a bit more contrast could be even better. (Attachment) There is also some small amount of pixelation, like for example on the left shoulder of the guy at the right, which doesn't do much harm anyway.
Good sense for the special moment.
Nick
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Adjusted levels for contrast |
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/17/2008
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Many thanks, Mohamad - I'm pleased you like this one!
AJ
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/17/2008
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Many thanks for your comment, Bobot.
AJ
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Mohammad Khaxar
{K:5118} 6/17/2008
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Absolute belter this one...
love your shots mate!
kiss and hug,
mohamad*
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1301307 60
{K:44058} 6/8/2008
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great composition here Aj, the lighting made it more wonderful not to mention the fantastic tones.. Subject well place with the stairs leading to it and the wonderful highlights and shadow.
great shot!
regards..
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/7/2008
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Thanks Jen. Don't tell anyone else, but I'll let you into a secret as to what they were really watching. Behind this wall is a quay at the entrance to the port. A ship has been moored here for several weeks. The local fishermen are catching tuna and bringing it to the ship. The tuna is processed and stored on-board. Once the ship is full, it will sail away to wherever it comes from, taking its valuable cargo with it. It seems that much of the processing waste is simply pumped into the sea, turning it red.
There are many more tuna stories, but I'll not recount them here - they would probably stop you from eating tuna, that is if you do...
AJ
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/7/2008
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Many thanks, Keith. But if time slows down any more here, it will stop!
AJ
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Jen van Wijn
{K:24075} 6/6/2008
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Its just great seeing these well dressed men, looking at the sea and ships I suppose, what to be catched today, women, mermaids or fish;))) Good old times sharing, and afterwards to have a longggg drink for old friends sake,
what more is important on a day like this....sorry for interrupting your story dear, makes me sentimental too...even as a woman;))
hugs Jenxx
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Keith Growden
{K:29240} 6/4/2008
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This is a great capture A J. As well as the composition being great, it shows a relaxing moment for these four. In moments like this, the time seems to slow down. Cheers Keith:)
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/3/2008
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Many thanks, Paolo. More contrast? Yes it's possible, but at the expense of a certain loss of detail in the textures on the wall and the clothes of the men. I felt that the balance looked about right on my screen, but it might look very different on others...
AJ
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Paolo Corradini
{K:59552} 6/2/2008
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good composition..i'd like to see more contrast on this BW anywat i like it
ciao
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/1/2008
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Many thanks for your kind comment, Nicole.
AJ
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M jalili
{K:69009} 6/1/2008
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My regards ...............
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Nicole Besch
{K:72664} 6/1/2008
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Looks fantastic AJ!!! A wonderful candid shot with a great point of view and so well presentation!
Nicely done!!!
Best wishes,Nicole
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/1/2008
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Many thanks, Anne.
AJ
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/1/2008
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Thanks Tony. Even though it is not a very busy image, I had not spotted the bald patches! And I like your observation of the balance between the white shirt and the steps.
I am not yet sure what my view is on Avi's comment regarding reducing the men from four to three, but I rather suspect the one he had in mind to remove was the one partially obscured by the railing.
AJ
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Tony Smallman
{K:23858} 6/1/2008
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Beautifully balanced foto.The 2 balding men balance well.If you cropped out the fourth man there would still be nice balance between the white shirt and the matching white on the steps!Really,it's a fine shot just as it is.
....Tony
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RC. Dany
{K:64104} 6/1/2008
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Excellent .
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/1/2008
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Many thanks, Avi. I find your comment fascinating - three instead of four! Certainly gives me something to think about, and to consider how it would improve the image. (Although, as they were unaware I was photographing them, I could hardly have asked one of them to step aside!)
AJ
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/1/2008
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Many thanks, John. I'd had a photo of these steps in mind for quite some time. When I saw these guys there recently, I felt they provided that essential element that had been missing previously.
AJ
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/1/2008
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Thank you for your comment, Mitra. It is much appreciated!
AJ
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 6/1/2008
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Many thanks for your kind comment, Yazeed.
AJ
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Avi
{K:70138} 6/1/2008
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excellent composition AJ !!.. the lines lead perfectly to the main scene.. only nitpicking would be choosing three men instead of four (odd somehow works better).. but then, you might not have any control over that.
Cheers and have a great Sunday !
Avi
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John Hatz
{K:156973} 6/1/2008
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Excellent frame... I like the shape that made by the walls and stairs into the frame AJ... and the people placed well into the frame too, taken straitly, a point of view than needed here, nice image... well seen in greyscale too.
best regards!
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Mitra Nademi-Nassari
{K:28234} 6/1/2008
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Seriously AJ this is a great shot! :) Well balanced and composed. And it looks great in B&W. Well done!
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M jalili
{K:69009} 6/1/2008
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Really a very nice shot .............
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