Post-Apocalyptic Dreams

AlbertoDeRoma · Feb 5, 2010

Leica M8, 28mm 'cron

IgsEMT · Feb 5, 2010

VERY NICE WORK!!!

Tulsa · Feb 5, 2010

#3 looks better than the others, but they dont seem very strong, if you took away the effects from photoshop, its not that strong. thats just my opinion.

AlbertoDeRoma · Feb 6, 2010

Tulsa said:
#3 looks better than the others, but they dont seem very strong, if you took away the effects from photoshop, its not that strong. thats just my opinion.

Hi Tulsa,

Of course it's just your opinion and I respect that - and your candid feedback. While I don't think we should create photographs to please everyone (or actually anyone but ourselves - at least if we are amateurs), feedback forces us to think about our process and motivation for doing what we are doing - especially when it comes to PP. Here's what happened with this series of photos:

The photos were taken during a series of storms and dark, cloudy and cold weather that lasted over a week - unusual for my part of California. Some storms were quite violent (I assume that's what ripped in half the flag in one of the pictures.) The weather was getting to most people and, combined with worse than usual news, the overall mood was pretty glum. That's what I wanted to capture and emphasize.

Since the dynamic range and colors of the unprocessed pictures did not do it (photographs have a hard time capturing the dynamic range of our vision), I experimented with Silver Efex (just working with tones and dynamic range - no Photoshopping), until the pictures matched the mood I experienced on one of those days and that I wanted to evoke.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment!

Alberto

marmots · Feb 6, 2010

whats that thing in the upper right corner of #1 it looks like a giant spine

AlbertoDeRoma · Feb 6, 2010

marmots said:
whats that thing in the upper right corner of #1 it looks like a giant spine

That photo was taken on the Google campus in Mountain View, where we have a full-scale reproduction of a T-Rex skeleton. What you are looking at is the tail-end of that dino.

Alberto

usayit · Feb 6, 2010

#3 is the one that I find the strongest of the set. Textures and mood are presented properly.

I find the first one vignette is a bit too strong and unnatural looking (oval shaped). The skeleton Trex tail has a haloing effect that is distracting.

AlbertoDeRoma · Feb 6, 2010

usayit said:
#3 is the one that I find the strongest of the set. Textures and mood are presented properly.

I find the first one vignette is a bit too strong and unnatural looking (oval shaped). The skeleton Trex tail has a haloing effect that is distracting.

Thank you for your feedback. I agree on the vignette - I should have used more restrain. The halo effect on the T-Rex is not something I added, but now I notice it too - just a bit though.

Alberto

reznap · Feb 6, 2010

I really like the mood on these. The high voltage lines in the back of #3 and the way the horizon begins to fade, just a really interesting shot. I looked at it for a while.

Also, classy camera!

jackieclayton · Feb 7, 2010

wow, creepy! especially the last one... its got a real chilling feel to it! Great job and very creative with the pp! I like how in the last picture the transformers and powerlines look to delicate... like its amazing you were able to get such fine lines in focus like that! love it!

fokker · Feb 7, 2010

That last one is a winner for sure. You nailed the moody atmosphere with the PP, to me it perfectly conveys the meaning in your title and gives me a feeling of tension and loneliness just looking at it. The only thing I would change is the sensor dust!

I think with the first two you didn't quite nail it, though I have no suggestions as to how they would be improved, I think the subjects and/or composition are just 'off'.

AlbertoDeRoma · Feb 7, 2010

fokker said:
That last one is a winner for sure. You nailed the moody atmosphere with the PP, to me it perfectly conveys the meaning in your title and gives me a feeling of tension and loneliness just looking at it. The only thing I would change is the sensor dust!

I think with the first two you didn't quite nail it, though I have no suggestions as to how they would be improved, I think the subjects and/or composition are just 'off'.

Thank you for your honest feedback. Yes, I had dust on my sensor - darn.

As far as #2, I am a bit disappointed that I could not make it work better. How often do you see a torn apart flag, flying at half-mast, against a stormy sky? It could have been a great shot.

Thanks,

Alberto

Mulewings~ · Feb 7, 2010

I like the 'feelings' these photos gave me.
Made me shiver and feel gloomy just as I think you intended.

If a piece of work can do that, then the 'creator' has done his/her job.

Well done.
The last 2 really did it for me.

Iron Flatline · Feb 7, 2010

Silver Efex does end up leaving Halos sometimes, but I like the image a lot nonetheless. I also like number 3 a lot. Like the others, I could personally go with less vignetting, but that's a matter of taste.

Yey, another Leica shooter!

Sachphotography · Feb 7, 2010

It saddens me to see a flag that is that torn up still flying.
People have no respect for it anymore.

Overall I do like the feel of the series. I think they look good and you did a good job.