Your HELP required - Industrial Berlin (image-heavy!)

[LaFoto]

No one else around who is kind of specialised in urban photography and would like to say something?

 

[Jeff Canes]

I like 2a the most, IMO it has the best composition and contrast, also it seems a little more desaturated too me, the desaturate works well on the other also

 

[Puscas]

sorry, I'm not specialized in urban at all, so I can only tell you that I really like what you've done to these. Especially 1,2 and 3. But I keep looking at them and thinking 'is there maybe a little bit too much noise'? I'm not really sure...


(okay, that didn't help)




pascal

 

[LaFoto]

Well, that noise is, of course, debateable ... I added it. It was not there to begin with. Better leave it, you say?

And Alex_B?
Where are you?

 

[cosmonaut]

Your compositional skills are top notch and they all work but I feel #1 and #2 are the only ones that are weak, but it appears you had few options with it. I love the plant pictures. I am slowly working on a global warming series and these are my cup of tea. Nice work...
Cosmo

 

[LaFoto]

Thanks Cosmo.
Composition is a bit of a challenge when you are on a boat that is moving (albeit slowly), so the perspective changes all the time .

 

[Puscas]

Well, that noise is, of course, debateable ... I added it. It was not there to begin with. Better leave it, you say?

well, take #1 for example: the noise works perfect on the concrete (the whole foreground), giving it just the gritty look you (I think) were after. But in the background, the same amount of noise is not so appealing (IMHO). Hmm, seems like I'm opting for partial noising.... (there, I've invented a term).



pascal

 

[LaFoto]

Hmmmm. Weeeeellllll.

"Partial noising" ... that is one thing to ponder.........!

Anyone else with new ideas like partial something-more?

 

[fightheheathens]

liebt/lebt, same thing, i knew it meant lives...i just pronounced it wrong in my head and well...i digress...i once had a hell of a time finding how to get to Bonn because with my midwest accent i pronounce Bonn like Bahn so when one askes wie kann ich nach Bonn Fahren and it sounds like Wie kann ich nach Bahn Fahern...well you can see how that would confuse the person and lead to me being confused and well...i finally had to say "the former capital of West Germany" which leads me back to East Germany and your pictures, where this all began.
Ostalgia is it called? I did not get to see much of east germany, just what i saw in berlin. Upon a second viewing of these i still really like 1 as the best, but i also like 3A and 4A. i think that maybe 3 could use a little more grit? more grain possibly.

 

[Aquarium Dreams]

Your processed images make the originals look downright cheerful! Like everyone else, I love the partial desaturation, and these look gritty to me. I don't know any particalar post processing tricks for urban industrial photography, but from what I've seen of others' work, you're on the right track. Maybe there are no tricks, maybe it's just all personal perspective, and developing an eye for it? I've known some urban photographers to sharpen their images more.

My only specific critiques are for 5a, I would crop out the vehicle. For me, a late model car saps the timelessness out of any shot. Though perhaps your intention was to accentuate the contrast between the old and the new, and in that case it works. It's a beautiful shot, but the car thing is one of my pet peeves.

In number 6a, if you have cs2, try running it through Filter-Distort-Lens correction. A big problem with urban photography is the distortion that comes from photographing tall buildings. Some people like it, and in some cases I think it works, but in this instance, I find it a litte extreme.

This is a stunning set. Bleak and haunting. I love urban ruin and industrial photography.

 

[Majik Imaje]

The gritty feeling you were seeking.. truely did the trick in each image, I was very impressed at the difference between each image. wonderful that you put each image before and after.

or After and before! Wonderful Set! 5 STARS !

 

[LaFoto]

Thank you all again for your very helpful and encouraging replies.

Now another question: if you were to prepare a sort of "slide-show" (albeit via laptop computer and additional projector) to an audience who only just want to see some of your pictures taken in Berlin ... would you show them the "originals", i.e. the colour versions, or the PSed photos? Are the PSed photos ultimately only good for prints? What do you think the audience will expect?

 

[Alex_B]

i will comment.. later! (promise )

 

[LaFoto]

This begins to sound like you are planning on something lengthy...

... for I have seen you post short comments in between the day before yesterday and now but never in my thread here... Whoa! What do I have to expect!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Christie Photo]

5/ Very nice eye , the car just in the middle; But I feel like it s not vertical, check the lining with Photoshop, maybe you need to slightly rotate it

I was thinking this too, Mat. But rather than rotating the image, I think I'd try EDIT, TRANSFORM, DISTORT and pull the upper left corner out just a bit.

Nicely done, Corinna!

Pete