Cooped up

[squirrels]

Here's this weathered old chicken coop door. I was happy about it when I shot it, but I'm having a tough time with it in post. Everything here was done in rawtherapee, but I also speak GIMP (with a strong accent).

SOOC:

 

[gsgary]

Is it a chicken shed ? if so go back and open the door just enough for a chicken to poke its head out and there is your shot

 

[squirrels]

It is, but that shed hasn't seen a chicken since before I was born! I think you are right though. This could be improved with poultry!

 

[pgriz]

Ya know, there's always a rubber chicken hanging around...

 

[BlackSheep]

I really like your B&W conversion, very well done!
One suggestion, what if you cropped the dark strip from the right side? It pulls attention from the rest of the door.

I like the rubber chicken suggestion too.

 

[deeky]

I think for me I would like to see even space above the top lateral board and the bottom one, essentially centering the image vertically (if that makes sense). A few adjustments to square it all up and I would really like it (not sure about your software, but 'skew' or 'distort' in Elements).

 

[squirrels]

I really like your B&W conversion, very well done!
One suggestion, what if you cropped the dark strip from the right side? It pulls attention from the rest of the door.

I like the rubber chicken suggestion too.

Thanks blacksheep! I'm going to ask a silly question. Do you mean the dark strip on the left side of the pic?

deeky, good point. I'll work on unskewing.

I never thought I'd say I wish I had a rubber chicken! Man, I really wish I wish I had laynea24's "hot chicks" (http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/general-gallery/320528-peter-alea.html)

 

[KenC]

You pretty much nailed it. I agree about cropping the top. I would then darken what remains above the top horizontal strip.

 

[Mully]

I like your image before post ...the texture and the deep shadows give it great character, I do not think it needs anything!

 

[BlackSheep]

I really like your B&W conversion, very well done!
One suggestion, what if you cropped the dark strip from the right side? It pulls attention from the rest of the door.

I like the rubber chicken suggestion too.

Thanks blacksheep! I'm going to ask a silly question. Do you mean the dark strip on the left side of the pic?

deeky, good point. I'll work on unskewing.

I never thought I'd say I wish I had a rubber chicken! Man, I really wish I wish I had laynea24's "hot chicks" (http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/general-gallery/320528-peter-alea.html)

No, I did mean the right side. I took the liberty of editing (hope you don't mind if you do I will remove right away) just to show you what I see from your original image:

I cropped a bit, and did a small adjustment to straighten it out as suggested above.This is only a suggestion, I do like your original shot as it is too.

 

[squirrels]

Thank you, Mully! I couldn't decide whether I was trying too hard in post (especially since I've never been all that gritty).

I definitely do like your crop and straighten, Black Sheep! Thanks!