Lazy days

[Groucho123]

Some impressions taken during the holidays.

Added B&W effects with SilverEfex.

Critics and comments welcome

 

[Groucho123]

Adding my own comment hoping it will trigger some more......

 

[Groucho123]

Do you think the effects are overdone?

 

[Rick58]

Yeah, these are way too contrasty even for my taste, and I like my B&W contrasty. You also appear to have a lot of blown highlights. I say give it another go.

 

[Groucho123]

Hello Rick,

thanks a lot for your feedback. Attached are some updates, where I tried to hold back with the contrast and keep the highlights. To me it seems flat. What's your impression?

 

[Rick58]

1,3 and 4 are definitely better, but I agree 2 is flat. You were closer with your first attempt with that shot. Maybe just brighten the first attempt a notch while holding back the highlights?

 

[timor]

I like all the versions. Maybe with #2 you're right, softer is flatter. To me the first version is on the border, this level of contrast I would rather classified as "crisp", not overdone yet. They have different visual impact, more tension and expectation than the softer versions, witch are more factual. For printing and framing I would choose the crisp pictures, but then I wouldn't print any as all of them have another problem, very common in street photography; all are taken behind peoples backs. Only in #1 one girl is facing the camera, but she is really just a part of the shadow, there is no dynamic relation between her and the meaning of the scene, it was not a "decisive moment" . Street photography, unfortunately requires this boldness to go with the camera in the face of people. Sometimes with consequences. ale: