Need some help with post.

[OscarMike]

I'm working on a project for my volunteer fire department, and thought I'd ask for some opinions.

DSC_0017.jpg by OscarMike10, on Flickr
I was trying to do something that emphasizes the tradition of the fire service. I thought to do a sepia tone would be chasing the antique thing too much so I went B&W and turned up the grain a hair. But this isn't quite doing it for me. Hit me with your suggestions

 

[MTVision]

I can't see your picture. May be because I'm on my phone or it may be because you didn't post picture properly

 

[OscarMike]

yeah i was trying to post from my ipad. i was being lazy should be fixed now

 

[tirediron]

I think I would start over again. The selective colour does NOT work IMO (it rarely does), and the tight composition and distracting background really detract from the idea that you're trying to get across. I think you might want to consider a slightly different approach. Find a better location, and have two trucks in a 'V' as the background, ensuring there are no wires or telephone poles, etc encroaching in the scene. Arrange the colour guard as you have here, but in the wide part of the 'V' formed by the trucks. If your department has two ladder trucks, you can have the ladders slightly elevated and your federal/state and fire-service flags flying from them as well.

For the historical look, find an old firetruck (if your department doesn't have one, someone in town will - every town has someone with an old firetruck) and arrange the crew on/around it as appropriate and convert it to straight monochrome, nothing fancy.

 

[MTVision]

I'm working on a project for my volunteer fire department, and thought I'd ask for some opinions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67081508@N02/6142843830/
DSC_0017.jpg by OscarMike10, on Flickr
I was trying to do something that emphasizes the tradition of the fire service. I thought to do a sepia tone would be chasing the antique thing too much so I went B&W and turned up the grain a hair. But this isn't quite doing it for me. Hit me with your suggestions

I actually dont mind selective color but IMO it doesn't work here. Too many colors I think. Also the band on one of the guys sleeve is red while the others aren't. What about full black and white?

 

[OscarMike]

i should've added this was shot during the presentation at the fire fighter games, so i was at the mercy of my surroundings. But now that you've mentioned it i think your right about trying to force a picture into something it isn't. If its going to be a prominent piece of the collection, its should be worth a proper set up.

 

[OscarMike]

Also the band on one of the guys sleeve is red while the others aren't. What about full black and white?

DOH! this is why you don't edit before morning coffee!