Scenic Waterfront Property

[sleist]

 

[amolitor]

I can see sharpening halos along the edges of the conical pile of material right of center, and the more rounded heap of stuff on the left side of the frame, and also around many of the elements of the crane. This is very distracting to my eye. The clouds are overcooked as well, with the blackish sky. On the other hand, it seems to be a very popular aesthetic on these forums.

As a composition I quite like it. There's some nice forms and lines here, I think the three vertical/diagonal pieces of machinery are graphically very strong and appealing, and the various textures of the larger forms along the ground (tank, building(?) and the piles of stuff) are very nice. The clouds are excellent and interesting. I'm not sure about the foreground, it seems a bit of a let-down, it somehow lacks the weight I'd like to see at the bottom of the frame. More water? Less water? Burn it down darker? I'm not sure.

 

[john5189]

still good though

I like this sort of thing

 

[gsgary]

I like the subject, but because it a digital b+w it looks too clean and clinical

 

[sleist]

Thanks for the comments folks! This was a bit of and experiment using a detail extractor effect prior to B&W conversion. Some parts I liked, others not so much. That was what created the halos - similar to cooked HDR I tried to balance to positives and the negatives, but was still on the fence. Below is the straight conversion without that step. I think you'll see this version as less "digital", though perhaps not enough less.

LARGER VIEW

Thanks again for the comments.

Steve

 

[amolitor]

The second version still looks a bit cooked, but I think it's vastly superior. There are far more differences in tone in larger regions, giving an overall sense of contrast that's missing from the first version. Also, the treatment of the water really helps with that weight on the bottom I was missing. There's still a bit of haloing from something, look in particular at the blob of machinery at the very top of the crane, you can see it's outlined in whiteness. It makes it "pop" more, I admit, but I still don't like it

This version, I think you'll find if you take the time, looks more real. The first one looks like a really good render, something from a video game, and the second one looks like a real place. Well, that's how it reads to me.

 

[KenC]

Yeah, second one is definitely much better. I'd go with a very slight sepia tone in the mid-tones, just to warm it very slightly.

 

[sleist]

Took care of that halo - not sure how I missed that
Not sure how I feel about this for sepia - I like sepia (maybe too much) but I think cooler tones work best.
Thanks for looking and for taking the time. I walk by this place after work every day on the way to my car.
There's often a cargo ship or LNG tanker in the way.