Old Model T: One of two new monochrome prints I'm working on for camera club competition this evening. Thought I'd get some feedback for the final print. This was taken in Berlin...

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

One of two new monochrome prints I'm working on for camera club competition this evening. Thought I'd get some feedback for the final print. This was taken in Berlin, Nevada. To find Berlin, first find the middle of nowhere and then go 60 miles further.

As usual, presented here with mockup matting and frame to provide a simulation of the final look of the piece. No edits please, but have at it with comments and suggestions. Thanks to all in advance.

Old Model T: Berlin, Nevada

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Nightski

I love it Jim. Tons of nice sharp detail. A good tonal range. I like the exposure. It brings forth the feeling of baking in the desert sun. I like how you've captured and processed the clouds. They are wispy, yet also have lots of nice detail.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Excellent composition using balance and framing, great exposure with nice contrast, perfect focus and proper use of depth of field for this interesting scene. A winner! :thumbup:

Beowulf Loc: Aquidneck Island, RI

Great detail and exposure. Well done!

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Thank you all for the comments.

The judges critique was generally positive. He did comment that he would have liked just a bit more contrast.

Result: first place for Master's Monochrome Prints. Moves on to regional council competition for next month. We'll see ....

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Photographer Jim wrote:

Thank you all for the comments.

The judges critique was generally positive. He did comment that he would have liked just a bit more contrast.

Result: first place for Master's Monochrome Prints. Moves on to regional council competition for next month. We'll see ....

Can you edit at all before it goes to regional? Maybe up the contrast? Congratulations!

Nightski

Photographer Jim wrote:

Thank you all for the comments.

The judges critique was generally positive. He did comment that he would have liked just a bit more contrast.

Result: first place for Master's Monochrome Prints. Moves on to regional council competition for next month. We'll see ....

Congratulations Jim! I am questioning whether or not this is a bit of a dilemma for you. One judge has said you should up the contrast. Would another judge think the same thing? When I first looked at this image, in the very first instant, I though the same thing, but quickly I realized how realistic this is. I think you made the right call on contrast. Maybe you would be so kind as to post an image with a little more contrast for feedback. It would be interesting. I'm sure it will be a tough decision for you. I think it's good to stick with your instincts in the end.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Country's Mama wrote:

Can you edit at all before it goes to regional? Maybe up the contrast? Congratulations!

No, no edits can be made if the image has already placed. The print went off to N4C (Northern California Council of Camera Clubs) with our rep at the end of the night.

Had the image not placed, I would be free to take it home, edit, and resubmit it in the next, or a future, club level competition.

I had actually upped the contrast in an earlier print, but was getting a much harsher look than I wanted. One thing about being a contest judge is that you might have an idea for a particular improvement, you don't have a means of actually seeing how the suggestion would pan out. I may experiment a bit more with various contrast adjustments and see what improvements might be made.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Photographer Jim wrote:

No, no edits can be made if the image has already ... (show quote)

Then I guess you need to not second guess yourself on this one. I like it the way you have it and hopefully the next judge will feel the same.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Country's Mama wrote:

Then I guess you need to not second guess yourself on this one. I like it the way you have it and hopefully the next judge will feel the same.

Yes, It would be nice for it to do well at N4C.

It's not so much a matter of second guessing myself as it is a matter of giving feedback it's due consideration. The judge we had last evening is one who is well respected, and more often than not I find his observations to be right on. My goal is always to "optimize" an image to have its broadest appeal, so it just makes sense for me to re-evaluate the image with his comments in mind. There have been times in the past where judge's feedback has resulted in a significantly improved image when I added it to my for sale inventory.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Photographer Jim wrote:

Thank you all for the comments.

The judges critique was generally positive. He did comment that he would have liked just a bit more contrast.

Result: first place for Master's Monochrome Prints. Moves on to regional council competition for next month. We'll see ....

A well deserved congratulations Jim! :thumbup:

By the way, judges always say they wish a bit more contrast. :-D

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

Photographer Jim wrote:

Thank you all for the comments.

The judges critique was generally positive. He did comment that he would have liked just a bit more contrast.

Result: first place for Master's Monochrome Prints. Moves on to regional council competition for next month. We'll see ....

Congrats! Nicely done . . and I don't agree with the judge on needing more contrast. :thumbup:

DaleH Loc: Manila, Utah

Many years ago in the southern California dessert, near El Centro, CA, I would jog along the irrigation ditch banks shortly after the sun came up. I would come upon things similar to this picture (not quite so old) which farmers left near their fields. Usually I was not wearing sun glasses and would squint at the glare off the wagon, tractor or bailer much the same way as in this photo. The first thing I did looking at the photo was to squint. IMHO, I very much enjoyed the photo and its implications (glare, wind worn, forgotten and a lost treasure; heat perhaps, but could be wintery cold as well, like sunshine on a glacier lake). I think increasing contrast would dilute the photos effect, especially the detail inside the cab. Good job and good luck. :thumbup:

10MPlayer Loc: California

Photographer Jim wrote:

One of two new monochrome prints I'm working on for camera club competition this evening. Thought I'd get some feedback for the final print. This was taken in Berlin, Nevada. To find Berlin, first find the middle of nowhere and then go 60 miles further.

As usual, presented here with mockup matting and frame to provide a simulation of the final look of the piece. No edits please, but have at it with comments and suggestions. Thanks to all in advance.

This reminds me of a post-apocalyptic vision of what the world would look like if all life ceased to exist in 1929. I like the angles in the shot - the way the T slopes to the left the same as the hillside behind it. The water pumps and such are somewhat distracting but there's nothing you could've done about them. I'm not one for cloning out huge chunks of a picture. I'd have left them in. IT's a great shot. Good luck on the competition.

t_jay Loc: California

I think it's very well done, both technically and artistically. I think the only thing I'd like to see different is a darker sky. Like used to be done in film with a filter (my brain is not remembering if it's the red or the yellow that gave you that really dramatically darkened, almost black, sky and made the clouds more dramatic). I think that would give the "more contrast" the judge was wanting without tinkering with contrast throughout the image, which I think is about perfect.