fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

At a wedding on the eve of Sandy just about six years ago. I almost never attend weddings but its one of those times you can wave a camera around without attracting attention because of doing so.

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R.G. Loc: Scotland

You captured the moment that tells the story. I'm not sure how necessary the uber-sharpened look is.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Its more of an uber-contrast. I processed it to black and white using gradient map. With some modifications. Being only hours before the hurricane was to make landfall somewhere nearby, I wanted the clouds to look the part. This is the unprocessed shot

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ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I like the black and white version; but I'm not a big fan of the haloing that is going on. I think that is a product of over-processing. I wonder if you could re process the original along the lines same lines and stop just short of where the haloing takes over. The moment, however, is precious with the man and the big lens trying to choreograph what the subjects are doing. You can't see them; but because of his gestures, you don't have to.
Erich

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Thanks for your feedback Eric. I guess that the rather extreme processing was fitting to my memory of the occasion. I contemplated including a view of the party being photographed at the time to give more of an overall feeling for the moment. The processing was, at least in my mind, compatible with the event. My response to this event was the incongruence of the whole thing, and my attempt was to emphasize that.

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NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Ok I looked at both the B/W and color. Here is my take on both. I prefer the color over B/W. The color for the realism. The B/W for the bold sky. Now if you combine the sky (a color version) with the color version of the photographer than for me you have a winner. If course this is my personal take on it.
I do understand your mindset for your B/W.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

I think the wedding image and it's processing is fantastic. The rich whites and darks give it a surreal/beautiful/timeless feel. And I love the way that the party is looking to the center instead of to the camera - I think that is a very interesting way to approach group pictures.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Thanks for your input Frank. I was going through the older files looking for things that caught my interest. I was thinking along the lines of street photography with the group of photographers, and my natural response to much of my photography for some time has been BW, so I went straight there. I admit to having very little experience including people in my photographs. With your comment, I do believe I will go back and see what I can come up with as a color version. Ironically, I do enjoy shooting people, even though I have gone to great lengths over the years to avoid it.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Thanks pfrancke. I appreciate your positive thoughts

Dave Chinn

Mark, I like both of your images for different reasons. I like the candid street type/style that you have presented, but it appears to have been over processed because of the distracting haloing. I have been there many times and find it difficult to avoid the haloing. I have discovered to believe that over sharpening may be the culprit. The second image (the group), is one that is rather unique. Everyone seems to have their attention elsewhere, but mostly on the bride as should be. The background to me is a little distracting. I have found with my B&W images, if there is a lot of foliage in the background, it becomes a little distracting. Sometimes we have to take what we can get tho. Still, overall very good images.
Dave

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Thanks for taking the time to look and give me your thoughts Dave. I became quite involved with manipulating the gradient map for achieving a different look with black and white conversions. I find it works exceptionally well with architectural, and much less so with foliage and difficult to avoid some of the artifacting that occurs in general. Of all the other ways to go about b/w conversions, this one has been the most interesting as well as challenging. I realize this result is sort of electrified, to say the least. I suppose I think of results like "the photographer" as black and white compositions derived from a photo. Much of my past art endeavors were in black ink or oils, but which produced abstract imagery. I think this is probably my artist side taking a larger role in my photography. In the group shot I like the individual expressions particularly in the children, the smallest having gotten interested in me for some reason. She continued to keep eye contact with my lens for the duration.