Underpass Debates: This is my first venture into B&W . . . from a scene i saw today in the Jacksonville Arts Market. I used LR and Topaz Studio to bring about the changes i wanted...

melueth Loc: Central Florida

This is my first venture into B&W . . . from a scene i saw today in the Jacksonville Arts Market. I used LR and Topaz Studio to bring about the changes i wanted, (this was taken in color). I did very little cropping to this, but needed to straighten a bit and lost some of my street lamps

. Comments welcome.

Marylea

(Download)

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

I REALLY like it!!!
Thanks
now all I have to do is ---- I've got to find an underpass as interesting as yours

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

melueth wrote:

This is my first venture into B&W . . . from a scene i saw today in the Jacksonville Arts Market. I used LR and Topaz Studio to bring about the changes i wanted, (this was taken in color). I did very little cropping to this, but needed to straighten a bit and lost some of my street lamps

. Comments welcome.

Marylea

Marylea...Great underpass capture. My eyes immediately goes to the light area on the left. If you use Lightroom you may want to consider darkening it and then lighten the center of the underpass to draw your eye to it. Great Black and White. Keep experimenting with that medium. Happy New Year

R.G. Loc: Scotland

PixelStan77 wrote:

....My eyes immediately goes to the light area on the left......

Me too. The interesting bit is the channel on the right but the channel on the left draws our attention too much. If you're ever back that way, try a shot in portrait orientation. It'll give you more of what you want and less of what you don't want.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Marylea, beautiful photo. I love the scene the way you presented it, the city view on the left could be a bit darker but it gives perspective to the wonderful overpass architecture.

melueth Loc: Central Florida

Thanks all for the great replies. I went back and forth on wanting to keep that left segment of the shot in place or cropping it out, but thought i'd offer it up for others' eyes before i did that. I did darken it a great deal in LR before going B&W.

R. G. - i usually take photos i like in both orientations, so i do have a portrait version. It just came out wonky to my eye; the angles were all skewed with no clear sign as to what should be straightened. I was grabbing a fast shot and trying to look like i was going after the bridges rather than the people, but they were starting to notice me! Thanks again everyone. I'll keep tinkering!

Marylea

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Marylea, this picture has potential. I have read the previous comments and here is my take. You have at least two pictures here. This lightly cropped version is about the viaduct and its surroundings or background. From my standpoint, that background is distracting and adds nothing to the striking and well-defined verticals of the underpass itself. This theme was typical during the early 20th century and represented the strength of industrial America.

The other picture for is me is to crop off the left. Get rid of the background. Make the picture about those soaring verticals and that couple sitting there. If possible, bring back the top of the street lamp.

My final comment involves the tonal range. The picture is very dull and muddy. I would like more contrast which would emphasize the strength of the structure. I do not understand why you used because LR has everything you need for this picture.

You might want to post the original and hopefully raw file for others to have a go with this.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

melueth wrote:

This is my first venture into B&W . . . from a scene i saw today in the Jacksonville Arts Market. I used LR and Topaz Studio to bring about the changes i wanted, (this was taken in color). I did very little cropping to this, but needed to straighten a bit and lost some of my street lamps

. Comments welcome.

Marylea

I am in the throes of exploring B&W and find your capture very interesting and quite nicely done. Thank you for sharing!

Pixelpixie88 Loc: Northern Minnesota

Marylea...I love this photo but agree with others about the crop. And, it is a little flat. I took it into LR and played with the exposure and the crop. It is really a neat photo! Keep working on it...you'll get it.
Marsha

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

abc1234 wrote:

Marylea, this picture has potential. I have read ... (show quote)

I agree with all of this, and would like to add one comment. The "tunnel" on the right starts higher than where it ends. To some extent, this is a downer (no pun intended) and takes away from the impact you might otherwise feel. It should have been a stronger downward tunnel (somehow) or an upward tunnel. I don't mean actual elevation, I mean as it appears in the image.
.

melueth Loc: Central Florida

Whew - lots of ideas here. So, along with this and a few others, here is a link to a DNG version to play with. Again, this was a street shot that had to be quick and was quite the spur-of-the-moment grab. The people moved almost as soon as they saw me, so i wasn't left with much to re-do. Anyhoo, i would LOVE to see what others would do with this pic, but please share your process. Any others in that folder are up for PP grabs as well if anyone's interested.

Thank you all for your interest and comments. I don't get a chance to interact here often due to work constraints, but i do study here every day and have found this to be an invaluable source of help for my photography!

Marylea

https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ajd3hS25c0Xtohog02dF92hYHdZk

Pixelpixie88 Loc: Northern Minnesota

Here is what I did....open to comments on this too. All in LR. Cropped and straightened. Raised the exposure slider a little along with the highlights. Then dodged slightly with a brush on the tunnel and the people. Also, a very little vignette to about -15. It's nice and sharp as is. I didn't do any contrast or clarity. Please do the download.

Thanks for sharing..Marsha

(Download)

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

And one more take....

(Download)

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Great composition and dramatic effect. Job very well done.

melueth Loc: Central Florida

Pixelpixie88 wrote:

Here is what I did....open to comments on this too. All in LR. Cropped and straightened. Raised the exposure slider a little along with the highlights. Then dodged slightly with a brush on the tunnel and the people. Also, a very little vignette to about -15. It's nice and sharp as is. I didn't do any contrast or clarity. Please do the download.

Thanks for sharing..Marsha

I really like your B&W rendition, Marsha. Nice detail in the architecture as well as the people, and i can see now how mine looks a little flat in comparison - thank you! Overall, i'm still leaning in favor of the more encompassing landscape version, as i think it spreads out the angles and lines enough to breath. I have this shot as a vertical, much like what you've each done here, but just couldn't get my eye to rest happily on the couple due to the odd angles and lines, but to each his/her own! Thanks again!

Marylea