Conversion with slight tint

[Jocelyn Walker]

Your suggestions & comments welcome!

[Gina]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

Hi Jocelyn,

I think the sky is weird in this, it's not natural looking and the verticals of the buildings are a bit off. Maybe you could post the original image for comparison? It has a lack of focal point at the end of the alley and the lamp? seems to be suspended in the air. Maybe if you got the sky colour right it would help.

Hope my critique isn't too harsh for you.

Gina

[kennykodak]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

i agree Gina, it is skewed to the left enough to distract. also i feel that the tonal range is a little flat. try a little "linear contrast" on CS3.

[Pops]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

You have what appears to be sunlight at the top of the alley which makes the sky look really odd.

[Cogito]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

Personally, I like the treatment of the sky - gives it a surreal air (complementing the paving?) .

However, I do agree that the lamp looks to be "floating" and ends up looking like a blemish on the photograph at first glance.

Regards,

Neil.

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

I don't find your critique too harsh Gina! I very much appreciate your comments & those of others that take the time to reply! The sky is not natural as unfortunately it was blown out & I tried to alter the original! That probably explains the lamp too in part! I thought converting to B&W could save the image! I am attaching a copy of the original, where I've only tried to change the verticals & nothing else!

[Gina]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

Hi Jocelyn,

I've had a go at the sky, it's a little bit bluer than before and seems to look better. I isolated the sky and then tinted it. I think the colour version is much more vibrant than black and white in this case.

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

Thanks Gina! When you isolate the sky, do you use the magic wand or some other method! I have such a problem when using the magic wand when there are objects in the way, like the lamps & wires! Parts get obscured or leave halos etc! Yes, I agree the colour version is more vibrant than B&W! I just wish I could get the sky a tad bluer or darker! Maybe changing the exposure for the sky alone after tinting may help!

[Gina]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

I tried using different hues but I think the contrast needs toning down before getting the colour right. I think this image is worth saving, the perspective and colour are lovely. Were you trying to achieve a certain kind of atmosphere using b&w?

I've got a shot on a beach in Cyprus which I attach. Would you know the sky was really white and flat? I haven't got Photoshop, I can't afford it so have to make do with Corel's Paint shop pro ultimate. I do the best I can but it's time consuming sometimes, well worth it for a goodun!



Have another go when you get a few mins 'me time'.

Gina


p.s. It is the Magic wand tool but it must be the freehand selection tool. Magic wand does a kind of smart select which is not suitable for your image, it could end up taking longer to edit. I use 'edge seeker' which 'sticks' to the line you are creating. The 'halo's can then be cloned out - again very fiddly work but worth it.

[mib2]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

Hi Jocelyn

The nice thing as usual is everyone always takes a positive view of every photograph. The help for me from the Forum makes photography a very interesting subject. I wish I could donate more time to my hobby.

I have had a recent go at a similar subject - have a quick look. Thankfully the sky was a beautiful blue colour.

Dave R

https://www.daveritchie.com

[coupekid]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

i quite like the effect, but wouldnot have altered the sky, I think it was ok the way it was.

Here would be my take, I hope you dont mind me having a play!

This is a tritone

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

Thanks Gina! I find it exceptionally fiddly work! Therefore was trying to cut corners by using the magic wand! when you say freehand selection tool, do you mean lasso tool as opposed to magnetic or polygonal tool? In Photoshop, the magic wand is a separate tool, that selects areas with the same or very similar pixels! I was trying to achieve some kind of atmosphere I guess, whether aged or similiar! Considering the colour version had its own kind of atmosphere by means of its vibrant colours! I felt plain B&W would lose some 'essence'! I certainly will have another bash when I get time, as you suggest!

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

Dave, you are lucky having had a really beautiful blue sky! I love the texture of the wall! Have you tried cropping your pic a bit! Just before the car on left & just before downpipe on right! This would bring more focus to bicycles, texture of wall as well as the interesting shape of dome on that building?

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

Hi Ben! I really don't mind you having a play at all......actually appreciate you taking the time! Thanks! I hadn't thought of converting to tri or quadtone! mmmm! I certainly will take your advice & leave sky alone when trying it out!

[kennykodak]

Re: Conversion with slight tint

i'd crop off the bottom center shadow, a large distraction.