Five in a Row - my eclectic mix

Picking up the baton from Joe. There's no (intentional) theme here, just a collection of diverse images that have something about them that I am happy about. I hope that you find something to enjoy in them as well. They will appear in the order in which they were taken.

Phil

#1 - Looking back




This is an usual shot for me, being a street photo - something I almost never do. However, there was something about the young women's stance and expression that I found irresistible. Taken in Venice in September 2013 with a K-r and DA 18-135.

You'r hitting the ground running with this one Phil.

She is a pretty lady to start with but it is the expression, stance and modern look that stands out.

I can see how the vignetting goes with the background, not so sure about with your modern lady

Totally agree with Barrie, great subject and expression - well spotted and taken.

As for the vignetting - not to my taste - but that is only personal preference.

Carl

Super image

A nicely taken candid, almost too well positioned and framed to even look candid! You caught her just at the right moment, week done. I'd ditch the vignette though.

I have the greatest admiration for those who make street photography appear effortless. There are elements of this I like greatly - not least her expression and apparent obviousness to the nearby presence of a K-r. I feel vignetting is often overused an an effect, but don't feel it's overly intrusive in this instance.

A striking start.

A great start, I can only agree with the above comments.

I don't think the vignette does anything to improve the image,
but cropping 'one click of my mouse' off the top and bottom does for me

definitely a great start Phil, you picked a lovely subject and did her proud. not sure about the vignette maybe just a bit of selective oof would suffice but really a personal taste thing.

Thanks for the comments.

Re the vignette - I can now reveal the reason.

In the original, just on the girl's right hand side, was another women in a HIDEOUS black & white spotted coat which was beyond my meagre abilities to clone out effectively. Hence a combination of cloning, some blurring and finally a vignette to cover up the (otherwise) remaining mess. I think I will play about with an OOF vignette and maybe a black one.

Phil

Its a nice candid, well captured. At first I didn't care for the vignette, I thought the woman filled too much of the frame to make it effective. But then I read your reasons for doing this and can see the sense in it. I've used fading out vignetting a few times to get rid of intrusive detail.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

#2 - The Dolomites looking south-east from Selva Gardena




Stunning mountain scenery, that I thought was just perfect for a B&W conversion. Taken in January this year with K-5iis and DA 18-135 at 135mm, f8 at 1/1600; converted with Silver Efex Pro 2.

Phil

I like the first one Phil, it is a good candid and works very well for me. I also like the second shot, details and conversion are good, but for me it is always hard to really hit the spot with a landscape image that has limited depth. The problem with this one for me is that there is no distance, no details fading into the horizon due to the angle of the shot and the towering summit which doesn't afford any view beyond. I know this would not have been possible with this particular subject but nevertheless the appeal is probably limited by this factor.

Regards
David

I like chapter two very much - lovely texture and detail, great b&w conversion - but also agree with David's observations about the limited perspective. It's quite hard to appreciate the true sense of scale.

lots of detail, texture, excellent conversion, the scene has a balance to it and beautiful shadow/light areas.i like it. what preset did you start with for the conversion? i am finding i like the high key fine art these days.

I take David Storm's point about this not being a traditional landscape in the sense that it lacks the depth of perspective with foreground interest, lead in lines and a distant view. But for me this is about the rugged grandeur of the peaks, the gritty texture of the rock faces and the lovely white snow. Just look at the fine dry snow being blown off the peaks.
It gets my vote for being a quality black and white image with massive interest in the detail. I can imagine rock climbers viewing this working out routes to the summit.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout