Feeding the Ducks

Those kids are a bit too centred. Otherwise, the edge treatment works well, as does the overall conversion. I remember a time when I felt my pictures were on a similar level to yours. Now I feel you're racing down the main straight and I'm still wallowing in the curves.
Regards

Looking at this beautifully composed and framed shot helps me to better understand the comments made about Jimpy's shot of Derwent Water. The effect is, to my eye, very much like that of a painting, where considerable time and effort has been expended first in studying the setting and then carefully positioning the main subjects and camera in order to achieve the desired effect before taking the shot. The detail throughout the tonal range suggests very careful exposure and/or skilfull adjustment in an image editor.

Certainly an image to be proud of, but I would like to be able to compare it with the colour version, which I suspect would rest more comfortably with my view of the scene as a painting.

Best wishes,

Jon

Thanks Sam-Joseph and Jon,

I know what you mean about the central positioning of my nieces, Sam, but the area to left and right was a bit chaotic and composed of tangled vegetation: they were sort of squeezed into the gap.

Jon, Jimpy's photograph was taken in a far more interesting place, much more beautiful, but not as easy to make a well composed photograph. I've been to some lovely places but due to ancilliary elements being absent, have failed to come up with a decent shot.

Here it was relatively easy. The girls weren't posed. I just shuffled about a bit and made sure I kept checking the histogram (no auto exposure, of course, or auto focus) and made sure I didn't burn out the girls' bright clothing too much.

I still had to level the shot in post processsing but there was no dodging or burning on the occasion. I did, however, make a vignette with blur and contrast to hold the eye within the frame.

The eye certainly focuses on those lovely girls; I think and to me it's obvious that the blurred and contrasting dark edges worked so well for the desired effect. The girls are so cute, I'd like to see their faces. The photo is as lovely as they are!I've come up to see this again and again.

Thanks Nezih. I really like shots of people which are natural and not too posed. I'm glad you enjoyed it. They're lovely little girls, bright, lively and full of fun. The weekend exhausted us!

A lovely evocative and intriguing shot Andrew, sepia was a great choice.