First post - Looking for comments!

[johnnypark]

Hi all! Long time reader, first time poster. Just wanted to get some comments on various urban scenes. I hope these pictures show up like they should, don't want to embarrass myself the first time!

http://www.dropshots.com/photos/233516/20070316/b_172825.jpg

http://www.dropshots.com/photos/233516/20070316/b_172335.jpg

http://www.dropshots.com/photos/233516/20070316/b_173443.jpg

http://www.dropshots.com/photos/233516/20070316/b_172631.jpg


The first one is of the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC. Went there about a month ago. The second one is from last summer in Dublin (where I'm currently living). It's from an office building in the docks. The third picture is also from Dublin. It's a monument in the city to commemorate the victims of the famine. The last one is from Sweden, last summer. It's kind of hard to see but it's actually a duck diving!

[johnnypark]

Nobody? Don't tell me... they're perfect! Nothing to improve?

[SWPhotoImaging]

Well, #1 and #2 are "urban looking" so they belong here.

My take on #1 is that The highlights are too light, the shadows a little too dark and the bridge tower too centered in the photo.

For #2, I like the concept, but the contrast is lost and it ends up with little impact because of that. It might even be better in the original color, but certainly another effort at the conversion would be worth trying, with the focus on trying to enhance the detail and contrast.

Just my thoughts, not in any way shape or form a professional critique.

[BottomBracket]

Hey welcome to the forum! nice shot of Brooklyn Bridge, I love biking over it. What conversion method did you use, it doesn't seem to be straight black and white. I find the second one interesting and promising, with the play of distorted reflections over the blinds. I would like to see a little bit of dodging and burning here though, to coax out some of the details. The third is my favorite, perhaps because i have never seen it before. It is a texture-rich subject, which I like, and again a bit of D and B will really bring out the texture. Which famine was this a monument to, the Potato Famine? The last pic seems to be a bit oversharpened for me....

[johnnypark]

Steve, I think you're right about #2, I'll have a play around with the curves and levels a bit on that. I like #1, and wonder if it looks very different on your screen than from mine maybe? I had a look at the post from a different computer at work and it looked totally differen, shadow were too dark and highlights were, well too bright.

Pio, thanks for your comments! No, I read somewhere that simply converting your colour pictures using 'grayscale' in PS isn't always the best option, so I've started using channel mixer in adjustments. I find it works pretty well with most pictures and you have more control over the conversion. Yes, the statue is part of a tribute for the Potato famine. The statue I've got here is just a small part of it. I was contemplating converting this to black & white as well but I like the fact that you can see the rust on the face.