Comments on my first duotone attempt please

[tumble]

Pictures of Mingus Grist Mill taken in the Great Smoky Mountains Park, NC

Comments and tips for improvement please, I would like to get prints of one of these when I decide which one.

No.1
http://www.pbase.com/image/31133075.jpg
No.2
http://www.pbase.com/image/31133076.jpg
No.3
http://www.pbase.com/image/31133077.jpg

[Rob Beltman]

Personnaly I like duotones the best in two situations:
- 'old' subject
- contrasting colours

Your pictures definitely qualify for the first, making the viewer believe the subjects were shot half a century ago. One thing to always look out for is modern items that spoil the mood, such as 1990's or even more recent cars and such. On the second picture, the person near the house could ruin the 'antique' mood...

The contrasting colours part is what I find missing a bit, especially in nr 1. Number 2 and 3 have light falling onto the roof of the house and the treeline to the right, creating deeper contrast.

I've taken number two and worked it in paint Shop Pro. I turned into grayscale, then colored it a bit more yellow (in stead of red) and adjusted the cotrast-curve to a S-shape. Oh...and I deleted the person near the house. Below is the result.

http://www.icsb.nl/backup/twotone.jpg[/img]

[Rob Beltman]

Oh...just to motivate why I like two the best; the line of the wooden canal (how do you call those things?) leads the viewers eye towards the house.

In picture three it leads the eye to the side of the house, leaving the right side of the frame relatively empty.

So in terms of readibility, two is the winner.

[cmM]

I like the effect in these pictures.

I think it's a little strong though. Apply the duotone in a different layer and lower the opacity a little, see if it comes out better.

[tumble]

thanks for the advice.

I'll have a go at re-working them. I wasn't entirely happy with the color copy before i converted so i'll start back at the raw file and run through again.