Feeeling Artisitic

[sagelike31]

The majority of the times I take a shot, I usually, at that moment, don't have a full scope of why I want to take the shot.
It doesn't dawn on me till later (when I upload to my computer) why I took that shot.

This doesn't really apply to landscape or portrait shots for me. It's usually those environment shots that at that moment I really have no idea why took it till later when I am post processing.

I call this phenomenon for me "feeling artistic". :)

This is one of those shots. The top is the orignal (of course) and the bottom is the edited version. This is one of the best examples I have of a shot I had no idea why I took till later.

For a full explanation of why I did take it see my blog.....>>>>>LINK (http://www.photoblog.com/user/sagelike31/)<<<<<

How I did it: (all in photoshop)
- Turned the picture to BW with channel mixer and selective color layers.

- Used high pass, brightness and contrast to give it a "stronger look".

- Darkened in the gentleman with the dodge tool. I used a feathered brush to keep the look soft.

- Cropped the top to keep in line with the rule of thirds.

- Increased the canvas size a bunch of times to create the frame. Switched between white and black colors as I was increasing canvas size with an emphasis on white as the main color.

Enjoy the shots!! (I would click to enlarge them to get a better effect)

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q207/sagevarious/IMG_7002watermark.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q207/sagevarious/Darkenwatermark.jpg

[mikem12188]

Sagelike,

I like it...

I'm not sure why, maybe because it's black and white, but there is something mysterious about the man.

Great job.

[Saralonde]

Good job with the crop. Turning it into b&w was a good idea. I like the softened film grain look, but wonder if maybe it was a bit too much softening on the man. See what someone else thinks.

[topslakr]

To me he is too soft... makes him look unnatural. He seems to have lost most of his definition. I find myself drawn to the fuzzy parts like his shoulder on the left instead of the whole image. I also find the reflection of the railing in the puddle distracting. At first glance it looks like he is carrying some kind of stick and not a cane.

For me the man walking without the aid of the cane he is carrying is the focus. Was it prescribed to him and he is resisting it? Is he recovering from something and growing less dependent on it? I'm drawn the unwritten story in the image which I think you have captured incredibly well. I really love the shot and I love the depth the B&W adds to it but I could use a bit more definition to the man. That is the kind of shot I would hang on a wall. Beautiful.

Robert

[sana]

Sagelike31, I like what you did here. I'm impressed with the poisture of a man, and the composition is great, like you intentionaly put all the elements together. Someone once said that the best photo is the one that provokes questons, and not necessarily provides the answers. There is something in here that triggers questions, and emotions. You did good to strip most details away. And I like the blur, it emphasizes the movement. The contrast is fantastic. I'd say, keep it misterious! :)

[yurik]

I love when shots that seem plain end up becoming beautiful..
I think you did a great job, though I do agree with Saralonde and others that the man is not sharp enough. Perhaps it happened when you were dodging him?