Digital imaging techniques - Class or Cliche?

[mattwest]

Hi all,

I've just discovered this site and wanted to ask people's opinion on using sepia, matte and other basic techniques. I'm currently travelling the world with a 2 year old Canon eos 300d, 2 lenses(18-55 & 75-300 IS USM) and a fantastically useful Gorillapod.

I recently acquired a macbook an have been using some simple techniques to enhance my photos before placing them on our blog site. Simple cropping but also converting to monochrome, sepia, and enhancing colour.

Please have a look at a page of these shots and tell me if these photos look classy or just cliche with these techniques.

http://www.travelblog.org/Australasi...og-113407.html

I've added one here....

Thanks in advance,

Matt

[wulf]

If that captures what you are seeing (not literally but in terms of the mood you are trying to convey) then there is no problem at all - there are some good pictures and well applied effects there (I particularly liked the Chinese Gardens one, which looks very old).

It might be worth keeping the unmodified ones on file as well for future reference or if you decide you want to present your trip in 21st Century colour terms.

Wulf

[googlit]

Sepia and black & white aren't cliche... they're classic! I think the effects work pretty well with your shots. I particularly like Harbour Bridge, Merry-go-round, Clowns, and Coney Island. The first one is very dramatic-looking, and b&w gives it a cool feel. I would crop out the bright bridge strut (or whatever) on the left, as it draws the eye away from the subject and off the frame. The effects you added to the other three give them an old feel, which suits them. I might pull back a little on the saturation of the clowns pic, but otherwise, I think they're great.

The other pics are cool too, though none stood out to me like the 4. The frame around 'Chinese gardens' seems a little too much for that shot (maybe pull it back a little)... that's the only one I'd say looks a little cliche.

So my vote is pretty much classy. very nice.

[Floris]

hmm.. There's one ting i don't like: the softend borders.. on the first one and on Opera House...

but.. that's only me

[ployoung]

They are classic. My fav is your Merry-go-round. I might like the Clowns picture better if it has the same sepiatone as the Merry-go-round.

It's my personal opinion.

[Breathephoto]

Wulf hit it on the head... This is still an art form, and if you, as the artist portraying your work, feel that some slight modification helps match your vision of the world through your lens, then it works.

Personally, I like your shots. They evoke reminiscence of an older era. This works very well for the effects you are choosing.

[hitkaiser]

Rule of thumb, if it looks good to you... it is good !

Like someone mentioned before, keep the originals tucked away as well...

Don't fight it though, it may simply be your "style"!! You might move on or you might grow out of it, in any case keep shooting because they look great

[rpaladino]

Hi Matt,
Black and white or sepia are classic.
These are some good photographs..."Clowns" captures the look of an age old photograph. That might be your style coming through.
Keep shooting...good luck!
Raquel

[Fraggleroxer]

here is the rule i go by. if it can be done in a dark room or with "tradition" techniques, then u can do it with photo shop, and not have it considered "fake" or whatnot, cause its just anther method or achieving the same thing.

[tim]

Originally Posted by Floris

hmm.. There's one ting i don't like: the softend borders.. on the first one and on Opera House...

i agree

nice work on the ferris wheel.