Grande Place, Brussels B&W conversion

[Durbs]

Camera: Canon EOS 1000D
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

My first proper attempt at a mono conversion.
I think it needs more contrast, and maybe I should've under exposed the whole a step or 2?
I like the composition, and the subject matter - but it isn't as moody as I'd like.
I added a grad-filter in ACR, and did a little dodging and burning. The only other thing I noticed (too late) was I for got to mask out the sky when sharpening, so in large size the sky is pixelated. Grrr

Was walking around without a tripod so was shot hand-held

Feel free to post re-edits

[wulf]

More contrast? I think it probably has enough of that already. If you want a moodier result, what it really calls out for is a more dramatic sky. At the moment it looks like an almost artificial gradient so it is definitely worth considering painting in a cloudscape from another photo (or at least darkening the sky).

Wulf

[SuperDan]

Originally Posted by wulf

More contrast? I think it probably has enough of that already. (or at least darkening the sky).

Wulf

I agree... and i'm torn on the composition... lots of angles going on here and that lamppost is throwing me off