Classic Venice

[Trankonia]

Does this work well as a BW image? I wanted it to look older and more "Classic." How is the composition? Should I leave the vignette? I can post the color image for contrast if you want to compare.

Camera: NIKON D5000
Focal length: 55*mm*(equiv. 82*mm)
Aperture: F5.6
Exposure time: 1/20"
ISO speed rating: 400/27°
Program: Manual
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Auto
Flash: Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, return light detected

[TBrown00]

I like the choice to go B&W with this one and I think it does look more "classic" this way and fits well with the subject. As far as composition, my eye was drawn to the tower in the background instead of the man on the boat. Vignetting is something that I have an almost universal dislike for, so I'll let someone else comment on that.

[Krusty79]

I dislike vignetting also and I think that may be drawing attention to the tower in the background. I think it was LeeR who said your eye naturally goes to the lightest part of the image and that's where the tower is located.

Other than that, I like this as a B&W image, as it has a variety of tones from white to black. The only other suggestion I have is to consider cropping out the end of the pier on the right side, as I see it more of a distraction instead of foreground interest.

[Trankonia]

Thanks for the suggestions. The reason I did the vignetting was to make it look older but I usually do not like it much either except in certain contexts. Here is the modifications to remove the vignetting and add the suggested crop. I chenged the BW filter a bit as well. Is this better or does the brown/sepia tones hues work instead?

[Krusty79]

Yeah, it doesn't really strike me as having the old, classic look now. So, I think sepia could work or maybe adding some grain/texture.

[Trankonia]

Originally Posted by Krusty79

Yeah, it doesn't really strike me as having the old, classic look now. So, I think sepia could work or maybe adding some grain/texture.

I tend to agree. I think this is better. Opinions?

[Krusty79]

I think that definitely has more of that "vintage" look now.

[DivotMaker]

I like this shot, and I like the sepia tone.

With that said, you might want to try adding a texture to it....

The crispness, is causing my eye to not feel this is "old" looking...

I think the first thing I would try is a "linen"...or maybe an "old film" texture...

add that as a layer and adjust the opacity to something you are comfortable with..

Just my 2c's

[TBrown00]

I definitely think the latest version looks the best and the tower isn't as distracting with the vignette removed

[SwissJon]

Boy, you do get around don't you Trankonia?

Daring to be different.. I liked the vignetting.. But felt it was perhaps a little too strong.

Photographic lenses these days try very hard to avoid light fall off towards the edges and corners of the frame, with mixed success, so we associate vingetting with low quality photgraphic equipment, but in "days or yore" the photographers weren't so lucky, and the photographs vingetted no matter what. So if you want an "old school" photo, you really need to include a vignette, at least a little bit.

I also happen to think that it's a useful way to frame a subject if used in moderation.

Their over use has made them unpopular, but that doesn't mean they don't have a place in photography.. Like everything else.. Use of a vignette is subjective, but I happen to think that the last photo could be improved by a small amount of light fall off at the corners, otherwise it looks to me too much like a modern photo tying to be old.

Just my 2 cents.